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How to fix preparing windows

Ron Dorran 0 Reputation points
2026-02-13T00:06:45.5+00:00

How to fix windows preparing when opening laptop and recurring sign in

Microsoft Edge | Open the browser | Windows 11
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  1. Estrella721 34,435 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-02-13T00:44:01.7366667+00:00

    I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing this issue. I'm happy to help.

    This problem commonly happens when Microsoft Windows is stuck finishing update configurations. Installing and completing updates usually stops the recurring Preparing Windows and sign in loop.

    Please restart your laptop completely. After signing in, go to Settings > System > Windows Update, then click Check for updates and install all pending updates.

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  2. Q&A Assist
    2026-02-13T00:06:55.4866667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To address the issue of Windows preparing when opening your laptop, you can follow these troubleshooting steps:

    1. Check for Pending Updates: Sometimes, pending updates can cause issues during startup. You can check for and uninstall any pending updates using the Command Prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). Here’s how:
      • Boot into WinRE using an installation media or recovery drive.
      • Open Command Prompt and run the command: DISM /image:C:\ /get-packages.
      • If there are pending updates, uninstall them using:
             DISM /image:C:\ /remove-package /packagename:name_of_the_package
             DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions
        
      • Restart your computer to see if the issue persists.
    2. Perform a Clean Boot: This can help identify if a third-party service is causing the problem. Use the System Configuration tool (msconfig) to select Selective startup and disable non-Microsoft services. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.
    3. Reset the Graphics Driver: If you encounter a black screen after signing in, resetting the graphics driver might help. Press Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver.
    4. Check Shell Configuration: Ensure that the Shell value in the registry is set correctly. Open the Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. Make sure the Shell value is set to explorer.exe.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider seeking further assistance or exploring more advanced troubleshooting options.


    References:

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