Troubleshooting an Unusual Restart Issue on Windows 11
If you’re a Windows 11 user, you may have encountered some unexpected behaviors, particularly concerning your computer’s restart functionality. One user recently shared a perplexing experience that has left them scratching their head, and perhaps you can relate.
The Setup
This individual utilizes a high-performance setup featuring the following components:
- Processor: Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Graphics Card: Nvidia RTX 4080 Super
- Memory: 32GB DDR5-6000
- Motherboard: Asus B650-E Wifi
The Problem
The user has noticed an inconsistency that they can only describe as a sort of “partial restart.” This issue predominantly arises when they step away from their computer—be it for work or sleep—rather than during active use. They’ve observed this phenomenon in various scenarios: whether the machine is explicitly shut down, put to sleep, or simply left running.
A telltale sign of this behavior is the persistent appearance of the Xbox app, which always reappears on the taskbar upon what appears to be a restart. This peculiar issue has plagued them since a Windows 10 update and has persisted through an upgrade to Windows 11, as well as the recent 24h2 update. Even a clean installation of the operating system did not resolve this.
Unwanted Programs
Upon returning to their computer after an absence, the user frequently finds startup programs open, despite their specifications not being set to do so. For instance, Vanguard anticheat and Wallpaper Engine often launch unexpectedly, while their usual applications like Steam and Telegram remain open—albeit not set for startup.
The user has extensively searched for logs or any indicators of a restart event, yet their efforts have proved fruitless. They have witnessed the Xbox app reappear, confirming that the machine had indeed restarted; however, they are bewildered as to why this is happening without any clear triggers.
Possible Solutions and Reflections
The user expressed their frustration over the unknown cause of this problem, even going as far as replacing every major component of their system over time—from the graphics card to the hard drives. Despite these changes and a fresh installation of Windows, the issue remains, leading them to question whether it could be tied to an image problem.
While this situation is not critical, it certainly adds an element of mystery to their computing experience. They have expressed
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