after a power outage, computer won’t restart… or to be precise, won’t turn off. Explorer freezes as soon as I right click, and games won’t launch (meaning they run in the background but I can’t see them on screen). I’m out of my depths. Please help?

Understanding and Troubleshooting Post-Power Outage Windows 11 Performance Issues

Experiencing unexpected computer behavior after a power outage can be stressful, especially if you’re unsure about the causes or how to resolve them. If your Windows 11 PC is not shutting down properly, Explorer is unresponsive, and your applications—including games—are running in the background without visibility, this guide aims to help you understand potential issues and suggest effective troubleshooting steps.

Common Symptoms Observed:

• Shutdown Problems: The PC shows a “restarting” message with a spinner but fails to actualize the restart; the user must manually power off the machine.
• Explorer Freezing: Right-clicking on files causes the file explorer to hang with a non-responsive hourglass.
• Background Applications: Games and other programs launch but become uninteractive, running in the background without on-screen presence.
• Selective Functionality: Basic operations like copy-paste (Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V) still work, indicating partial system responsiveness.
• System Maintenance Checks: Running System File Checker (SFC) and Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tools did not reveal errors.

Initial Considerations and Next Steps

1. System Stability Post-Power Outage

Power interruptions can cause file corruption, interrupted updates, or hardware issues. Although the PC is new, unexpected shutdowns might have impacted system files or caused temporary disk inconsistencies.

1. Hardware Factors

While the hardware is new, it’s advisable to check connections, run hardware diagnostics if available, and ensure all components are properly seated. For instance, faulty RAM or storage devices can cause system hangs.

1. Software and System State

Because system repair tools like SFC and DISM didn’t find issues, focus on software corruption or misconfigurations:

• Check for pending Windows updates and install any available.
• Verify that all device drivers, especially graphics and chipset drivers, are up to date.
• Review recent software installations or updates that might affect system stability.

Practical Troubleshooting Steps

1. Boot into Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers and can help determine if the problem stems from third-party software or drivers.

• Restart your PC; during startup, press and hold the Shift key while clicking “Restart” to access the Advanced Startup Options.
• Navigate to **Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart