"Preparing Windows" error frozen: real causes and solutions

You're just relaxing, you turn on your computer to work or play for a while, and suddenly, the infamous screen appears. "Preparing Windows, do not turn off your computer" for minutes or hoursThe cycle keeps turning, you can't use the PC and you start to think that something has broken forever.

Before panicking, it's important to understand that this message doesn't always mean disaster. Often it's a normal, albeit slow, process, but there are cases where it gets stuck. stuck in a loop and requires careful intervention to avoid worsening the situation or losing important data.

What does the message "Preparing Windows, do not turn off your computer" mean?

When you see this message on the screen, Windows is performing internal tasks almost always related to system updates or changesIt usually appears when Turn the computer off, on, or restart it., right after an update has been installed or major changes have been applied.

In practice, the system may be Installing update files, reconfiguring services, and modifying application and module settingsThis process cleans up old versions or prepares the environment for the next boot. All of this happens in the background, and until it finishes, the PC remains locked on that screen.

The most important: It is not an error message in itselfThis is a notification that Windows is working. This behavior has existed since versions like Windows 7 and is still present in... Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11so you can find it on virtually any modern computer.

The problem arises when this process, which should normally take a few minutes, drags on for an enormous amount of time. Microsoft admits that, under certain circumstances, it can take up to last between 1 and 3 hours on slow computers or with many applicationsIf you have an old mechanical hard drive or lots of programs installed, it's more likely to take forever.

When is it normal and when is there a real blockage?

While Windows is preparing everything, the loading circle will continue to spin without you seeing any clear progress. In many cases, the only sensible thing to do is Be patient and let the system workeven though it may seem like nothing is happening.

As a realistic reference, most guides and technicians recommend wait a maximum of 2 to 3 hoursIf the screen remains the same after that time, it is most likely that the process has gotten stuck. update loop or internal error and no longer advance on its own.

At that point, it does make sense to consider more aggressive actions: force a restart, use Windows repair tools, uninstall problematic updates or, in serious cases, restore the system or reinstall Windows from scratch.

As tempting as it may be to press the power button after five minutes, the first thing you should do is Let Windows finish its job without interrupting it.During this time, it may be downloading additional files, applying patches, cleaning up previous versions, or adjusting settings.

If your PC has a Modern SSD and not too many programsIt's rare to have to wait hours, but on computers with mechanical hard drives or heavily loaded systems, it can take longer than we'd like. It's reasonable to give it a window of at least 1-2 hours, and up to a maximum of 3 hours.

If even after leaving it "all afternoon" or "all night" the screen remains exactly the same, we can assume that It's not progressing and there's a real deadlock.In that case, waiting any longer will be useless, and it's time to move to the next level.

Force a shutdown and restart your computer safely

When the wait has become absurd, the next step is to perform a controlled forced restart to clear the memory and exit the loopThis, if done correctly, shouldn't delete your personal data, although it may leave the update incomplete and require you to repair it.

El recommended procedure for this "cold" shutdown It's more comprehensive than simply pressing the power button once. The usual steps are:

1. Press and hold the power button several seconds until the computer shuts down completely, even though the screen is showing "Preparing Windows".
2. Disconnect all unnecessary peripheralsUSB drives, external hard drives, printers, webcams, USB headsets, microphones, etc. The fewer devices connected, the less chance of a boot conflict.
3. Unplug the power cord from the desktop PC or the laptop.
4. If your laptop has removable batteryRemove it from the compartment to completely cut off the power.
5. Press and hold the power button for 20-30 seconds to discharge residual energy from the capacitors and clear the memory.
6. Go back to insert the battery (if you removed it) and reconnect the power cable, but without plugging in the USB devices yet.
7. Turn on the computer and check if it starts normally or if it gets stuck on the same screen again.

This type of "electrical reset" usually solves occasional update loops or temporary startup errorsIf the message disappears and the system finishes configuring, the problem is likely resolved. If it keeps appearing on the same screen repeatedly, the issue is more serious and recovery tools are needed.

