What should I do if I encounter the ‘getting windows ready stuck dell’ issue on my laptop?

What should I do if I encounter the ‘getting windows ready stuck dell’ issue on my laptop?
I recently experienced a frustrating situation with my Dell laptop where it got stuck on the ‘Getting Windows Ready’ screen. This problem can be quite concerning as the screen remains stuck for an extended period without showing any progress. I tried waiting, hoping it would eventually proceed, but nothing seemed to work. This issue disrupted my work and left me unable to access important files and applications. The lack of clear instructions or feedback during this process only added to my frustration. I am looking for insights and understanding of why this problem occurs and how I might address it.
4 Answers

Booting into Safe Mode might be a good option. Here’s what you can do:
- Restart your laptop and repeatedly press the F8 key (or Shift+F8, depending on your Dell model) to enter Advanced Boot Options.
- Select ‘Safe Mode with Networking’.
- Once in Safe Mode, press Windows + R, type ‘msconfig’, go to the Boot tab and uncheck ‘Safe boot’.
Restart your laptop after this. Safe Mode loads the basic drivers only and can help bypass the stuck screen. This method has helped me during critical times.

Performing a hard reset helped me when I faced this issue. Here’s what to do:
- Press and hold the power button for around 10 seconds to turn off the laptop.
- Disconnect all peripherals (USB drives, external hard drives, etc.).
- Remove the power cable and battery (if removable).
- Hold the power button again for about 20 seconds to discharge any residual power.
- After this, reinsert the battery, reconnect the power cable, and turn on your laptop.
This method reset everything and resolved the ‘Getting Windows Ready’ problem for me.

Another approach is utilizing the Windows Recovery Environment. Follow these steps:
- Restart your laptop and interrupt the startup process three times (turn off as Windows tries to load). This triggers the Recovery screen.
- From the Recovery screen, select ‘Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair’. Follow the prompts.
- If Startup Repair fails, attempt other options like ‘System Restore’ or ‘Uninstall Updates’ from the Advanced options menu.
Using these recovery tools helps resolve deeper issues. This method was particularly effective when a simple restart wasn’t enough.