Installing an OS is the final part of building a PC and arguably one of the most exciting bits, as well as you patiently wait for the OS to install and the computer to boot.
However, regardless of if you’re opening your new laptop for the first time or installing Windows on an old machine, if the OS installation seems to be stuck at ‘Getting Windows Ready’, you might need a little help getting out of that slump.
In this article, we’re going over a few fixes for when your Windows installation is stuck at ‘Getting Windows Ready’.
Also read: How to fix Red Screen of Death in Windows 10?
Wait it out
The first thing you should do is determine if the process is actually stuck or not. If you’re installing Windows on a traditional HDD, an older drive or a particularly not so strong PC, the installation itself, as well as the getting ready bit, can take some time. We recommend waiting for somewhere between 2-3 hours before making any further decisions.
Power reset your machine
Power resetting your PC will remove all data from memory but not from the storage, meaning when you’ll reboot, it’ll just continue the installation where it left off instead of installing the whole operating system again.
The process of power resetting or power cycling a PC is relatively simple as well. Just disconnect all power cables to and from your PC (remove the battery if it’s an option) and hold down the power button for 30 seconds.
Run an SFC scan
Running an SFC scan can find and fix any corrupt or damaged files that may have been created during installation.
Step 1: Boot your computer using the Windows installation media. Click Repair your computer.
Step 2: On the blue screen recovery window, click on Troubleshoot.
Step 3: Select Advanced options.
Step 4: Then select Command Prompt.
Step 5; Type the following commands one by one in the Command Prompt pressing enter after each.
sfc /scannowRestart your PC once the SFC command has run, and it should boot just fine.
Also read: How to fix Stop Code Memory Management in Windows 10?
Boot into safe mode
Another thing you can try out is booting into safe mode and uninstalling any Windows update that might’ve been installed alongside the OS. Removing these updates can help the installation process complete faster, and then you can add the updates later.
Booting into Safe Mode using Windows Settings
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Safe Mode. Click the corresponding search result.
Step 2: Under Advanced startup, click on Restart now.
Step 3: When your PC reboots, click on Troubleshoot.
Step 4: Head over to Advanced Options.
Step 5: Select Startup Settings.
Step 6: Click the Restart button.
Wait for your PC to reboot into safe mode and check if you can access it without any issues.
Also read: Windows update stuck at 0: 6 Fixes.
From the Start Menu
Open the Start menu, click on the power icon and click on Restart while holding down the Shift key. Then, follow Step 3 to Step 6 from the section above and wait for your PC to restart.
From a blank screen
If you’re unable to reach the login screen, try these steps.
Step 1: Hold down the power button for about ten seconds to power off your PC.
Step 2: Press the power button again to boot your PC.
Step 3: As soon as you see the PC manufacturer’s logo, press and hold the power button for ten seconds.
This should boot your PC into the Windows Recovery Environment. Follow steps 3 to 6 from the section above and wait for your PC to restart.
Also read: How to fix Kernel Security Check Failure in Windows 10?
Run system restore
Lastly, if nothing else works, try restoring your system to a previous point where it was functioning properly.
Step 1: Press the Windows key and search for Reset this PC. Then, launch the Recovery setting from the search results.
Step 2: Click on Open System Restore.
Step 3: Select the recommended restore point and click the Next button to proceed.
Repair your system
If nothing else works, the best way to get rid of the error is by simply reinstalling or repairing your OS.
The Windows Media Creation tool is a great way to install Windows and repair the OS. Using this, you can perform a clean installation or repair your OS without affecting your personal data.
You can download the Media Creation Tool here
