Win 10 not restarting when restart iselected, does a shut down instead

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 57
    Win 10 21H1
       #1

    Win 10 not restarting when restart iselected, does a shut down instead


    I can initiate a shut down and then manually restart my PC/Windows in the usual way.
    I can log off and on again.
    And I even seem to be able to launch a restart from the log-in screen if I've logged out.
    But within Windows START-POWER-RESTART fails and my PC goes into a normal close down without restart.
    I need to emphasise, (because all the searches I've made to find a solution to this problem turn out to be about Windows hanging or freezing on restart), that it does none of those things. Instead, Windows decides that it can't restart and initiates a normal shut down as an alternative.
    According to the log files

    "The attempt by user MAIN\my username to restart/shutdown computer MAIN failed"

    But it does shut down fine, just doesn't Restart itself. And there's absolutely nothing else in the log file to help.
    Shut down just carries on as it should when that has been selected.
    I've tried several times, logging-in clearing the log file and going straight to restart without launching any programmes. And then after shutdown and manually restarting going straight ot the system log-file so that I could see everything that had happened in the sequence.
    All that happens is that the restart initialises, then the message above appears, then a normal shutdown starts instead of a restart.
    It's not a crash, it appears to be an ordered, normal shut down. Windows displays the shutting down message instead of the restarting message. It shuts down the computer normally. And it comes back up when I turn the computer back on again

    I'd appreciate either a solution or some pointer as to where I should look for an issue that could cause Windows Restart to fail, but does not prevent or have any effect on normal shutdown or booting.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,898
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    Don't know if it will work for you but I've seen a couple times where the focus of the mouse was too wide and caught a different button, was too close to what was desired. Might also try the choices on the right-click of the Start button.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #3

    See if a CMD to restart also shut it down.
    Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

    shutdown /r
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 57
    Win 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Interesting


    @Berton No. It does initialise a restart. Then decides it can't and switches to a close down sequence instead. And I've repeated this dozens of times while trying to problem solve it, ever since I first found it happening, more than once. This is not an isolated occurrence.

    - - - Updated - - -

    - - - Updated - - -

    @Megahertz Interesting, thank you, yes that restarted. Even using a normal command prompt, not even admin ( though it's an admin account).
    It doesn't leave me any the wiser about why a normal Windows restart doesn't work, and I'll try it a few times more to make sure it wasn't a fluke. But if it isn't, maybe that's a clue. Just not a clue that I can make any sense of. For once I'm out of my depth.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #5

    Run the following batch script and see whether Windows is restarted.

    Restart-Time.bat

    Reference: Please Wait... | Cloudflare
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 57
    Win 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    It did. Even came back with a time - which was either or 155 seconds or 195 (It was a very small box).
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #7

    The time was the restart time.
    You may create a shortcut to run the following command:

    Shutdown -r -f -t 00

    It will restart Windows immediately.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 57
    Win 10 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks the RESTART /r option is a useful work around.
    But has anyone any idea how I can actually resolve the issue, or at least what might cause it?
    Is the fact that I can restart from a command prompt or by logging out first provide any clues to anyone?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #9

    Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

    I can only think on fast start. Try to disable it.
    Turn On or Off Fast Startup in Windows 10
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 141
    Windows 10
       #10

    The next time Windows just shuts down instead of restarting, please launch the Event Viewer and see what interesting power-related events are recorded for those times.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 00:15.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums