Freshly assembled PC running Windows 11 reboots properly but fails to restart smoothly

Troubleshooting Restart Issues on a Newly Built Windows 11 PC

Building a new PC can be an exciting experience, but it often comes with its own set of challenges. One common issue faced by many users is difficulty with system restarts, even when the initial boot and shutdown processes work flawlessly. If you’re encountering a situation where your Windows 11-based custom system boots and shuts down correctly but fails to restart properly, you’re not alone. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understand and troubleshoot this problem effectively.

Understanding the Issue

In this scenario, the system initializes and operates normally during startup and shutdown. However, when attempting to restart, the computer appears to hang: it shows a “Restarting” message with a spinning wheel, then transitions to a black screen, yet the hardware remains powered on without completing the restart process. This issue persisted from the first attempt at installing Windows, indicating it’s not an intermittent glitch but potentially a configuration or compatibility problem.

Key Details
– Freshly built system
– Windows 11 freshly installed
– Immediate reproduction during OS setup
– No prior software or driver modifications
– Hardware specifics:
– Motherboard: ASRock B850i
– CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
– GPU: Radeon RX 9060XT
– Storage: SSD (Windows installed here)
– No errors during boot or shutdown, only during restart

Initial Troubleshooting Steps Taken
– Verified all device drivers are up to date
– Disabled Windows fast startup as recommended
– Attempted to reset the graphics driver with keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+Win+B) during black screen

Despite these efforts, the restart issue persists, suggesting further investigation is needed.

Potential Causes and Solutions

1. BIOS/UEFI Settings
2. Ensure that your motherboard firmware is the latest version. Manufacturers often release updates that fix stability and compatibility issues.
3. Check settings like Fast Boot, C-States, and PCIe Settings. Disabling certain features like Quick Boot or Enhanced Power Management may resolve restart issues.

4. Enable or disable Secure Boot, and toggle Compatibility Support Module (CSM) to see if it affects restart behavior.

5. Driver Compatibility

6. Although drivers are up to date, some hardware components might conflict during restart. Try booting into Safe Mode to see if the restart problem persists.
7. If Safe Mode resolves the issue, consider uninstalling recent drivers or reverting to a generic display driver, then