Accessing the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

When Windows insists on getting stuck on "Preparing Windows" every time it starts up, you need to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) To use the advanced repair functions, there are two main ways to get there:

• Forcing several failed restarts in a rowIf you interrupt the Windows startup 2-3 times in a row (by turning it off with the power button during startup), the system itself usually displays the following screen automatically: "Repairing" and, shortly afterwards, the Advanced recovery options.
• Using a Windows installation USB or DVDIf the system doesn't automatically log into WinRE, you can create a official installation method Using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool on another PC, boot from that USB/DVD and choose the option "Repair the equipment" instead of "Install".

Once in WinRE, you'll see menus like "Choose an option""Troubleshooting" and "Advanced options". From there you can access Startup Repair, System Restore, Command Prompt, Uninstall updates and more utilities designed specifically for this type of blocking.

Repair Windows startup to break the loop

If your computer gets stuck on "Preparing Windows" every time you turn it on, the first thing usually recommended within WinRE is to try a Startup repairThis function analyzes the boot components and attempts to correct Corrupted critical files, bootloader errors, and configuration problems that prevent Windows from starting normally.

For launch it, from the Recovery Environment:

• On the main screen, enter "Solving problems".
• Then access "Advanced options".
• Select "Startup Repair" (in some versions it appears as "Windows Startup Repair").
• Choose the Windows operating system you want to repair and let the process run automatically.

The tool will attempt Detect and correct the most common startup faultsIf everything goes well, the computer will restart and return to the desktop without getting stuck on "Preparing Windows". If a message like this appears... "Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC"This means that there are deeper errors and other methods will have to be used.

Check and repair system files with SFC and DISM

Another common reason why Windows takes forever to "prepare" on each restart is the system file corruptionWhen certain components are damaged, the system tries to repair or modify them at each startup, failing halfway through time and time again.

To address this problem, two tools integrated into Windows are used: SFC (System File Checker) y DISMThey are executed from the Command Prompt in advanced mode, usually by first entering WinRE.

The general steps They are as follows:

• From the WinRE Advanced Options, press on "System symbol" to open a command window.
• In the console, type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• Wait until it reaches 100%; the system scans and repairs corrupted system files.
• When it finishes, restart your PC and check if the "Preparing Windows" lock has disappeared.

If the problem persists, it's worth supplementing with DISM, which repairs the system image used by CFS:

• Reopen the System symbol from WinRE.
• Execute these commands one by one, pressing Enter after each line:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

These processes can take a while, so you have to Let them finish without interrupting themWhen finished, restart and check if Windows is now able to start without getting stuck in the preparation phase.

Remove problematic update files

In some extreme cases, Windows logs which specific file is causing automatic repair to fail repeatedly. You can access these logs from WinRE, and if a critical corrupt file is identified, delete it manually from the console.

A typical way to do this is to open the System symbol and navigate to the repair logs folder:

• In the console, enter the command (adapting if your installation is not on C:):
  C:
cd \Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt
• Open the log file with:
  type SrtTrail.txt

If that file shows something similar to «boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\filename.sys is corrupt»This means that the system file is corrupted and blocking the boot process. In these specific cases, you can go to the indicated path and use the command del to remove the problematic file, assuming that Windows will create a correct version or it can be repaired later.

This type of intervention is somewhat more delicate, because You manually delete a low-level fileTherefore, it is advisable to use it only if you are reasonably sure of what you are doing or following a specific guide for the error shown.

Uninstall recent updates that are causing the block.

Another fairly common scenario is that the problem started right after Windows installed a quality or feature updateSometimes these updates come with bugs or conflict with certain drivers, causing the system to enter a infinite preparation loop.

For reverse the situation You can uninstall the latest updates from within the recovery environment. The general procedure is:

• In WinRE, go to "Troubleshooting" > "Advanced options".
• Select "Uninstall updates".
• The system will let you choose between "Uninstall the latest quality update" o "Uninstall the latest feature update".
• It usually starts with the most recent one (it's usually the quality one) and lets the process finish.
• Restart your computer and check if the "Preparing Windows" message is still stuck.

On some devices you can also log in Safe Mode (from "Startup Settings" in WinRE, by pressing F4) and, once inside basic Windows, uninstall updates from Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updatesselecting the most recent ones.

