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How to Fix 'Screen Freezes During Boot' on Windows

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How to Fix 'Screen Freezes During Boot' on Windows: A Simple Guide

Have you ever been all set for a productive day, only to power on your computer and find yourself staring at a frozen screen while it's booting up? It's a frustrating issue that many Windows users encounter. Before you panic or rush to get professional help, there are several steps you can try at home to solve this problem. Below, we've broken down how to fix the 'screen freezes during boot' issue in Windows, using simple language and easy-to-follow instructions.

1. Give it Time

First things first, patience is key. Sometimes, your computer might take longer to boot, especially if it's performing updates or system checks. Wait for a few minutes to see if it progresses beyond the freeze. If nothing changes after a reasonable amount of time, it's time to move to the next steps.

2. Perform a Hard Reboot

If your screen is still stuck, try a hard reboot. This means you'll forcibly shut down your computer and start it again. To do this, press and hold the power button until the computer turns off, then press it again to restart. This can sometimes resolve minor glitches that occur during the boot process.

3. Enter Safe Mode

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that starts your computer with only the necessary drivers and programs. This can be useful if a software conflict is causing the freeze during boot.

To enter safe mode:

  • Restart your computer.
  • As soon as the screen lights up, repeatedly press the F8 key (on older Windows versions) or the Shift key while clicking Restart (on Windows 8 or 10).
  • Choose 'Troubleshoot', then 'Advanced Options', and finally 'Startup Settings'.
  • Click 'Restart', and after your PC reboots, select 'Enable Safe Mode'.

Once in safe mode, if your computer doesn't freeze, the issue is likely related to software or drivers you have installed. You can then uninstall recent programs or updates to see if that resolves the issue.

4. Check for Disk and Memory Issues

Faulty hardware can also cause boot problems. Windows includes built-in tools to check your system’s hard disk and memory for errors.

To check your disk, follow these steps:

  • Open the command prompt as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button, choosing 'Command Prompt (Admin)' or 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)'.
  • Type chkdsk /f and press Enter. You may need to restart your computer for this to run.

To check your memory:

  • Press the Windows key and type 'Windows Memory Diagnostic', then press Enter.
  • Choose 'Restart now and check for problems'. Your computer will reboot and check for memory issues.

5. Disable Fast Startup

Windows 10 has a feature called Fast Startup that helps your computer start faster after shutdown. However, this can sometimes cause issues. Disabling it might help:

  • Type 'Control Panel' in the search bar and open it.
  • Go to 'System and Security', then 'Power Options'.
  • Click 'Choose what the power buttons do', then 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'.
  • Uncheck 'Turn on fast startup' and save changes.

6. Update BIOS/UEFI

The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is software that starts before your operating system. Updating it can resolve compatibility issues:

  • Visit your computer manufacturer’s website and look for BIOS/UEFI updates.
  • Follow their instructions carefully to update. Incorrectly updating your BIOS/UEFI can cause harm, so if you're not comfortable doing this, seek professional help.

7. Restore/Reset Windows

If none of the above steps work, restoring Windows to a previous state or resetting it might be your best option:

To perform a System Restore:

  • In the search bar, type 'Create a restore point', and press Enter.
  • Go to the 'System Protection' tab, click 'System Restore', and follow the prompts to choose a restore point.

To Reset Windows:

  • Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & Security' > 'Recovery'.
  • Under 'Reset this PC', click 'Get started' and follow the prompts.

Conclusion

Dealing with a screen that freezes during boot on Windows can be irritating, but these steps should help you troubleshoot and fix the issue. Remember, it's always important to back up your data regularly to avoid losing important information during such incidents. And, if you're ever unsure about a step or if the problem persists, seeking help from a professional may be the best course of action. Happy computing!