Having trouble with the “Getting Windows Ready” screen? Here are 9 simple fixes to get your Windows up and running smoothly again.
Wait Patiently for a Few Hours
If you find yourself stuck on the “Getting Windows Ready” screen, it can be frustrating. However, sometimes all you need is a little patience. Wait for a few hours to see if the process resolves itself. This is especially important if you have a slower computer or if you’re installing a major update.
During this time, it’s important not to panic and try to force a restart or shut down. Doing so could potentially lead to data loss or even system corruption.
If waiting doesn’t work, you can move on to the other fixes mentioned in this article. But it’s always worth giving your system some time to work through the installation process.
Shut Down and Power Reset Your Device
1. Press and hold the power button on your computer or laptop until it turns off. This will force a shutdown and can help resolve any software issues causing the “Getting Windows Ready” stuck problem.
2. If your device doesn’t respond to the power button, unplug the power cable from the back of your computer or laptop. Wait for a few seconds, then plug it back in and try turning it on again.
3. For laptops, you can also try removing the battery if it’s easily accessible. Once the battery is removed, hold down the power button for about 15 seconds to discharge any remaining power. Then, reinsert the battery and turn on your device.
4. If you’re using a desktop computer, you can turn off the power supply using the switch on the back of your computer tower. Wait for a few seconds, then turn it back on.
5. Another option is to perform a hard reset by holding down the power button for about 10 seconds. This will cut off power to your device completely and can help resolve any temporary software glitches.
Use Windows Recovery Tools
Using Windows Recovery Tools can help resolve the issue of getting stuck on the “Getting Windows Ready” screen. Here are 9 easy fixes to try:
1. Restart your computer: Sometimes a simple restart can fix the issue.
2. Disconnect peripherals: Unplug all external devices like USB drives, printers, and headphones to see if any of them are causing the problem.
3. Use Safe Mode: Boot into Safe Mode by pressing the Shift key while clicking the Restart button. This can help bypass any problematic software.
4. Run System File Checker: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the command “sfc /scannow“. This tool scans for and fixes corrupted system files.
5. Perform a Startup Repair: Use the Windows Recovery Environment to access the Startup Repair tool.
6. Use System Restore: If you have a restore point created, you can revert your system back to a previous working state.
7. Check for Windows Updates: Make sure your operating system is up to date, as updates often include bug fixes.
8. Reset Windows Update components: Open Command Prompt as an administrator and run the commands “net stop wuauserv” and “net start wuauserv“.
9. Use a recovery tool: If none of the above solutions work, you can try using a professional data recovery tool like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or EaseUS Todo Backup.
Perform a System Restore or Reset
Performing a System Restore or Reset can often resolve the issue of getting stuck on “Getting Windows Ready.” Here are 9 easy fixes to try:
1. Perform a System Restore: Use the built-in System Restore feature to revert your computer back to a previous working state. Open the Start menu, type “System Restore,” and follow the on-screen instructions.
2. Perform a Reset: If System Restore doesn’t work, try resetting your computer to its factory settings. Go to the Start menu, type “Reset this PC,” and choose the appropriate option.
3. Use Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE): Boot into Windows PE using a USB flash drive or DVD and access the troubleshooting tools to fix the issue.
4. Check for Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors: If you encounter a BSOD, note down the error code and search for solutions online.
5. Update Windows: Ensure your operating system is up to date by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
6. Troubleshoot hardware issues: Check your USB connections, hard disk drive, computer memory, and peripherals for any failures or loose connections.
7. Try EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard: If you have important files on your computer, use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover them before performing a reset.
8. Check network connectivity: Ensure you have a stable internet connection, either through Ethernet or Wi-Fi, to download necessary updates or troubleshooting tools.
9. Try logging in with a different account: If you’re stuck on the “Getting Windows Ready” screen, try logging in with a different user account to see if the issue persists.
Delete Problematic System Files
1. Boot your computer using the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
2. Insert a USB flash drive with a bootable WinPE image into your computer.
3. Restart your computer and choose the USB flash drive as the boot device.
4. Once in WinPE, open the command prompt.
5. Type “del C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edb.log” and press Enter to delete the problematic file.
6. Next, type “del C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\Logs\edb.jrs” and press Enter to delete another problematic file.
7. Restart your computer and check if the issue persists.
8. If the problem continues, try performing a system restore or using a backup created with a tool like EaseUS Todo Backup.
9. If all else fails, consider reinstalling Windows to start fresh.
Run the System File Checker Utility
1. Press the Windows key and type “Command Prompt” in the search bar.
2. Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator.”
3. In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter.
4. The System File Checker Utility will start scanning your system files for any errors or corruptions.
5. Wait for the scanning process to complete. It may take some time depending on your computer’s speed.
6. If the utility finds any errors, it will attempt to repair them automatically.
7. Once the scanning and repairing process is finished, restart your computer.
8. Check if the “Getting Windows Ready Stuck” issue is resolved.
Note: Running the System File Checker Utility can help fix various system-related issues, including the “Getting Windows Ready Stuck” problem. It checks for corrupted or missing files and repairs them if necessary.
