Disable Fast Startup Feature to Fix Restart and Shutdown Problems in Windows 8/10/11

UPDATE: This tutorial will help you in disabling Fast Startup feature in Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 and Windows 11.

There are many Windows 8 users who are complaining about various restart and shutdown issues. Many times their Windows 8 computers restart themselves as soon as the login screen appears. Sometimes their computer systems hang while rebooting or shutting down the system and sometimes their computers restart or hibernate when they try to shut down.

Most of the times these kind of issues are related with the new “Hybrid Shutdown” (also known as “Fast Startup“) feature introduced in Windows 8. Hybrid shutdown feature of Windows 8 decreases the total startup time by hibernating the kernel session instead of closing it which reduces the overall Windows loading time because resuming from hibernated system session is very less work compared to a full system initialization.

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But this new feature is causing problems to some computer systems and if you are also facing reboot or shutdown problems in Windows 8, you can fix it by disabling this new hybrid shutdown or fast startup feature and doing a complete shutdown.

Just follow these simple steps:

STEP 1:

First of all you’ll need to open Power Options window which can be opened using any of following methods:

Option a: Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box and then type powercfg.cpl and press Enter.

Option b: Press WIN+X keys together to launch “WIN+X Menu” and then select “Power Options” from the list.

Option c: If you are on new Start Screen, type power and Windows will automatically search for the term and will show you the results. If you are on Desktop, move your cursor to top-right corner of screen to access new Charms Bar. Now click on Search option and type power in search box. Now click on Settings link given in right-sidebar of search results page and then click on “Change what the power buttons do” link given in the search results as shown in following screenshot:

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Change_Power_Settings_Windows_8.png

STEP 2:

In Power Options window, click on the “Choose what the power buttons do” link given in left sidebar.

STEP 3:

On next page, you’ll see “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” option given in Shutdown settings section as shown in following screenshot:

Disable_Hybrid_Shutdown_Fast_Startup_Windows_8.png

STEP 4:

Disable the option by unchecking the checkbox and then click on “Save Changes” button.

NOTE: If the option is not shown or grayed out, scroll up and click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable” link. It’ll allow you to change the option settings.

STEP 5:

That’s it. Restart your system and your reboot or shutdown problems should get fixed in Windows 8 and later.

NOTE 1: If the above solution doesn’t fix your problem, you can try to execute following command in Command Prompt. Open Command Prompt as Administrator by right-click on the bottom-left corner and select the same option from the Win+X menu:

bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes

The above mentioned command used to fix a very annoying freezing issue found in Windows 8 Release Preview build. According to Microsoft the issue was fixed in Windows 8 RTM but if you are still facing the issue, you can try the command.

NOTE 2: In some computers, you may also check BIOS settings. If it contains “Fast Boot” or similar option, disable it.

How to Enter BIOS Settings on Your Windows PC?

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. ^^ Thats why I suggested clean install. Upgrading may cause such kind of issues but clean install should work fine.

  2. VG,
    I tried to install Windows 10 but each time it got hung up at 75% complete (configuration settings at 1%). This was unexpected and incredibly frustrating because I had previously upgraded to Windows 10 on two other occasions (August and September).
    I did a set of required updates to 8.1 then automatically received notice I was entitled to upgrade to 10. After 3 hours of downloads, installation and configuring, it stopped at 75%. I went to bed for a few hours and it was still stuck on 75% when I awoke. When I restored 8.1 I was told I needed to install yet another required update (Grrr). That being done, I began the Windows 10 upgrade again only for it to stop again at exactly 75%. I then changed PC settings to allow automatic updates, tried again and watched it again stop exactly at 75%.
    At this point I have a clean install of 8.1 and a Recovery Media. I’m fed up with wasting time on Microsoft’s latest monstrosity (aka 10), one which I can no longer upgrade to for reasons unknown. Believe me, my system hasn’t changed since September.
    Thanks for the suggestions, but I’m cutting my losses and planning to migrate to Apple come the new year. I need to work with a reliable system. I think separating the operating system from the OEM just doesn’t work at some point of complexity (I have an Nvidia card, which may be part of the problem).

    -Robbo_J

  3. VG,
    I tried a clean install of 10. Specifically, I tried it through the first link you sent. I used Internet Explorer selecting “Windows Phone” from the “Browser Profile” of the Emulation Tab in the Developer’s Window. The installation became stuck again at the exact same spot, 75% complete with the error message, C1900101-4000D.
    The other link you gave me just led to an infinite Do Loop. First you need to upgrade to Windows 10 before you can use the bootable USB drive to perform a clean installation. But if the problem is being unable to upgrade to Windows 10 at all, well, a clean installation is moot.
    All in all, a wasted rainy Sunday afternoon. If you’re keeping score, I’m 0 for 4.

