First wait 2-4 hours to confirm whether the device is still running; 2. If there is no response, force shut down and restart 2-3 times to trigger the Windows recovery environment; 3. Use automatic repair, start repair or system restore; 4. Run the sfc /scannow and DISM commands to repair the system files through the command prompt; 5. Optionally disable automatic restart to troubleshoot errors; 6. Finally, Windows can be reset or reinstalled, and the problem can usually be solved through the above steps.

If your Windows 10 PC is stuck on "Getting Windows ready" , it can be frustrating—especially if it's been like that for hours. While this screen normally appears during updates or after a reboot and only lasts a few minutes, getting stuck here often indicates a problem. Here's what you can do to fix it.

1. Wait It Out (But Not Forever)

Sometimes, Windows takes longer than expected—especially after a major update.

• Wait at least 2–4 hours before taking action.
• Signs it's still working:
  • Hard drive activity light is blinking.
  • You can hear the disk or fan running.
  • The progress bar (if visible) occasionally moves.

? If nothing changes after 4 hours, proceed to the next steps.

2. Force Shut Down and Restart

If it's truly stuck, force a shutdown:

1. Hold the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turn off.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.
3. Repeat this 2–3 times if needed.

?? This often triggers Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) , which can help fix boot issues.

3. Let Windows Try Automatic Repair

After a few forced shutdowns, Windows should detect a startup problem and launch Automatic Repair or Startup Repair .

Look for:

• “Preparing Automatic Repair”
• “Diagnosing your PC”
• “Startup Repair”

Let it run. It might:

• Fix corrupted system files.
• Roll back a failed update.
• Restore to a previous working state.

If it doesn't start automatically, boot from a Windows 10 USB installation drive and choose:

Repair your computer → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options

From there, try:

• Startup Repair
• System Restore (if a restore point exists)
• Uninstall latest updates (if update caused the issue)

4. Use Command Prompt to Fix System Files

From Advanced Options > Command Prompt , run these commands:

 sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

Then:

 DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

? Replace C: with the correct drive letter if Windows is installed on D: or another letter (check using dir C:\Windows or dir D:\Windows ).

These commands:

• Scan and repair corrupted system files.
• Fix Windows image issues.

5. Disable Automatic Restart (Optional)

If this keeps happening, disable automatic restart on system failure to see error messages:

1. Boot into Windows (if possible).
2. Press Win X → System → Advanced system settings .
3. Under Startup and Recovery , click Settings .
4. Uncheck "Automatically restart" .

This helps catch BSODs before they reboot too quickly.

6. Last Resort: Reset or Reinstall Windows

If nothing works:

• Use the USB installer to reset this PC (keep or remove files).
• Or perform a clean install of Windows 10.

?? Back up your data first if possible (access files via recovery mode or another PC).

Summary: What to Do Step-by-Step

• ? Wait 2–4 hours first.
• ? Force shutdown 2–3 times to trigger recovery.
• ? Use Startup Repair or System Restore .
• ? Run sfc and DISM in Command Prompt.
• ? Reset or reinstall if all else fails.

Getting stuck on "Getting Windows ready" is usually fixed. Most cases resolve after forcing a reboot loop to trigger recovery tools. The key is patience first, then intervention.

Basically, don't panic—just follow the steps.

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