Windows 11 slow boot (~ 15 min) and shutdown (1 hour +)

Now it is even worse. I cannot boot and I cannot shut down from Start. I managed to get to repair boot and at the moment the message on the screen is 'Diagnosing your PC'

Any help please?

Hi Thanks for your reply.I am glad that your problem has been resolved.Do not hesitate to ask the community at any time in case you have any questions in the future.  : )We appreciate your feedback, please click Yes or No to help us improve the support experience and help others with similar concerns.Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hello Derick,

Thank you again for your help. I have tried all your recommendation one by one to no avail. However System Restore WORKED. So my computer is again working well.

Perhaps a few notes for others that may have the same or similar problems.

When removing WindowsMobile and its componets the main folder could not be deleted, but most individual files inside could. Some of the dll files also were initially comming with a message that they cannot be deleted because they are used by another program. As it turned out it was just a question of order. I just tried to remove all I could and eventually all were gone followed by empty WindowsMobile folder. It did not help with the long boot and not shutting down though.

I then made a mistake trying to repair Windows instead of restoring it. This went on for several hours and eventually froze at 94%. (Searching the Internet I found that freezing was quite a common feature of Windows Repair).

But, finally System Restore solved my problem.

I spent four days trying to fix my desktop so you can imagine my relief when on testing my computer shut down as fast as ever! :-)

Jan

The most common cause for slow startup and shutdown is: Too many applications are running for the available resources. This causes startup to be slow because too many applications are competing for your computer's resources as they try to launch alongside Windows. It causes shutdown to be slow because all these applications have to be shutdown properly (what we call 'gracefully') before Windows itself can shut down. The first step in dealing with this problem is to start your computer in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode means that only the basic elements of Windows are running. No third-party applications are running, and no scheduled tasks. If your computer starts and shuts down in a satisfactory manner in Safe Mode, then you know that the cause of the slowness is one or more of the applications that are trying to start alongside Windows.

If your computer still starts and shuts down slowly, even in Safe Mode, that tells you that at least part of trouble is in Windows itself. (Applications starting alongside Windows may be adding to the problem.) In this case, malware is the most common cause, but unsupported changes to the operating system can also be a problem.

In general: When troubleshooting a problem on your own, you should follow three steps:

1- Define the problem as specifically as you can. This isn't always easy.

2- Do research to learn the most likely cause(s) of the problem you have defined.

3- Look for steps that directly address the cause(s) you found.

The alternative, which people are tempted to do, is to try everything they have heard about with the hope that something will work. While someone can get lucky this way, that approach can be frustrating and can even lead to more damage.

Hi Welcome to Microsoft community. The issues you're experiencing with slow boot and shutdown times on Windows 11 could be related to the installation of Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) and its associated components. You've already tried several troubleshooting steps, but there are a few more things you can attempt before considering a full Windows repair. Here's a structured approach to address these issues:

1. Uninstall Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) Completely

Since the problems started after installing WMDC, it's important to ensure it's completely uninstalled:

Control Panel: Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.

Uninstall WMDC: If WMDC is still listed, attempt to uninstall it again.

Delete Remaining Files: Manually delete the WindowsMobile folder under C:\Windows if it still exists.

2. Clean Boot

Performing a clean boot can help identify if any third-party applications or services are causing the issue:

System Configuration: Type msconfig in the Start menu search and press Enter.

Services Tab: Check Hide all Microsoft services, then click Disable all.

Startup Tab: Click Open Task Manager and disable all startup items.

Restart: Restart your computer and see if the boot and shutdown times improve.

Disclaimer: A “clean boot” starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. It helps to determine whether a background service is interfering with your game or program and to isolate the cause of a problem.

These steps of "clean boot" might look complicated at first glance. However, to avoid any trouble for you, please follow them in order and step-by step so that it will help you get back on track. 

3. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup can sometimes cause issues with booting and shutting down:

Control Panel: Go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.

Change Settings: Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.

Disable Fast Startup: Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) and save changes.

4. Update BIOS

An outdated BIOS can sometimes cause performance issues:

Acer Support: Visit the Acer support website and check if there's a BIOS update available for your model.

Update BIOS: Follow the instructions provided by Acer to update your BIOS. Disclaimer:  Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and  is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party  linked sites or any support related to technology. If you are going to modify BIOS Settings, please  back up all your personal files first to ensure you do not lose data.  

5. Check Disk Health

Running a disk check can help identify and fix any issues with your hard drive:

Schedule CHKDSK: Since you couldn't run CHKDSK /f /r while Windows is running, schedule it to run at the next reboot.

When prompted with Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N), type Y and press Enter.

Restart your computer to allow CHKDSK to run.

6. Disable or Uninstall Antivirus

Sometimes antivirus software can cause slow boot and shutdown times:

Temporarily Disable: Temporarily disable TrendMicro antivirus and observe if there’s any improvement.

Uninstall: If disabling it doesn't help, consider uninstalling it temporarily to see if that resolves the issue.

Disclaimer: Temporarily turn off antivirus protection. However, keep in mind that if you do so, your device may be vulnerable to threats. So please turn it on immediately once issue fixed. 

7. Perform a System Restore

If the issues started recently, you can try restoring your system to a point before the problems began:

System Restore: Type System Restore in the Start menu search and press Enter.

Choose Restore Point: Select a restore point dated before the installation of WMDC and follow the prompts.

8. Repair Windows Installation

If none of the above steps work, you might need to repair your Windows installation:

In-Place Upgrade: Download the Windows 11 installation media from the Microsoft website.

Run Setup: Run the setup tool and choose the option to Upgrade this PC now. This will reinstall Windows 11 while keeping your files and applications.

Disclaimer: Let’s try performing an in-place install or in-place upgrade which will refresh your Windows files and operating system without removing files or applications. That being said, we always recommend that if you have important data, you should back it up before making large system changes. If you want to back up your data first, please do so. Let me know if you need further assistance.Best regardsDerrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist