Dealing with a Windows computer that is stuck at the “Getting Windows Ready” screen can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Understand the “Getting Windows Ready” Screen
When your Windows computer gets stuck at the “Getting Windows Ready” screen, it can be frustrating. This screen typically appears during a Windows Update or when your system is booting up.
If your computer is stuck at this screen, try restarting it by holding down the power button until it shuts off. Then, turn it back on and see if it progresses past the screen.
If that doesn’t work, you can try booting your computer from a USB flash drive with a Windows installation file. This can sometimes help resolve the issue and get your system back up and running.
If you’re still having trouble, you may need to consider other options such as performing a System Restore or reinstalling Windows. It’s always a good idea to back up your data before attempting any major troubleshooting steps.
Initial Troubleshooting: Just Wait Patiently
If your Windows is stuck at “Getting Windows Ready”, the first step is to wait patiently. Sometimes, the system needs time to complete updates or installations.
If waiting doesn’t work, try restarting your computer. Press and hold the power button until it shuts down, then turn it back on.
If the issue persists, try booting into Safe Mode by restarting your computer and pressing F8 repeatedly. From there, you can try running Windows Update or performing a System Restore.
If none of these solutions work, it may be time to seek professional help or consider data recovery options.
Power Reset Your PC as a Quick Fix
If your Windows is stuck at “Getting Windows Ready,” a quick fix you can try is to power reset your PC. To do this, first, turn off your computer completely. Then, unplug the power cable and remove the battery (if you’re using a laptop). Leave the computer unplugged for a few minutes to ensure all residual power is drained.
After a few minutes, plug the power cable back in and turn on your PC. This power reset can help resolve any software glitches that may be causing the issue. If the problem persists, you may need to explore other solutions such as using a USB flash drive with a Windows recovery tool or seeking professional help. Remember to always back up your important data to prevent any loss during troubleshooting.
By performing a power reset, you can potentially resolve the issue of Windows being stuck at “Getting Windows Ready” and get your computer back up and running smoothly.
Employ the Startup Repair Tool
If your Windows is stuck at “Getting Windows Ready,” you can try using the Startup Repair Tool to fix the issue.
Firstly, restart your computer and access the Advanced Startup Options by pressing F8 or Shift + F8 repeatedly during boot.
Then, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair” to run the tool.
Follow the on-screen instructions to let the Startup Repair Tool diagnose and fix any issues that may be causing Windows to get stuck.
After the repair is complete, restart your computer and see if the problem is resolved.
If the issue persists, you may need to consider other troubleshooting methods or seek professional help.
Restore Your System or Use System Image Recovery
If your Windows system is stuck at “Getting Windows Ready,” you can try restoring your system to a previous point where it was working properly. To do this, go to the Advanced Startup Options and select System Restore. Follow the prompts to choose a restore point and let the system do its work.
If System Restore doesn’t work or you don’t have a restore point, you can try using a system image recovery instead. This allows you to restore your system using a previously created image of your system.
To do this, go to the Advanced Startup Options and select System Image Recovery. Follow the prompts to choose the image you want to restore from and let the system do its work. This should help you fix the issue of Windows being stuck at “Getting Windows Ready.”
Run System File Checker for File Integrity
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Press Windows key + X and select Command Prompt (Admin). |
| 2 | Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter. |
| 3 | Wait for the scan to complete (this may take some time). |
| 4 | If any integrity violations are found, restart your computer and run the scan again. |
Uninstall Recent Updates in Safe Mode
1. First, boot your computer into Safe Mode. To do this, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly before the Windows logo appears. Select “Safe Mode” from the options.
2. Once in Safe Mode, open the Control Panel and go to “Programs” > “Programs and Features.”
3. Click on “View installed updates” on the left side of the window.
4. Locate the recent updates that you want to uninstall. Right-click on them and select “Uninstall.”
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
6. After uninstalling the updates, restart your computer normally to see if the issue has been resolved.
Make sure to create a backup of your important files before uninstalling updates to prevent any data loss.
Delete Specific Problematic Files
1. Boot your computer into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key during startup.
2. Once in Safe Mode, open File Explorer and navigate to the location of the problematic files.
3. Delete the files by right-clicking on them and selecting “Delete.”
4. If you encounter any issues deleting the files, you can use the Command Prompt to force delete them.
5. Open Command Prompt as an administrator and use the del command followed by the file path to delete the files.
Reset Your PC or Perform a Clean Installation
If your Windows PC is stuck at “Getting Windows Ready”, you can try resetting your PC or performing a clean installation to fix the issue. To reset your PC, follow these steps:
1. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
2. Click on “Get started” under Reset this PC.
3. Choose between keeping your files or removing everything.
For a clean installation of Windows, you will need a bootable USB drive with the Windows installation files. Insert the USB drive and restart your PC. Boot from the USB drive and follow the on-screen instructions to perform a clean installation.
Safeguard Your PC with a Backup Strategy
- Regularly back up your files and data to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
- Use a reliable backup software to automate the process and ensure all important files are protected.
- Consider creating a system image backup of your entire PC to easily restore it in case of a system failure.
- Test your backups periodically to make sure they are working properly and can be restored when needed.
- Keep your backup storage device in a secure location away from your PC to prevent data loss in case of theft or damage.
- Implement a multi-layered backup strategy by combining different types of backups, such as file backups, system image backups, and cloud backups.
- Update your backup strategy regularly to account for new files, software updates, and changes in your data storage needs.
F.A.Qs
How long should I wait for getting Windows ready?
You should wait for about 2-3 hours for Windows to get ready. If it is still stuck after this time, move on to troubleshooting steps.
How do you fix a stuck window on getting ready?
To fix a stuck window on getting ready, you can try shutting down your PC and power resetting it, running System File Checker, or performing a clean Windows installation if necessary.
What happens if you turn off your computer during an update?
If you turn off your computer during an update, it can potentially corrupt your operating system, leading to data loss or rendering your device unbootable. It is advisable to avoid interrupting the update process and wait for it to complete.
