Windows 7 - restart problem

Hi. hope this is in the correct place.

Whenever I install software and it says in order to complete the install you must restart your computer, the system will not restart untill I press the shutdown button in order to turn it off and back on again.


A shutdown occurs and a screen comes up with the option to press F2 to goto set up. This screen then goes away and re-appears without the option visible. the proccess then just hangs until I press the off button then turn the pc on again when it re boots normally and all is ok.

The same thing happens when clicking on "restart" from the start button.

The system will boot up ok from cold and everything else on the pc is "normal" The problem occurs whether Hibernate is on or off (I normally switch this off) and whether sleep is activated or not.

windows 7 64bit service pack 1 installed fully updated.

Any ideas appreciated

Run SFC -SCANNOW Command and if necessary a Repair Install if you can locate an installer with SP1 (not slipstreamed), otherwise you'd have to uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Many thanks for the reply.

Did the scannow thing, no problems found. Ended up doing a factory restore installation.
Strangely the symptom has re-appeared in the new install whilst installing first piece of back up software. did scannow thing again and no problems reported. Scans from Avast AV, Malwarebytes and super anti-spyware both in previous incarnation and this new one, reported negative. root kit checks have also proved negative.
Have reached the point of getting SP1 installed again and no change.

could it be hardware related?

When you've tried all the software fixes, then you have to look at your hardware, unfortunately.
Before that, have a last look at any Errors in Eventviewer and see if that gives you any leads on software problems.
And before you start on a detailed, systematic hardware troubleshooting exercise, you might as well try some simple things first: like shutting down completely, switching off powersupply and unplugging, letting it sit a while and then powering up again; and while it's off, take the cover off and check all your connections are good and there aren't any giant spiderwebs on the motherboard!

Btw, your username tickled my funnybone - soon to come are fatherboard, sisterboard, chairmanoftheboard, knottypineboard..... but yours is best! Cheers, mate!

I agree you may have a hardware problem. There are a few more software-related issues to check however. Run through these basic troubleshooting steps

Next resetting your BIOS: Clear CMOS - 3 Ways to Clear the CMOS - Reset BIOS

Factory recovery is also an inferior install which can be buggy. If you have access to a Windows 7 installer, try clean reinstalling with the Product Key on your COA sticker: Reinstalling Windows 7

Thanks to all, for your suggestions. I'll try to work things through to see if the problem can be isolated.

Well I can report the problem has gone.

I was doing some work on the laptop whilst just running on battery and the pc asked for a restart I clicked on ok and strangely enough it completed the restart without intervention. (all the previous problems had been whilst running on mains)
To test the theory I hooked up to the mains booted up and clicked restart from the start menu and sure enough it failed to restart.
now (if you bear with me ) when on battery I had no usb stuff attached (hub with thumb drives + wirleless mouse) so I left these unattached and booted up on mains and it completed a restart....yeah.
So I connect my D-link 7-port usb hub and restarted again and all was fine, then reconnected a usb external drive and again all ok.
The problem was with the wireless mouse, as soon as I attached the usb dongle the problem reappeared.

I eneded up swapping the wirelss dongle to a port on the pc and the external drive to a port on the hub.
don't ask me about the science behind this, but the laptop now restarts ok both on battery power and mains power.

Thanks for eveyones input on this. much appreciated.