How to Unfreeze Windows During Setup Process

Nov 19, 2024

3 min read

Although it's a frequent problem, seeing a frozen screen during Windows setup can be annoying. Freezing can happen for a number of reasons, including software conflicts, hardware malfunctions, or system incompatibilities, whether you're updating to a new version of Windows or installing a fresh copy. Thankfully, there are a number of actions you can take to restart your machine and fix getting windows ready stuck. Let's discuss these methods in detail.

Verify the connections on your hardware.

Make sure all of your hardware components are connected correctly before beginning more complicated troubleshooting. The installation procedure may halt due to loose or malfunctioning hardware. Here's what to look for:

Cables and Connections: Verify that all of your external disks, keyboard, mouse, and monitor are connected correctly. Make sure the power wire is firmly plugged in if you're using a laptop.

Take Out Any External Devices: To avoid them interfering with the installation process, disconnect any extraneous external devices, such as external hard drives, printers, or USB drives.

Take Your Time

Occasionally, Windows setup may seem to be stuck when, in reality, a specific process is simply taking longer than anticipated to finish. The setup process may take some time to load or apply settings, depending on your hardware, network connection, and Windows version. Wait 15 to 30 minutes before concluding that the system is indeed frozen if it appears unresponsive but isn't displaying an error message.

Compulsory Restart

The next step is to force a computer restart if waiting doesn't fix the problem. To accomplish this:

Until the computer completely shuts off, hold down the power button.
To restart the computer after it has shut down, wait a few seconds and then hit the power button once again.
The machine may automatically pick up where it left off with the setup procedure upon reboot. The system may try to restart the installation from the beginning if it doesn't.

Look for Problems with the Installation Media

There might be a problem with your installation media (USB drive, DVD, or ISO file) if your setup process keeps freezing at the same spot. This is how to deal with it:

Examine the Media: Look for mistakes if you're using a USB drive. The installation file may not be full, or the USB stick may be corrupted.
Recreate the Installation Media: Take into account producing the installation media again if you're using a bootable USB or DVD. Create a fresh bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool after downloading the most recent version of Windows from Microsoft's official website.

Try Using a Different USB Port: If you're using a USB drive, try plugging it into a different USB port. If one is available, use a USB 2.0 port. During setup, some older PCs might not be able to use USB 3.0.

Verify System Requirements

If your system does not satisfy the minimum hardware requirements for the version of Windows you are trying to install, the installation may freeze. For instance, problems may arise if you try to install Windows 11 on a computer without TPM 2.0 or secure boot enabled. Make sure your system satisfies the requirements for the Windows version you're installing before starting the installation.

Make use of Safe Mode

Try booting into Safe Mode to get around the problem if the installation pauses at a certain point, like after copying data or during completing settings. Here's how:

Press the F8 key (or another key, depending on the manufacturer) before Windows loads after the system has restarted.
Choose Safe Mode from the advanced boot choices, then try to proceed with the setup.
By limiting Windows to necessary drivers and processes, Safe Mode may help avoid any conflicts that are causing the freeze.

Complete a Clean Installation

You might need to undertake a fresh Windows installation if your setup still freezes after attempting all of the aforementioned fixes. Make sure to backup any vital data before starting this process, which entails erasing your hard drive and reinstalling Windows from scratch.

In conclusion

Although it can be annoying when Windows freezes during the setup process, there are a number of troubleshooting techniques to fix the problem. You may frequently overcome the freeze and finish the installation by making sure the installation media is compatible with your system, checking hardware connections, and making sure the system is compatible. A clean installation can be the best course of action if all else fails. Your Windows setup should quickly return to normal with perseverance and patience.