Frozen Laptop Restarting: Causes and 4 Fixes That Work Fast

Encountering a restarting loop on your laptop can disrupt your studies or work. This is a relatively serious and difficult-to-fix error. If you don’t know how to handle it, try applying the 4 solutions suggested by FPT Shop in the following article!

1. What is a laptop stuck in a restarting loop?

A laptop stuck in a restarting loop is a condition where the computer encounters an error and freezes during the restart process. Here are some signs to help you identify this error:

• The screen displays a spinning icon with the text “Restarting” for an extended period, but the laptop still doesn’t restart.
• The computer continuously restarts but cannot enter the operating system.
• The laptop freezes completely and cannot perform any operations.
• The computer cannot be turned off normally and must be forced off by holding the power button.

2. Causes of a laptop stuck in a restarting loop

Software errors

• Operating system errors: This is the primary cause of laptops getting stuck in a restarting loop. It can occur due to incorrect operating system installation, outdated versions, or the presence of viruses, malware, etc.
• Driver errors: Device drivers may not be installed correctly, may be incompatible, or may conflict with other drivers on the same system.
• Application/software errors: The laptop may be using malicious software, infected with viruses, or incompatible with the operating system and other software.

Hardware errors

In addition to software errors, hardware issues can also cause a laptop to freeze during the restart process:

• Errors with RAM sticks, RAM slots, or dust accumulation on RAM, etc.
• Hard drive failure or damaged connecting cables.
• Chipset or electrolytic capacitor failure on the mainboard.
• Hardware infected with viruses.

3. How to fix a laptop stuck in a restarting loop

Method 1: Access the Advanced Boot Options menu

Step 1: Press and hold the power button of the computer until it turns off completely. Then, press the power button again to restart the computer.

Step 2: As the computer boots, press and hold the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. Note that you should do this before the Windows screen appears.

Step 3: In the Advanced Boot Options menu, select the Last Known Good Configuration (advanced) option using the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard → Continue pressing Enter to restart the computer.

Method 2: Boot into Safe Mode

Step 1: Hold down the Shift key and click on the Restart button. The Choose an option window will appear → Click on Troubleshoot → Continue by selecting Advanced options.

Step 2: Next, click on See more recovery options → Select Startup Settings.

Step 3: Finally, select Restart and wait for the computer to automatically restart and enter Safe Mode. There are 3 Safe Mode options:

• Standard Safe Mode: Press the 4 or F4 key.
• Safe Mode with Networking: Press the 5 or F5 key.
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt: Press the 6 or F6 key.

Method 3: Interrupt the restart process

Step 1: If the laptop fails to restart normally up to 3 consecutive times, it will automatically enter the Automatic Repair mode on the 4th attempt.

Step 2: The computer will then ask you to select a user account to continue.

Step 3: Next, wait for Windows to diagnose the error the computer is experiencing. The Automatic Repair window will appear on the screen → Click on Advanced options.

Step 4: Follow the same steps as in method 2: Click on See more recovery options → Select Startup Settings → Select Restart.

Method 4: Bring the faulty laptop to a warranty or repair center

If you have tried the above three methods but still cannot resolve the laptop restarting loop issue, you should seek the assistance of qualified professionals for repair. Take your computer to a reputable warranty or repair center to determine the cause of the problem and get the most effective solution.

Conclusion

A laptop stuck in a restarting loop is a rather serious problem, indicating that the device is experiencing hardware or software issues. You can try applying the methods shared by FPT Shop. If you are still unsuccessful, seek assistance from repair or warranty providers.