"Laptop stuck on getting Windows ready don't turn off computer" - from Microsoft Community Follow the steps to fix getting Windows ready don't turn off your computer.

Workable Solutions Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Fix 1. Just Wait for A Long Time If you want your computer to boot normally, the first thing you can try is to wait...Full steps
Fix 2. Shut Down and Power Reset Unplug all peripheral devices > unplug the power cable and...Full steps
Fix 3. Run Windows Repair Services Run Windows Repair Services to fix all the Windows system startup errors, including system...Full steps
Fix 4. Delete Problematic Files Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt and search...Full steps
Fix 5. System Restore or Reset Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore and follow the wizard...Full steps

What Is Getting Windows Ready Don't Turn Off Your Computer?

A Windows desktop or laptop can get stuck on "Getting Windows ready, Don't turn off your computer". You wait and wait, and nothing changes. "Getting Windows ready stuck" occurs when you try to turn on, turn off, or restart your computer.  Don't let this annoying problem bother you anymore. We'll provide you with a few effective solutions to quickly fix Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 stuck on Getting Windows ready.

getting windows ready don't turn off your computer

How to Fix Getting Windows Ready Stuck

Don't worry. You can fix the blue screen of death with reliable solutions. There are five ways to fix the error - getting Windows ready, don't turn off your computer. Keep reading to fix the error. If you have problems, you can watch the video to get help first.

  • 0:31 Force to restart your Windows PC
  • 0:53 Stop Maintenance
  • 1:06 Run services.msc command
  • 1:20 Stop Windows update
  • 2:07 Enter Safe Boot
  • 2:47 Install Windows update
Fix getting windows ready don't turn off your computer stuck windows 10
 

Fix 1. Just Wait for a Long Time

Is the circle animation still moving? Show some patience and try to wait it out.

Yes, this is actually what Microsoft's support technicians advise. When your computer displays Getting Windows ready, your system may download and install files or deal with some tasks in the background. It can sometimes take a while for your system to finish these jobs.
So if you want your computer to boot normally, the first thing you can try is to wait. We advise you to wait no more than 2-3 hours, and if it is still not resolved, move on to some of these other fixes.

Fix 2. Shut Down Your PC and Power Reset Your Computer

Power resetting can clear all information in your computer memory without damaging your data. It helps fix corruption issues on your computer and gets you out of the loop of Getting Windows ready, Don't turn off your computer.

Step 1. Turn off your computer regardless of the getting ready screen.

Step 2. Unplug your computer's peripheral devices (USB flash drive, external hard drive, headphones, etc.).

Step 3. Press and hold the power button on your computer for 30 seconds. (Your computer should stay off afterward).

Step 4. Unplug the power cable from your computer.

Step 5. Unplug the battery(only if you are using a laptop and your laptop battery is removable).

Step 6. Reinsert the battery and plug the power cable back into your computer.

Step 7. Turn on your computer. If this method works for you, you won't see the screen this time.

Fix 3. Fix Getting Windows Ready Stuck with Repair Services

A simple and quick way to repair Windows issues is using manual Windows data recovery services. EaseUS's professional technical team can help you solve system startup errors, including system failure, BSOD, unbootable devices, etc.

Consult with EaseUS data recovery experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. We could offer the following services after FREE diagnosis:

  • Fix Windows boot issues, including BSOD
  • Fix Windows error and configure Windows environment
  • Restore the system when it fails to boot
  • Optimize Windows computer to make it run quickly

Fix 4. Delete Problematic Files

If you fail to fix the getting Windows stuck error, you can try to delete the problematic files of the system files.

Step 1. Restart your PC, and you will see the Windows Boot Options page.

open windows boot options page

Step 2. In Windows Boot Options menu, choose "Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt".

Step 3. In the command line, type: C: cd Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt. SrtTrail.txt and press Enter.

Step 4. Here, if you see something like this: Boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\vsock.sys is corrupt, navigate to the specified location using the Command Prompt and enter the Del command to delete the problematic file. 

delete problematic files using CMD

Fix 5. Perform a System Restore or Reset

Before the system reset, you better export all your important data. Here, you can go with one of two options.

Option 1. Backup data without booting into Windows 10 with EaseUS Todo Backup.

Option 2. Recover data after System Restore with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.

Of course, the first option is the most recommended because making a backup will ensure the safety of your data, but you need to create the bootable disk on another working computer. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is also viable if you do not have a working computer to create the bootable disk on, but the integrity of your data is more precarious.

 Download for Win Recovery Rate 99.7%
 Download for Mac Trustpilot Rating 4.7

Step 1. Select a location and start scanning

Launch EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and choose the partition where you lost data. Then, click "Scan".

select a location to scan

Step 2. Filter and preview files

Use the file format filter on the left or upper right corner to find the files you need. Then, you can click the "Preview" button or double-click a file to preview its content.

Choose files to recover

Step 3. Recover lost data or files

Click the checkbox next to the file and click "Recover" to restore the lost data to a secure place.

Recover lost data

How to perform a system restore or reset:

Step 1. In the Windows Boot Options menu, choose Troubleshoot  > Advanced Options  > System Restore.

system restore

Step 2. Follow the Wizard instruction and choose the appropriate restore point. Finally, click Finish to restore the system.

After the system restores, you can use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to locate any missing files. If this last method fails, nothing can fix the 'getting Windows ready' problem besides reinstalling Windows 10 from scratch with the Windows Media Creation Tool.

 Download for Win Recovery Rate 99.7%
 Download for Mac Trustpilot Rating 4.7

Getting Windows Ready Stuck FAQs

Windows updates and the installation often result in blue screen errors, black screen of death Windows 11, and green screen of death. There's always a solution for you to fix the problem.

1. What do I do if my computer is stuck getting Windows Ready?

In conclusion, when you're stuck on getting Windows ready, try the following methods one by one:

  • Wait for some time
  • Shut down your PC and power reset it
  • Delete problematic update files
  • Perform a system restore or reset

2. How long should I wait to get Windows Ready?

Usually, it is recommended to wait patiently for about 2-­3 hours. After the period of time, if getting Windows ready is still stuck there, stop waiting and move on to troubleshooting steps.

3. Why does getting windows ready take so long?

When you are prompted with the message "Getting Windows ready, don't turn off your computer", your system may be processing some tasks in the background, such as downloading and installing files, starting a Windows 10 update process, modifying settings of the applications, and modules, etc. The system may take some time to complete these tasks depending on the number of programs installed on your PC.

Was This Page Helpful?

Updated by Dany

Dany is an editor of EaseUS who lives and works in Chengdu, China. She focuses on writing articles about data recovery on Mac devices and PCs. She is devoted to improving her writing skills and enriching her professional knowledge. Dany also enjoys reading detective novels in her spare time.

Read full bio

Approved by Evan Galasso

Evan Galasso is a digital forensics and data recovery engineer with over 10 years of experience in the field. He presents opinions on the current state of storage media, reverse engineering of storage systems and firmware, and electro-mechanical systems of SSDs and HDDs.

Read full bio