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Get the fix for whenever Windows is <strong>stuck</strong> at the <strong>Windows is loading files</strong> screen. This fix applies to the following Windows versions: <strong>Vista</strong> and <strong>7</strong>.

[caption id="attachment_3228" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-3228" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/windows-is-loading-files.jpg" alt="Screenshot of Windows is loading files" width="1024" height="358" /> Screenshot of Windows is loading files[/caption]
<h2>Fix Stuck at Windows is loading files with EasyRE</h2>
[easyre error="Stuck at Windows is loading files" bootscreen="vista-7"]
<h2>Other fixes for Stuck at Windows is loading files</h2>
[setupcd]

These fixes can be applied for both Windows Vista and Windows 7.
<h3>Fix #1: Check your HDD and RAM</h3>
This error - having Windows stuck at the "Windows is loading files" screen - can be caused by either a corrupt or failed hard disk or bad RAM memory sticks.

If you have multiple HDDs and RAM memory sticks, follow these tips:
<ul>
 	<li>Remove the additional hard disks from your PC and only leave the main HDD. Restart your computer to see if the "Windows is loading files" screen loads correctly.</li>
 	<li>Remove additional RAM memory sticks and leave only 1 memory stick. Restart your computer and check if the error appears again.</li>
</ul>
To test if your hard disk or RAM memory is healthy and not corrupted or failed, run Automated Repair from Easy Recovery Essentials (our recovery and repair disc). The Automated Repair process will report any issues found with your HDD or RAM.

[partial name="partial_easyre_hardware_testing"]
<h3>Fix #2: Reset BIOS</h3>
If <a href="#Fix_1_Check_your_HDD_and_RAM">Fix #1 above</a> doesn't fix the getting stuck at the "Windows is loading files" screen error, you can try to reset your computer's BIOS settings.

You can either reset your BIOS settings or upgrade your BIOS version to the latest available.

To reset your computer's BIOS settings to the default settings, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Restart the computer</li>
 	<li>Press the necessary key to boot into the BIOS menu. This key is usually any of the following, depending on the computer manufacturer: <kbd>Esc</kbd>, <kbd>Del</kbd>, <kbd>F2</kbd>, <kbd>F8</kbd>, <kbd>F12</kbd>.The key you need to press is usually displayed on the first screen as your computer boots, just before the Windows logo appears.Here's the <kbd>F12</kbd> key necessary to open BIOS menu displayed on a Dell computer:

[caption id="attachment_1419" align="alignnone" width="450"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1419" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Dell-POST.jpg" alt="Dell BIOS screen showing special key options" width="450" height="337" /> Notice the key guide in the top-right corner.[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Find the option to reset your BIOS or load its default options. This is usually called any of the following:
<ul>
 	<li>Load Default</li>
 	<li>Load Fail-Safe Defaults</li>
 	<li>Load BIOS Defaults</li>
 	<li>Load Default Settings</li>
 	<li>Load Setup Default</li>
 	<li>Get Default Values</li>
</ul>
</li>
 	<li>Save these changes and exit the BIOS menu</li>
</ol>
If reseting your BIOS to its default settings doesn't fix the error, try updating BIOS to its latest version available.
<h3>Fix #3: Boot into Safe Mode</h3>
<a href="#Fix_3_Boot_into_Safe_Mode">Fix #3</a> and <a href="#Fix_4_Boot_into_Last_Known_Good_Configuration">Fix #4</a> are easy fixes that you can try to attempt at fixing the "Windows is loading files" error.

Booting into Safe Mode and trying to uninstall recently installed software applications or drivers could fix this issues.

To boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key as soon as your computer starts. You need to press the key before the Windows Vista or Windows 7 logo appears.</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Advanced Boot Options</em> menu, select <strong>Safe Mode</strong>

[caption id="attachment_1397" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1397" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Advanced-Boot-Options-menu.png" alt="The Advanced Boot Options screen in Windows Vista" width="1024" height="768" /> The Advanced Boot Options screen in Windows Vista[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #4: Boot into Last Known Good Configuration</h3>
If <a href="#Fix_3_Boot_into_Safe_Mode">Fix #3</a> doesn't solve the error, try the Last Known Good Configuration mode.