Access Safe Mode to Uninstall Updates
To uninstall updates in Safe Mode, follow these steps:
1. Restart your computer and repeatedly tap the F8 key until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears.
2. Use the arrow keys to select “Safe Mode” and press Enter.
3. Once in Safe Mode, press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
4. In Device Manager, expand the category for the device you want to uninstall the updates for.
5. Right-click on the device and select “Properties.”
6. In the Properties window, go to the “Driver” tab and click on “Roll Back Driver” if available. If not, proceed to the next step.
7. Click on the “Uninstall” button and follow the prompts to remove the updates.
8. Restart your computer normally to complete the process.
By accessing Safe Mode and following these steps, you can easily uninstall updates that may be causing issues with your Windows system.
Reinstall Windows for a Clean Start
If you’re experiencing issues with your Windows operating system and have tried other fixes without success, reinstalling Windows can provide a clean start. This process will remove any software conflicts or corrupted files that may be causing the problem.
Here are 9 easy steps to reinstall Windows:
1. Backup your important files: Before reinstalling Windows, make sure to backup all important files and documents to an external storage device or cloud service.
2. Create a Windows installation media: Download the Windows installation media from the official Microsoft website and create a bootable USB or DVD.
3. Boot from the installation media: Insert the bootable USB or DVD into your computer and restart it. Press the appropriate key (usually F12 or Del) to access the boot menu and select the installation media.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions: Windows setup will guide you through the installation process. Select your preferred language, time, and keyboard settings.
5. Choose the installation type: Select “Custom installation” to perform a clean installation. This will delete all files on your computer’s hard drive.
6. Format the hard drive: During the installation process, you’ll be prompted to choose a drive to install Windows. Select the drive and click on “Format” to wipe the existing data.
7. Install Windows: Once the drive is formatted, proceed with the installation by clicking on “Next.” Windows will copy the necessary files and configure your system.
8. Set up Windows: After installation, Windows will guide you through the initial setup process. Create a user account, set a password, and configure your preferences.
9. Restore your files: Once Windows is installed, restore your backed-up files from the external storage device or cloud service.
Reinstalling Windows can resolve many software-related issues and provide a fresh start for your computer.
Back Up Your Operating System
- Step 1: Open the Start menu by clicking on the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen.
- Step 2: Type “Backup” in the search bar and select “Backup and Restore” from the search results.
- Step 3: Click on the “Set up backup” option located on the right-hand side of the window.
- Step 4: Choose a location to save your backup files. It is recommended to use an external hard drive or a network location.
- Step 5: Select the files and folders you want to include in the backup by checking the corresponding boxes.
- Step 6: Click on the “Next” button to proceed.
- Step 7: Review your backup settings and click on the “Save settings and run backup” button.
- Step 8: Wait for the backup process to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of your files and the speed of your computer.
- Step 9: Once the backup is finished, you can close the Backup and Restore window.
Explore Repair Services and Recovery Options
- Check for Windows updates:
- Open Settings by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Check for updates and install any available updates.
- Run Windows Update Troubleshooter:
- Open Settings by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Click on Troubleshoot from the left menu.
- Select Windows Update under “Get up and running” section.
- Click on the Run the troubleshooter button and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Perform a System Restore:
- Open Control Panel by typing it in the search bar and selecting it from the results.
- Click on Recovery.
- Click on Open System Restore.
- Click on Next and choose a restore point.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system restore process.
- Use the DISM tool:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator by typing “cmd” in the search bar, right-clicking on Command Prompt, and selecting Run as administrator.
- Type the following command and press Enter: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer.
- Perform a clean boot:
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on the Startup tab.
- Select each startup item and click on Disable to disable them all.
- Close Task Manager and restart your computer.
- Run a malware scan:
- Install and open a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program.
- Update the program’s virus definitions.
- Perform a full system scan.
- If any malware is detected, follow the program’s instructions to remove it.
- Reset Windows Update components:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:
- net stop wuauserv
- net stop cryptSvc
- net stop bits
- net stop msiserver
- ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
- ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old
- net start wuauserv
- net start cryptSvc
- net start bits
- net start msiserver
- Close Command Prompt and restart your computer.
- Perform a clean installation of Windows:
- Back up all your important files and data.
- Create a bootable Windows installation media.
- Boot your computer from the installation media.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to perform a clean installation of Windows.
- Contact professional repair services:
- Research and find reputable computer repair services in your area.
- Contact the repair service and explain the issue you are facing.
- Follow their instructions for bringing in or shipping your computer for repair.
F.A.Q.
What if I turn off my computer while updating?
If you turn off your computer while updating, the update process will immediately stop but can be resumed later. However, if the abrupt shutdown corrupts the already downloaded files, you may need to restart the update process.
What happens if you turn off your computer while configuring Windows?
If you turn off your computer while configuring Windows, it can corrupt the operating system and require you to start the installation process again.
How long should I wait when my computer says getting Windows ready don t turn off your computer?
You should wait patiently for about 2-3 hours when your computer says “getting Windows ready, don’t turn off your computer.” If the message persists after this time, you can proceed with troubleshooting steps.
