windows 8.1 hangs on Please Wait screen (restoreoptin)

Anonymous
2013-10-19T03:11:39+00:00

When logging in, a Please Wait screen shows up along with a Cancel button. I tried letting it sit there for more than half an hour but nothing happens. I noticed the application is letterboxed and I can use Win+D to see that the desktop show up. The screen stays on top blocking all mouse activity and most of my screen.

Eventually I logged into another account and found restoreoptin running and terminated it. That removed it from my original account however it will do it again if I log out and log back in.

Any ideas?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2013-10-25T17:25:19+00:00

<Modifying post to help other find the answer quickly>

I found another workaround that allows for still using skydrive, and further confirms the relationship to skydrive setup.

(This is the method I used)

  1. login to the affected account
  2. Press Windows Key + L to lock the computer
  3. Switch to a user account with administrator priveledges
  4. open task manager & switch to the "Processes" tab (Press "More Details" if don't see a processes tab)
  5. find restoreoptin.exe & end task that process
  6. switch back to affected account (Start Page, click your account name/picture, click the account you want to switch to)
  7. Open Charm menu (windows key + C), select "Settings", then Change PC Settings
  8. Select Skydrive
  9. Modify the File Storage, Camera Roll, and Sync Settings (not sure which one does the trick)
  10. logout & log back in
  11. you should no longer be prompted with the blank 'please wait' screen

Another workaround that should achieve the same, as posted by others:

  1. login to the affected account
  2. Press Windows Key + r
  3. Type:

taskkill /f /im restoreoptin.exe 4. Open Charm menu (windows key + C), select "Settings", then Change PC Settings 5. Select Skydrive 6. Modify the File Storage, Camera Roll, and Sync Settings (not sure which one does the trick) 7. logout & log back in 8. you should no longer be prompted with the blank 'please wait' screen

and just for completeness, you could also try:

  1. login to the affected account
  2. Press: Windows Key + r

Type:

taskkill /f /im restoreoptin.exe 3. Press: Windows Key + x

Press: a

Press: <Alt + Y>

(run cmd as administrator) 4. Type:

cd c:\windows\system32

restoreOptIn.exe /Ramp
  1. Complete the Wizard

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Anonymous
2014-01-03T18:25:43+00:00

I fixed it much more simply. I had to recently rebuild my dell xps 27 and started with 8.0. Setup everyone's account since I have a home network and domain setup. Then upgraded, I ran into the same issue as everyone here in the post. What I had to do to fix is is unassociated all the windows live/Hotmail/outlook accounts from the domain accounts and then re-apply them. This then asked me to verify that the account has permissions to skydrive, and asked for verification. Texted me, I put in the verification code and it was fixed on all accounts. Someone also mentioned making it a local account and then reassigning to your windows account. Seems to fix it as well.

Steps for Domain accounts:

  1. Remove association from your windows account
  2. Re-add your windows account
  3. verify that the pc has permissions to back up your info to sky drive/turn off sync with sky drive.

Windows Account:

  1. Make it a local account
  2. Re-add your windows account
  3. Verify that the pc has permissions to backup your info to sky drive/turn off sync with sky drive.

Appears to be a bug in the 8.1 upgrade where the pc and sky drive trust is broken, it didn't happen until I received a windows update, but I could see this happening if you download the patches during the upgrade process.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-12T08:38:53+00:00

    Thanks ah-teen... still begs the question why Microsoft cannot fix issues with THEIR software.  Still too terrified to install windows 8.1 until I know Microsoft has fixed it.  For those of us who do business with our computers, it is a nightmare.  I have had to re-install my programs three times now and have lost data - even though the restore option says data will not be lost.  Already spent about 6 hours trying to find a way around Microsoft's 'issues' - time better spent working

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-12T02:29:20+00:00

    Found this on another website, it worked, thought I'd spread the love:

    Okay, after a little research on Microsofts website, my problem turned out to be a Windows 8.1 update issue. The problem is that your Live account looses its mojo with Skydrive, etc. The file that causes the window to popup and get stuck is "restoreoptin.exe". You can kill the program when it pops up to gain access to your PC.

        Press WinKey + r

        Type taskkill /f /im restoreoptin.exe then Enter

        The 'Please Wait' window should go away.

    To fix the mojo between your PC and Skydrive, do this:

        Go to Start, then activate the right side menu

        Click the Change PC Settings near the bottom

        Click Users

        Click Disconnect under your username (This disconnects your login from your Live login and makes you create a local login name)

        After you create a new local user account, reboot (that's what I did)

        Restart and login with the new account

        Go back into the Change PC Setting/Users window

        Click the "Switch to a Microsoft Account" and follow the instructions

    This took care of my problem and I hope it helps someone.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T13:17:43+00:00

    <Modifying post to help other find the answer quickly>

    I found another workaround that allows for still using skydrive, and further confirms the relationship to skydrive setup.

    (This is the method I used)

    1. login to the affected account
    2. Press Windows Key + L to lock the computer
    3. Switch to a user account with administrator priveledges
    4. open task manager & switch to the "Processes" tab (Press "More Details" if don't see a processes tab)
    5. find restoreoptin.exe & end task that process
    6. switch back to affected account (Start Page, click your account name/picture, click the account you want to switch to)
    7. Open Charm menu (windows key + C), select "Settings", then Change PC Settings
    8. Select Skydrive
    9. Modify the File Storage, Camera Roll, and Sync Settings (not sure which one does the trick)
    10. logout & log back in
    11. you should no longer be prompted with the blank 'please wait' screen

    Another workaround that should achieve the same, as posted by others:

    1. login to the affected account
    2. Press Windows Key + r
    3. Type:

    taskkill /f /im restoreoptin.exe 4. Open Charm menu (windows key + C), select "Settings", then Change PC Settings 5. Select Skydrive 6. Modify the File Storage, Camera Roll, and Sync Settings (not sure which one does the trick) 7. logout & log back in 8. you should no longer be prompted with the blank 'please wait' screen

    and just for completeness, you could also try:

    1. login to the affected account
    2. Press: Windows Key + r

    Type:

    taskkill /f /im restoreoptin.exe 3. Press: Windows Key + x

    Press: a

    Press: <Alt + Y>

    (run cmd as administrator) 4. Type:

    cd c:\windows\system32

    restoreOptIn.exe /Ramp
    1. Complete the Wizard

    I have the same problem... But I could work... I was stuck there a few day.... Any other method...

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