To boot into this mode on your Windows Vista or Windows 7, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key to open the <strong>Advanced Boot Options</strong> menu

[caption id="attachment_1390" align="alignnone" width="1024"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1390" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/09/Advanced-Boot-Options.jpg" alt="The advanced boot options startup menu." width="1024" height="768" /> The advanced boot options startup menu.[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Select the <strong>Last Known Good Configuration</strong> option</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #5: Disable automatic restart on system failure</h3>
If the "Windows is loading files" error is caused by a STOP error, you can try to disable the <strong>automatic restart on system failure</strong> option in order to determine which STOP error is causing this error.

To identify the STOP error and troubleshoot it, follow these steps to disable this option on your Windows Vista or Windows 7:
<ol>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
 	<li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key before the Windows Vista or Windows 7 logo appears</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Advanced Boot Options</em> menu, select the <strong>Disable automatic restart on system failure</strong> option</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Your computer should now reboot</li>
 	<li>If a blue screen appears next, after the restart, note the STOP error and troubleshoot it. If Windows still doesn't continue after the "Windows is loading files" screen, continue with <a href="#Fix_6_Run_Startup_Repair">Fix #6</a> below or go to <a href="#Fix_Stuck_at_Windows_is_loading_files_with_EasyRE">Fix Stuck at Windows is loading files with EasyRE</a>.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #6: Run Startup Repair</h3>
To run the Startup Repair utility on your Windows Vista or Windows 7, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the original Windows Vista/7 installation disc (the install DVD)</li>
 	<li>Press any key to boot from the DVD</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Welcome</em> screen, click <strong>Repair your computer</strong>

[caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignnone" width="393"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2109" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-repair-your-computer.png" alt="Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu" width="393" height="277" /> Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Choose your operating system</li>
 	<li>At the <em>System Recovery Options</em> screen, select <strong>Startup Repair</strong>

Follow these steps to open and run the bootrec utility:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows Vista/7 DVD and boot from it (press any key at the Press any key screen to boot from the media)</li>
 	<li>Select a language, keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> at the <em>Welcome</em> screen</li>
 	<li>Choose your operating system from the list</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Command Prompt</strong> from the <em>System Recovery Options</em> menu

[caption id="attachment_1972" align="alignnone" width="485"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1972" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-7-system-recovery-options-screen.jpg" alt="Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen" width="485" height="362" /> Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Type these commands and press the <kbd>Enter</kbd> key after each:
<pre>bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /rebuildbcd</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>exit</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_4676" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/01/bootrec4.png"><img class="wp-image-4676 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/01/bootrec4-1024x768.png" alt="bootrec utility results screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> bootrec utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #8: Run chkdsk</h3>
If <a href="#Fix_7_Run_bootrec">Fix #7</a> doesn't work, you can also try to run the chkdsk utility and check the integrity of your computer's HDD:
<ol>
 	<li>Follow the steps from <a href="#Fix_7_Run_bootrec">Fix #7</a> until you reach Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt is open, type this command:
<pre>chkdsk C: /f</pre>
Where <code>C:</code> is the letter of the drive where your Windows Vista or Windows 7 is installed.</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>exit</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_3697" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/VirtualBox_Win7_clean_21_04_2016_03_58_48.png"><img class="wp-image-3697 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/VirtualBox_Win7_clean_21_04_2016_03_58_48.png" alt="Chkdsk utility results screen" width="800" height="600" /></a> Chkdsk utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #9: Reinstall Windows</h3>
If none of the fixes explained above works to fix the "Windows is loading files" error, you can to reinstall your Windows Vista or Windows 7.
<p class="warning"><strong>Reinstalling Windows Vista/7 means you will loose all data if you don't backup your personal files.</strong> You can use the Browse/Backup Files feature from Easy Recovery Essentials to access your computer and backup your personal files on a USB drive.</p>
To reinstall Windows Vista or Windows 7, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the installation DVD and boot from it</li>
 	<li>Select a keyboard method and language and click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Install Now</strong> at the <em>Welcome</em> screen</li>
 	<li>Follow the wizard to complete the installation process</li>
</ol>
[caption id="attachment_1505" align="alignnone" width="800"]<img class="wp-image-1505 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/Install-Now-Windows-7.jpg" alt="Windows 7 Install Now screen" width="800" height="600" /> Windows 7 Install Now screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/safe-mode/">Safe Mode</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="vista,7"]