Newly built PC with fresh windows 11 install shuts down and boots up just fine, but doesn’t restart

Troubleshooting Restart Issues on a Newly Built Windows 11 PC: A Step-by-Step Guide

Building a new PC is an exciting experience, but it can sometimes come with unexpected challenges. One common issue faced by new system builders is related to system restarts—specifically, when the computer boots up and shuts down without issues but refuses to restart properly. If you’ve recently assembled your PC, installed Windows 11, and encounter a persistent problem where your system displays a “restarting” message with an animated spinner followed by a black screen, this article aims to help you diagnose and resolve the issue.

Understanding the Issue

In this scenario, your PC:
– Boots up normally
– Shuts down properly
– Hangs during restart, displaying the “restarting” message and spinner
– Remains powered on but does not actually reboot

This behavior suggests that the restart command is issued successfully, but the system fails to complete the reboot process. This can be caused by hardware compatibility issues, driver problems, or BIOS/UEFI configurations.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

Before diving into advanced troubleshooting, ensure the basics are covered:

1. Update All Drivers

2. Confirm that your graphics drivers, chipset drivers, and other critical hardware drivers are the latest versions. For your setup:

   • Radeon RX9060XT graphics card
   • ASRock B850i motherboard
   • AMD Ryzen 5 9600X processor

3. Disable Fast Startup

4. Fast Startup can sometimes cause restart issues. You’ve already disabled this feature, which is recommended.

5. Perform a Reset of Graphics Drivers

6. Press Ctrl + Shift + Win + B to reset graphics drivers, especially if the screen blacks out during restart.

7. Note: Lack of response here suggests the issue might not be solely graphics-related.

8. Check for Windows Updates

9. Ensure your Windows 11 installation is fully updated, as updates can fix bugs related to system stability.

Advanced Troubleshooting

If the problem persists after the above steps, consider the following:

1. BIOS/UEFI Settings

Review your motherboard settings:
– Update BIOS/UEFI Firmware
Download the latest firmware from ASRock’s official website to ensure compatibility and fix known issues.
– Restore Default Settings
Reset BIOS to factory defaults to eliminate misconfigurations.
– Disable C-States and Spread Spectrum