Windows 10 won't do a restart

I realize this is an old thread, but since it was left unresolved as far as I can tell, I offer a couple comments about my experience in resolving it for my new build. Machine has UEFI and uses GPT as opposed to old style BIOS and MBR.

Problem: Machine would start and run from a power-off condition (cold start) without any problems. Device manager did not indicate any problems or conflicts. However, machine would not restart from a power-on condition (hot start). All attempts to adjust settings in the BIOS section of the UEFI (or any other section of the UEFI) failed to resolve the problem. All available versions of UEFI firmware were tested without resolving the problem.

Solution: From a windows cmd prompt (Run as Administrator) execute the command "bcdboot C:\windows". Following a short burst of disk activity, I received a message of success. Machine now reliably starts and restarts without any problems.

Discussion: Reading a description of the bcdboot command on the Microsoft website is worthwhile and enlightening. For me it was important to read descriptions for all the command switches event though none were required. What I learned is that with UEFI there is a protected spot on the disk drive that contains boot information. This area is apparently separate from the boot information contained in the firmware UEFI. Apparently, during a cold start, the firmware UEFI is read for boot information, but during a hot start (i.e., a restart) boot information in the UEFI firmware is not used. Instead boot information in the protected area is used, and for my machine that information had somehow gotten corrupted.

Hope this helps. Perhaps someone with a better understanding of UEFI and boot processes will comment to correct any errors I have made.

991C4S said:

Solution: From a windows cmd prompt (Run as Administrator) execute the command "bcdboot C:\windows". Following a short burst of disk activity, I received a message of success. Machine now reliably starts and restarts without any problems.

I created an account on this site just to thank you for this. This problem had been freaking killing me for months, and your bcdboot suggestion appears to have fixed it.

Thank you!

Solution: From a windows cmd prompt (Run as Administrator) execute the command "bcdboot C:\windows". Following a short burst of disk activity, I received a message of success. Machine now reliably starts and restarts without any problems.

I too have this issue where my machine will not restart but just hangs there with the screen off and have tried everything I could find to fix it.

This did not work either for me.

I guess I keep looking or live with it as I have done for months.

midgo said:

This did not work either for me.

At the end of the day: me either. Seemed to work for a bit but... no. Still fighting this one. Damn I miss Sun Microsystems.

Guys, if the other solutions don't work, try this. Disable Superfetch service, worked for me.

991C4S said:

Solution: From a windows cmd prompt (Run as Administrator) execute the command "bcdboot C:\windows". Following a short burst of disk activity, I received a message of success. Machine now reliably starts and restarts without any problems.

Came here to say this worked for me. After weeks of trying and waiting hours to see if Windows will be smart enough to bypass it by itself, I got fed up because it keeps nagging me to update. It's unbelievable that these stupid problems still exists.

Hi guys,
Turning off the wifi before restarting worked for me (Fn + F3 for my acer tablet, turning wifi off by toogling the wifi icon in the action center WON'T WORK).
I know this is an old thread but I just want to give my 2cents in case anyone might be googling around and stumbling upon this thread like I did.
With windows 10, when restart doesn't work, it could be that some peripheral(s) don't function properly and cannot be turned off by the OS, so try to manually turn everything off, as many as you can: wifi, bluetooth, etc...
Also stay away from Realtek as much as you can

991C4S said:

Solution: From a windows cmd prompt (Run as Administrator) execute the command "bcdboot C:\windows". Following a short burst of disk activity, I received a message of success. Machine now reliably starts and restarts without any problems.

Even though this thread is 4 years old, this problem is still relevant. I've been having this exact issue for quite some time.
Disabling "Fast Boot" in my BIOS did help for a while that is. And now "bcdboot " seems to have helped, for now at least.

Fingers crossed that doesn't reappear because it's getting really frustrating.