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Computer Won’t Restart: 7 Tested Methods to Diagnose & Fix
Corrupt or broken system files can prevent restarting your PC
7 min. read
Updated onSeptember 20, 2024
updated onSeptember 20, 2024
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Resolve multiple Windows PC issues and speed up your PC effortlessly with specialized software.
If your PC or laptop won’t restart, that is a common problem, especially after a Windows update. If the restarting is taking too long, corrupt or broken system files can cause this problem. We have shown how to fix these issues in ourWindows 10/11 PC stuck on restartguide.
Below are some of the variations of the issue you might also face and can be fixed with the solutions below:
What do I do if the computer won’t restart?
1. Run the Power troubleshooter
Let’s start by relying on the built-in troubleshooting tool to resolve the problem. Most reports suggest that the PC won’t restart properly problem occurred after an update, which isn’t uncommon for Windows 10.
Every major update is similar to a fresh installation regarding drivers, and meddling with those leads to massive issues. Either way, let’s give the troubleshooter a go; if it fails, we can safely move to the next step.
2. Try with the Clean Boot and SFC/DISM
And, to address concerns about possible system corruption, we’ll need you to run two built-in utilities from the elevated Command Prompt. Here’s how to run SFC and DISM on Windows 10:
If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 over the Windows 7 installation, it’s pretty standard for certain third-party apps to fail you later. On the same note, it’s not uncommon for that transition to come out with corruption of system files.
This consequently leads to Windows 10 or 11 not restarting issues.
To address the first possibility, you need to start your PC in the Clean Boot mode (without any third-party applications beginning with the system).
3. Boot into Safe mode
If the Clean Boot and utilities fail you, let’s ensure that some of the first-party secondary devices aren’t causing the problem. Some reports state that the Intel Management Engine (standard on many laptops) is causing the problem.
When in the Safe Mode, Windows 10 shouldn’t load this driver. If you can restart your device from Safe mode, we suggest checking the next step, which explains how to disable this service.
4. Disable Intel Management Engine
As we noticed in the previous step, the Intel Management Engine tends to break the restart option. This causes the Windows 10/11 not restarting problem.
5. Uninstall a third-party antivirus and scan for PUPs
Specific third-party antimalware solutions and Windows 10 are not cooperating correctly, especially if you have an older version installed.
If your antivirus interferes with the PC system, it might cause such troubles and prevent Windows 10 from restarting. If this is the case, you might consider another antivirus solution.
Plenty of lightweight security software will work smoothly in the background while you do anything else.
To benefit from high-quality security and error-free running time, you should choose one of thebest antivirus softwareinESET NOD32.
6. Reset your PC
If you’re still stuck with the Windows 10/11 not restarting issue, you might need toreset your PC to factory values. We advise you to choose the keep my files option to prevent losing vital information.
7. Perform a clean reinstallation
Finally, if none of the previous steps haven’t relieved you of the issue at hand and you’re still unable to restart your PC, we can only concur that a clean reinstallation is the next logical step.
If you’re unsurehow to reinstall Windows 10, we have provided in-depth instructions in our guide. After the reinstallation, you shouldn’t have any more issues.
What do I do if my Windows 11 PC is not restarting?
If your Windows 11 PC is not restarting, you can try basic troubleshooting steps like disconnecting all connected devices. Also, you can use the built-in troubleshooter to detect and fix the glitches causing the problem.
Moreover, here are some error variations that you may encounter:
Check our guide for more detailed fixes on theWindows 11 not restarting issue.
How do I force restart my computer?
If yourWindows 10/11 PC fails to restart, you can perform a hard reboot. You only need to press and hold the power button for a few seconds till the computer powers off.
Then, wait a few minutes and press the power button to restart your PC. But we will advise you not to use this option often. If you’re looking torestart your PC with a keyboard, we also have an eye-opening guide on the same.
Our readers also complained that theSettings app is resetting on reboot. If you’re in the same situation, read the highlighted guide to fix it.
In contrast, many users reported randomrestart problems on Windows 11. To fix this, it’s advised to run the built-in troubleshooter and check your power settings.
This can be a severe issue, especially if yourWindows 11 PC is stuck in a reboot loop, so you can’t boot properly to your PC. This is most likely caused by system damage or your hardware.
Your PC can also getstuck on an automatic repair loop, preventing you from using it. However, a couple of solutions might help with these issues.
Moreover, if restarting takes long on your PC, it might be due to the virus. This can be fixed by scanning for malware with Windows Defender or some of thebest antivirus software for Windows 10.
Also, tell us whether one of the steps helped you in the comments below. Your feedback is of utmost importance to us.
More about the topics:restart,System Errors,windows 10,Windows 11
Aleksandar Ognjanovic
Aleksandar’s main passion is technology. With a solid writing background, he is determined to bring the bleeding edge to the common user. With a keen eye, he always spots the next big thing surrounding Microsoft and the Windows OS.
Focused on Windows errors and how to solve them, he also writes about the OS’s latest features as well as its interface.
In his free time, he likes to read, listen to music, and enjoy the nature. Hiking is one of his newly found passions.
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