Sometimes during startup your PC takes a long time to load with a message “Preparing for Windows setupon the screen. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours, which prevents you from using your system to perform any tasks for the entire duration.
This usually happens when Windows tries to make changes to your PC by installing new files and settings that were downloaded in the last update. Therefore, uninstalling the update(s) is the perfect solution to fix it.
Moreover, faulty programs or damaged system files are also likely offenders. Let’s discuss other problematic features for this problem and their corresponding solutions in this article.
How to Fix Preparing Windows Setup?
The first thing you should do is Wait. When your PC restarts with this message on the screen, Windows tries to fix any problems in system files or install updates. Therefore, be patient and wait for this process to complete, and do not turn off your system.
However, if the configuration process takes a very long time, i.e. more than 3 hours, or if you encounter this situation frequently, other issues may cause this error, which are listed below.
- For laptops, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to restart the device.
- For PCs, press and hold the power button for a few seconds. If that doesn’t work, unplug your device’s power source to turn it off.
Perform a Clean Boot
Clean Boot launches your PC with the fewest drivers and programs, basically only those required by the system. So, if your system is facing this error due to some faulty programs while booting, a clean boot should fix it. Here’s how:
- Hurry Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type
msconfig
in the box and press Walk in. - Select the Services tab in the system configuration area.
- Check the box next to the Hide all Microsoft services option.
- Click on the Disable everything option and press Apply.
- Now go to start tab and click Open task manager.
- In Task Manager, go to start tongue.
- Disable all applications that have their status as Enabled.
- Close Task Manager and press OKAY before closing the system configuration box.
- To restart your device.
Your device will now boot into a clean boot environment. Check whether the problem occurs or not. If not, one or more faulty programs in your system are to blame.
Now you have to manually find the program causing this problem and disable it on startup or remove it. After loading windows in clean boot, go to Services on msconfig
and enable a program that you previously disabled. Now restart your device.
Repeat this process for each app individually until you find the faulty one. Do the same process for startup apps in Task Manager. Once you determine the faulty app, disable or uninstall it.
Uninstall updates
Sometimes a problematic Windows update is to blame for keeping your PC in an endless configuration loop. After performing an update, Windows will install updates during the next boot phase.
Therefore, due to problems in update files or some problems during installation, Windows may take a long time to complete the setup or even get stuck.
In such a case, uninstall the updates to rejuvenate your computer. Follow us to do it:
For Windows 10,
- press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings the window.
- Open Update and security and go to Windows Update.
- Click on the View update history.
- Hit Uninstall updates at the top of the window.
- A list of all updates according to their installation date is displayed.
- Right-click on the update and press Uninstall.
- Click on Uninstall button in the pop-up window to confirm.
- Restart your computer.
For Windows 11,
- press the Windows + I key to open the Settings the window.
- Open Windows Update > Update history.
- Click on Uninstall updates to open the list of recent updates.
- Right-click on the most recent update or the one you think is problematic and select Uninstall.
- Confirm your action by clicking on the Yes button in the pop-up window.
Start SFC scan
As mentioned earlier, corrupted and broken system files are also one of the likely causes for this problem, as setup is the stage where Windows uses these files to make necessary changes to the system.
Therefore, run the System File Checker (SFC) scan to scan and restore damaged files. For that,
- Type
cmd
in the search bar. - Right click on Command Prompt and select Execute as administrator.
- Copy-paste or type
sfc /scannow
and press Walk in. - Once the process is complete, To restart your computer.
Run the check disc system tool
System files are stored in the C: drive of your hard drive by default. Problems within the hard drive cause file system errors leading to the main problem. So it’s best to investigate disk errors and fix them using the chkdsk
tool. Follow the steps to run it:
- Type
cmd
in the search bar. - Right click on Command Prompt and click on Execute as administrator.
- Type or copy-paste the code and press Walk in key
chkdsk C: /f /r /x
- A message with the WE An option will appear that mentions verify volume on next reboot. Press Y and Walk in.
- Restart your system.
Now, when the system restarts, the check disk tool scans and performs logical repairs on the specified drive, thus solving your problem.
Reset your PC
Resetting your PC will change all system settings to default and remove all updates. Therefore, this will also remove the faulty files or programs causing the “Prepare Windows Setup” problem.
Resetting removes all apps except the default ones. You have the option to delete or keep your files after the reset. To reset your PC, follow these steps:
For Windows 10,
- Hurry windows + me key to open the Settings.
- Go to Update and security > Recovery.
- Click on Begin button under Reset this PC.
- Select whether you want to delete or save your files.
- Click on the Local resettlement option and select Next.
- Hit it Reset button on Ready to reset this PC page.
For Windows 11,
- Hurry Windows + I key to open the Settings.
- Below Systemopen Recovery.
- Click it reset computer button under Recovery options.
- Choose whether you want to keep or delete your files.
- Select Local resettlement > Next.
- Hit it Reset button to start.
Your PC will reboot after a short while and begin the reset process.
To note: Use it as a last resort if none of the above fixes work. Don’t forget to back up your important files and write down the program settings.
