Chicago
Track Your Order
0
Stuck On Getting Windows Ready?" Here Are Seven Ways to Fix It for Good
- Installing Windows updates can be time-consuming, so waiting a few hours before troubleshooting your PC might be enough.
- Try running the Startup Repair tool and an SFC scan to fix any issues preventing your PC from booting normally.
- If you can't get past the "Getting Windows ready" screen, consider uninstalling the recent Windows update or resetting your PC as a last resort.
Few things are more frustrating than seeing your computer stuck on the "Getting Windows ready" screen. This can leave you staring at your screen for a long time and unable to access your files or programs. Fortunately, these tips can help you fix the problem.
1. Give Windows a Little More Time
Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing. It's not the best solution, but if you aren’t hard-pressed for time, consider leaving your PC as it is for as long as it takes. It’s normal for the update process to take some time, especially if you haven’t updated your PC for a while. Try leaving it to update for at least a few hours. If there's still no progress, continue with the fixes listed below.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
A common reason why your PC may get stuck on the "Getting Windows ready" screen is due to issues with your internet connection. If you're using a wired connection, inspect your router and unplug and replug the cable to restart it. If you're on Wi-Fi, check if the internet is working on other devices. If something's not right, try some fixes to get your Wi-Fi back in action or plug in an Ethernet cable.
: Delaying Windows Updates: GOOD Idea Actually? (Sometimes) (ThioJoe)
3. Perform a Hard Shutdown
If waiting or fixing the internet connection doesn't work, the next option is to shut down your computer. Note that you should only attempt this if nothing else works, as an abrupt shutdown during Windows updates can lead to the corruption of critical system files. In some cases, you may even end up with the dreaded blue screen of death error on your computer.
If you want to take a chance, here’s how you can do a forced shutdown:
- Press and hold the power button until the computer shuts down.
- Disconnect any peripherals and unplug your computer from the power source. If your laptop has a removable battery, remove it.
- Wait for a couple of minutes, and then plug everything back in.
- Press the power button to turn your computer back on.
If everything goes right, your computer will boot normally without any issues.
4. Run the Startup Repair Tool
Startup Repair is a handy tool included in the System Recovery Options menu on Windows. It can help fix common issues that may cause Windows to become stuck on the "Getting Windows ready" screen. Here's how to run it.
- While on the "Getting Windows ready" screen, press and hold the power button until your PC shuts down.
- Press the power button once to turn it back on.
- Once you see the manufacturer's logo, immediately press and hold the power button again to interrupt the boot process. Repeat this to interrupt the boot process three consecutive times.
- On the fourth time, Windows will automatically boot into recovery mode. Once it does, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Click the Startup Repair option to run the tool.
If you can't access the WinRE menu by interrupting the boot process, create Windows installation media on a USB drive. Boot your computer using the USB drive and select the Repair your computer option from there.
The Startup Repair tool will begin looking for errors and problems on your computer and resolve as many of them as possible. Once the process is complete, shut down your computer and boot it up again to see if the problem persists.
5. Run System File Checker Scan
Issues with your PC's system files can also cause problems. To repair or replace system files, you can try running the System File Checker (SFC) scan. You'll need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) again.
Once you have successfully booted into WinRE mode, use these steps to run the SFC scan:
- On the WinRE screen, click the Troubleshoot option.
- Go to Advanced options > Command Prompt.
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and hit Enter. Replace the with the letter of the drive containing Windows. Typically, it is the Drive C, but that may not be the case for everyone. sfc /scannow /offbootdir=:\ /offwindir=:\windows
This might take a while, so be patient. After the scan is complete, restart your PC and check if the issue is still there.
6. Uninstall Recent Windows Updates
Your PC may be stuck on the "Getting Windows ready" screen due to a faulty update or improper installation. In that case, you will have to uninstall the recent Windows update to fix the problem.
Since you are unable to boot your PC normally, you must boot your PC into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to uninstall the updates. After that, use these steps:
- On the WinRE screen, head to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates.
- Select the Uninstall latest quality update option.
- Click the Uninstall quality update button.
- Wait for the uninstallation process to complete and then click Done.
- Hit Continue to launch Windows.
7. Reset Your Windows PC
As the name implies, a factory reset completely erases the current copy of Windows on your computer and installs a fresh version, making it just like when you first bought it. This can help resolve most issues with your Windows PC, including the one discussed here.
To do this, you will have to boot into WinRE and select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to finish resetting your PC. Don't worry, you can choose to keep your personal data while resetting your PC. Once your PC is reset, it should boot normally as expected.
Having your PC stuck on the "Getting Windows ready" screen can be incredibly frustrating, especially when an important deadline is looming. Hopefully, one of the methods listed above helped resolve the issue, and things are back to normal.
