Surface Pro 8, Windows 11 constant loading ring at start-up from Sleep

Question

I have a pretty new Surface Pro 8 on Windows 11.

I've noticed that lately, after I 'sleep' the computer with the power button. When I go to start the computer back up, it will take a long time, and then subsequently go onto the dark, blank screen with the Windows logo and a blue loading ring beneath it (like if there were updates being installed).

However, this is happening every time now, and I don't understand why updates are being installed every time I'm just getting the computer in and out of sleep. Any help is appreciated!

I was initially recommended to do a new install from a flash drive of Windows 11, which I carried out, and I still run into the same issue.

Answer 1

Can you go to Settings, Windows Update, Update History and see if you can figure out what updates(s) if any are failing to install? Also, Update History should be able to show when updates were installed and when, and usually there is a visual indication that updates are being installed.

Answer 2

Hi Barb,

It doesn't look like any updates are failing to install that I can see in the Update History. The frequency of this need to load for 5 min when starting up from sleep mode seems to be abnormal.

Fred

Answer 3

You stated "I was initially recommended to do a new install from a flash drive of Windows 11, which I carried out, and I still run into the same issue." which sounds like you used the generic Windows installer and not the official downloadable recovery image for your Surface Pro 8. If this is the case, you should go to Download Surface Pro 8 Drivers and Firmware from Official Microsoft Download Center and download and run SurfacePro8_Win11_22000_22.041.6912.0.msi - then go to Windows Update and manually check for and install all available updates.

If that does not resolve the issue AND you used the generic Windows 11 installer, suggest you use the official recovery image. Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surfacerecoveryimage  

(with a different Windows computer if yours is not working properly) 

and download a recovery image for your Surface. You will need a 16GB or 32GB USB stick (also called a flash drive) formatted FAT32 (use a Windows computer).  You can't use an actual external USB hard drive for this and don't use anything larger than a 32 GB USB stick. Best to purchase and use a new, previously unused USB stick for this. Use FULL format and not quick format and give the volume a name like surfboot. Unzip/extract the recovery zip to the root of the formatted USB stick.

There are full instructions and a video at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023512/surface-creating-and-using-a-usb-recovery-drive#download but below are quick instructions.

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.
3. When the Microsoft or Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
5. Select Troubleshoot , and then select Recover from a drive .

*If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen*.

1. Note:
   Be sure to select the Troubleshoot option on this screen. Don’t select the Use a device option. If you select the Use a device option, your Surface will reboot from the USB recovery drive again and the reset process will start over.
2. Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.
   The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you’re recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you’re keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
3. Select Recover.
   Surface restarts and displays the Surface logo while the reset process continues. This can take several minutes.

Answer 4

Hi Barb,

First off, thank you very much for your help and prompt replies.

My apologies, I went back and checked, and I believe I did in fact run the process with an official recovery image.

Surface Recovery Image Download (microsoft.com)

After completing that entire process, I still ran into the same issue.

Cheers,

Fred

Answer 5

What programs/apps, etc. are open when your Surface enters sleep mode?

You can try DISM and SFC to see if there are issues/corruption (and repair them) that are causing this.

Select the Search icon, type: CMD
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

Type in at the prompt OR Copy and Paste these one line at a time : (Hit enter after each)

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Also run the System File Checker utility:
Select the Search icon, type: CMD
Right click CMD
Click Run as administrator

At the Command Prompt, type: sfc /SCANNOW
This will check for any integrity violations

Restart your system and see if the delays are still there.