Sometimes during startup your PC takes a long time to load with a message “Preparing for Windows setupon the screen. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours, which prevents you from using your system to perform any tasks for the entire duration.
This usually happens when Windows tries to make changes to your PC by installing new files and settings that were downloaded in the last update. Therefore, uninstalling the update(s) is the perfect solution to fix it.
Moreover, faulty programs or damaged system files are also likely offenders. Let’s discuss other problematic features for this problem and their corresponding solutions in this article.
How to Fix Preparing Windows Setup?
The first thing you should do is Wait. When your PC restarts with this message on the screen, Windows tries to fix any problems in system files or install updates. Therefore, be patient and wait for this process to complete, and do not turn off your system.
However, if the configuration process takes a very long time, i.e. more than 3 hours, or if you encounter this situation frequently, other issues may cause this error, which are listed below.
- For laptops, press and hold the power button for a few seconds to restart the device.
- For PCs, press and hold the power button for a few seconds. If that doesn’t work, unplug your device’s power source to turn it off.
Perform a Clean Boot
Clean Boot launches your PC with the fewest drivers and programs, basically only those required by the system. So, if your system is facing this error due to some faulty programs while booting, a clean boot should fix it. Here’s how:
- Hurry Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type
msconfig
in the box and press Walk in. - Select the Services tab in the system configuration area.
- Check the box next to the Hide all Microsoft services option.
- Click on the Disable everything option and press Apply.
- Now go to start tab and click Open task manager.
- In Task Manager, go to start tongue.
- Disable all applications that have their status as Enabled.
- Close Task Manager and press OKAY before closing the system configuration box.
- To restart your device.
Your device will now boot into a clean boot environment. Check whether the problem occurs or not. If not, one or more faulty programs in your system are to blame.
Now you have to manually find the program causing this problem and disable it on startup or remove it. After loading windows in clean boot, go to Services on msconfig
and enable a program that you previously disabled. Now restart your device.
Repeat this process for each app individually until you find the faulty one. Do the same process for startup apps in Task Manager. Once you determine the faulty app, disable or uninstall it.
Uninstall updates
Sometimes a problematic Windows update is to blame for keeping your PC in an endless configuration loop. After performing an update, Windows will install updates during the next boot phase.
Therefore, due to problems in update files or some problems during installation, Windows may take a long time to complete the setup or even get stuck.
In such a case, uninstall the updates to rejuvenate your computer. Follow us to do it:
For Windows 10,
- press the Windows + I keys to open the Settings the window.
- Open Update and security and go to Windows Update.
- Click on the View update history.
- Hit Uninstall updates at the top of the window.
- A list of all updates according to their installation date is displayed.
- Right-click on the update and press Uninstall.
- Click on Uninstall button in the pop-up window to confirm.
- Restart your computer.
For Windows 11,
- press the Windows + I key to open the Settings the window.
- Open Windows Update > Update history.
- Click on Uninstall updates to open the list of recent updates.
- Right-click on the most recent update or the one you think is problematic and select Uninstall.
- Confirm your action by clicking on the Yes button in the pop-up window.
Start SFC scan
As mentioned earlier, corrupted and broken system files are also one of the likely causes for this problem, as setup is the stage where Windows uses these files to make necessary changes to the system.
Therefore, run the System File Checker (SFC) scan to scan and restore damaged files. For that,
- Type
cmd
in the search bar. - Right click on Command Prompt and select Execute as administrator.
- Copy-paste or type
sfc /scannow
and press Walk in. - Once the process is complete, To restart your computer.
Run the check disc system tool
System files are stored in the C: drive of your hard drive by default. Problems within the hard drive cause file system errors leading to the main problem. So it’s best to investigate disk errors and fix them using the chkdsk
tool. Follow the steps to run it:
- Type
cmd
in the search bar. - Right click on Command Prompt and click on Execute as administrator.
- Type or copy-paste the code and press Walk in key
chkdsk C: /f /r /x
- A message with the WE An option will appear that mentions verify volume on next reboot. Press Y and Walk in.
- Restart your system.
Now, when the system restarts, the check disk tool scans and performs logical repairs on the specified drive, thus solving your problem.
Reset your PC
Resetting your PC will change all system settings to default and remove all updates. Therefore, this will also remove the faulty files or programs causing the “Prepare Windows Setup” problem.
Resetting removes all apps except the default ones. You have the option to delete or keep your files after the reset. To reset your PC, follow these steps:
For Windows 10,
- Hurry windows + me key to open the Settings.
- Go to Update and security > Recovery.
- Click on Begin button under Reset this PC.
- Select whether you want to delete or save your files.
- Click on the Local resettlement option and select Next.
- Hit it Reset button on Ready to reset this PC page.
For Windows 11,
- Hurry Windows + I key to open the Settings.
- Below Systemopen Recovery.
- Click it reset computer button under Recovery options.
- Choose whether you want to keep or delete your files.
- Select Local resettlement > Next.
- Hit it Reset button to start.
Your PC will reboot after a short while and begin the reset process.
To note: Use it as a last resort if none of the above fixes work. Don’t forget to back up your important files and write down the program settings.