    -RJH

  4. Hi
    I have a problem. I did you instructions but my problem did not fix. my computer is shunting down and restart later again. do you have any advice for me
    thanks

  5. I know this is an older fix but I recently upgraded a 7 PC to 10 & it would NOT turn off & this fixed it for me. Many Thanks, Jay

  6. VG,
    Merry Christmas. I followed the link and downloaded the files onto a USB and tried the upgrade from the USB. It stopped at exactly the same location, 75% complete (I’m 0-5 now). It did articulate the error message a bit more, It stopped while trying to save data, which doesn’t help me very much.

  7. ^^Then it might be a problem in BIOS settings. Try to reset BIOS settings to default and then start the installation. Also you can try to disable UEFI and Secure boot options in BIOS settings.

  8. Hi, quick question. Does this mean that the fast startup boasted by many win 10 users is in-fact just a form of hibernation that has existed on windows machines for some time?

    If so, what is the difference between ‘fast startup’ and simply using the actual ‘hibernate’ power option?

    Thanks for reading. Fantastic blog, I use it often.

  9. These steps didn’t work in my case either (brand new Asus laptop). I decided to check BIOS, and then give up, return it, purchase a used one with Windows 7.

    However, when entering BIOS>boot, I noticed that the “fast boot” option was still enabled there, as well as a few other things that involved booting. I disabled/enabled accordingly, and it worked.

    The answer to the “never completely shutting down” problem could rest in the BIOS, if the above advice didn’t work for you. I had tried all of it, to no avail. Disabling in the BIOS was the only successful step.

  10. IMPORTANT NOTE: Hybernate has to be ON.

    I turned it off for saving space on my ssd’s c drive and had to activate it for this all to work. When I turned it off again “powercfg -h off”, I had the same issues as before.

    So my setting is:
    1. Fastboot in BIOS enabled
    2. Hybernate on
    3. Fastboot in Windows off
    4. I also executed the command “bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes”, but I am not sure if this helped to solve the issue.

  11. Was having nightmare issues with shutdown and restart from Task bar. Now finally fixed, thank you for the information. Wish Microsoft would fix their products before they send them out for testing by millions of consumers. There were 168 updates to Windows 7, and 32 for Windows 8.1 Pro. That are all the bugs they left in the system. They cant be bothered troubleshooting it in their own back yard.

  12. sir, when i am starting my pc then its show something error and automatically restart …what i can i do sir.. help me plz

  13. If you find it’s not working, try disabling ‘Fast startup” restart your computer and then go back and turn it back on and restart your computer again. This should help.

    If the “Fast Shut down doesn’t work try this.
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

    Under Explorer key, create a new key and set its name as Serialize

    Now select Serialize key and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD StartupDelayInMSec
    and set its value to 0 to disable startup delay time.

    Forgot where I found this, but it may help.

  14. Finally an answer to my problem after four years of agonizing restart hangups. Thank you so much.

  15. I have sony laptop, restart again and again. Try to start in safe mode stil restart again. Even unable to install windows again but stuck at “setup os starting windows” after language and time serting. Any solution.?

  16. ^^ First of all, reset BIOS settings to default and then try to reinstall Windows. Perform a clean install of Windows, not upgrade. If the problem still persists, then it may be a hardware problem.

  17. Hello VG,

    Im facing autoshut down problem with my PC.
    Recently changed SMPS and still i have this problem.

    What really happenes is , PC randomly shuts down and it tries to restart and goes down , again tries to restart and goes down, this happens 3 or 4 time and then, i turn of the power after 10 secs again turn on the power, turn on the system and it comes up again.

    Please suggest on what needs to be done.

  18. Just tried this and it worked great! I am so happy now , no more manual shut down. Thanks for the help and info. Awesome !

  19. So, I did all the steps (twice), but it still doesn’t work. What else can I do to fix this?

  20. Thank you very much!
    I was changing my windows everyday because of the startup hung,and i searched a lot and went to some workshops but still it was the same. one again tnx alot.

  21. Thank you so much, I was able add Hibernation to my system. You have added value to me.

    The only issue I have now is that I can’t connect to wireless internet and am tire of cabel connection.
    I check my system, this is what I saw, Driver version 5.0.26.26
    Manufacturer Ralink Technology Corp.

    Regards.

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