Restore the system to a previous point

If you had system protection enabled, it's very possible that Windows created automatic restore points before certain major updates or installations. These points allow you to return the system to a previous state in which everything worked properlywithout touching your personal files (documents, photos, etc.).

To use the System restoration from WinRE:

• Start in the recovery environment and go to "Solving problems".
• Enter "Advanced options" and select "System Restore".
• Choose your user account and, if necessary, enter your password.
• Follow the assistant to choose a restoration point created before the "Preparing Windows" blocks began.
• Confirm the restoration and wait for the process to complete and the computer to restart.

This option is usually very effective when the source of the problem is a a conflicting update, a poorly installed driver, or software that has interfered too much with the systemThe downside is that programs and configuration changes made after that point will be undone, but your data will remain where it was.

Reset your PC or reinstall Windows from scratch

If you've already tried waiting, restarting, startup repair, running SFC/DISM, uninstalling updates, and restoring the system without success, it's very possible that the system is more seriously damagedIn that scenario, the most reliable options involve reset Windows or perform a clean installation.

First of all, ideally save your important filesIf Windows won't start, you can use third-party tools that allow you to create a bootable bootloader. rescue bootable USBBoot your PC from there and copy the data from the hard drive to another external storage device. Many backup and recovery programs offer this "locked computer" feature for these types of emergencies.

Your data is safeYou have several options within WinRE:

• Reset this PC (in "Solving problems"):
  • Option "Keep my files»: reinstalls Windows, removes programs and settings, but Keep your personal documents safe in the user folders.
  • Option "Remove everything»: format the system partition and It leaves your PC like it just came out of the factory.It requires having a prior backup of the data.
• Clean installation from an official USB/DVD:
  • Create an installation medium using the Microsoft tool on another computer.
  • Boot from that USB drive and choose "Install now".
  • Delete the system partition if necessary and reinstall Windows from scratch.

A clean installation virtually guarantees the elimination of any trace of "Preparing Windows" loopbut it implies Reinstall applications, drivers, and readjust settingsThat's why it's the last resort when all other options have been exhausted.

Problems during Windows installation or reinstallation

Sometimes the message "Preparing Windows" appears during a clean installation or reinstallationand remains frozen at a specific percentage (10%, 20%, etc.). Here, in addition to the problems already mentioned, other factors come into play, such as status of the installation USB, the BIOS/UEFI or hardware compatibility.

Key points Check if the problem occurs while installing Windows 10 or 11:

• Faulty or too slow USB or DVD installationA USB drive with bad sectors or that is extremely slow can cause installations to freeze. It is recommended to use a USB drive with bad sectors or that is extremely slow. a USB 3.0 drive of at least 8 GB in good condition, formatted correctly (FAT32 or NTFS) and check it by copying and opening large files before creating the bootable media.
• Problems with the media creation toolIf you suspect the USB drive is faulty, recreate the media from scratch. You can use the official Microsoft tool or, if you already have the ISO downloaded, applications like Rufus to generate the installation USB drive.
• BIOS/UEFI settingsFor Windows 11, it is especially important to have Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 and the appropriate mode (UEFI versus legacy BIOS). In some cases, CSM must be disabled or the boot mode adjusted for the installation to proceed.
• Too many connected peripheralsDuring installation, it is advisable to leave only keyboard, mouse and monitorOther USB devices may cause conflicts during the installer's boot process.
• Overheating or unstable hardwareIf the PC overheats at 100% load (processor, poor ventilation, faulty thermal paste), it may hang up mid-installationCheck ventilation and hardware status It is fundamental.

If the installation keeps freezing, you can also resort to the file repair, restoration, and verification tools from the installation medium itself, by entering "Repair equipment" instead of continuing with the normal installation.

When your PC freezes on "Preparing Windows, do not turn off your computer" it may seem like all is lost, but in most cases it's just a matter of an excessively long normal process or an update that has stalledUnderstanding what's happening, knowing how long it makes sense to wait, and knowing the tools for repairing, restoring, uninstalling updates, and reinstalling Windows allows you to recover the system with reasonable certaintyThis minimizes the risk to your data and, incidentally, leaves the equipment better prepared so that it doesn't fail again at the worst possible moment.