Disable Fast Startup in Windows 11 when it causes problems

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If you have a PC with Windows 11 and a good SSDYou may have wondered if It's worth disabling Fast Startup because it's causing you problems.Black screens on startup, strange restarts, update failures, or even blue screen errors. Many users find that a powerful computer takes longer than expected to boot up after selecting this option.

In other cases, the opposite occurs: disabling Fast Startup makes the computer seem to run more smoothly. There are fewer crashes, certain errors in games disappear, and even a good amount of disk space is freed up. because the hibernation file is deleted. All of this leads to the big question: is it advisable to leave Fast Startup enabled or disabled in Windows 11?

What exactly is Windows 11 Fast Startup and how does it work?

Fast Startup is a feature introduced by Microsoft starting with Windows 8 that It changes the way the system shuts down and restarts.Instead of performing a classic full shutdown, Windows saves part of the system's internal state in a special disk file so that it can boot faster on the next startup.

This mechanism is based on what is known as Hybrid hibernation, a mix between suspension and traditional hibernationInstead of storing the entire system memory, only the state of the kernel (operating system core) and the main drivers that manage the hardware are stored on the disk.

The file where Windows stores this information is called hiberfil.sys is located in the root of the system disk, usually in C:\. This file can occupy several gigabytes because it reserves space to store the system state when hibernating or when using Fast Startup.

When you shut down your computer with Fast Startup enabled, Windows logs off user sessions, but It does not completely close the kernel or driver sessionThat part is saved in the hibernation file, so that when you turn the computer back on, the system doesn't start from scratch, but restores that "halfway" state.

At startup, Windows 11 loads the information stored in hiberfil.sys and It very quickly rebuilds the basic environment of the system.This makes the desktop appear faster compared to a traditional shutdown. This time reduction is especially noticeable on computers with mechanical hard drives (HDDs), where disk access is much slower.

Why Fast Startup barely helps on a PC with an SSD

On a modern computer with Windows 11, a current processor, and an SSD, the effect of Fast Startup is much smaller, because The SSD's own speed makes the system boot up quite fast.The difference between having it activated or deactivated can be just a few seconds in many cases.

In fact, some users, after buying a new PC with an SSD, report that with Fast Startup enabled, the desktop appears in about 15-20 seconds, while Disabling it can delay startup by up to a minute and a half, with a long black screen and only the cursor visible before the Windows environment loads.

That prolonged black screen doesn't necessarily mean the device is broken, but rather that Windows is performing a classic full boot and loading all components from scratch.However, this process taking so long is not normal for an SSD and usually indicates that something else is involved: drivers, services (for example, disabling visual effects and startup programs), BIOS/UEFI configuration or even conflicts with storage controllers.

Aside from speed, Microsoft acknowledges that Fast Startup can interact with other internal processes, so It's not always the best option if you want a completely clean system shutdownespecially in environments where you frequently install hardware, change drivers, or use other operating systems alongside Windows.

Advantages and disadvantages of having Fast Startup enabled

The main advantage of Quick Start is obvious: It reduces startup time after a normal shutdown.For a user who just wants to turn on their PC and get to work as soon as possible, without complications, this feature is usually quite convenient.

Another advantage is that, from the average user's point of view, The behavior appears similar to a complete power cycle.You close all applications, turn off the computer, forget about it, and when you press the power button you find the desktop ready to use again without having to resort to traditional hibernation.

However, this hybrid operation comes with a number of drawbacks that are not always well explained. One of them is that, If you were experiencing a specific driver or kernel problem, turning your PC off and on won't solve it.because the core of the system has not actually been completely closed.

In cases where the fault lies in a faulty hardware driver, a system bug, or a rare conflict, that kernel "semi-state" is reused, so The problem may persist despite turning the equipment off and on.However, restarting does perform a complete kernel shutdown, which explains why many times "restarting fixes it" but turning off and on again does not.

Furthermore, Microsoft has documented that Errors may occur during the installation of some critical updates when Fast Startup is enabled.It's not common, but it can happen with certain patches that affect key system components, especially the kernel or certain operating system drivers.

Common Fast Startup Problems in Windows 11

One of the most discussed problems is that of users who, after disabling Fast Startup, They notice a very large increase in boot time accompanied by a prolonged black screenIn many cases, the motherboard manufacturer's logo (for example, Gigabyte) appears first, and then the monitor goes black. only the cursor visible for quite some time until the desktop is displayed.

This shouldn't happen on a modern PC with an SSD, so it's usually a symptom of... There are services or drivers that are slowing down the entire boot processFor example, storage drivers, security software, or tools that load very early. Use Autoruns to speed up startup or check which programs start with Windows.

Another group of incidents involves blue screen errors, such as the famous DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION (error check code 0x133)Microsoft explains that this type of screenshot This is usually related to drivers that do not respond correctly or that leave the system in an unstable state, something that can be aggravated by the use of Fast Startup if a problematic kernel state is reused.

There is also a specific problem documented by Microsoft in which, When attempting to shut down or hibernate a computer with Fast Startup enabled, the system crashes and returns to the lock screen.The Event Viewer records an event with binary data that includes the codes STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND (C0000034) and IO_DUMP_DRIVER_LOAD_FAILURE (C004002D), indicating that there are problems with the memory dump drivers.

In this scenario, the cause is usually that, when shutting down the system with Fast Startup, Windows attempts to initialize the memory dump configuration for hibernation, but Some driver that should be loaded in that process is unavailable or fails to loadAs a result, it cannot complete the hybrid hibernation operation and the system returns to the lock screen.

Risks in dual booting and potential data corruption

A lesser-known but very important aspect is the impact of Rapid Start on teams where The disk is shared with other operating systems, such as Linux, in a dual-boot configuration.The use of hiberfil.sys here can cause serious problems with NTFS partitions.

When Windows enters this hybrid shutdown mode, NTFS partitions are internally marked as if the system It wouldn't have shut down completely cleanly.For Windows this is usually not a problem, because it knows that it is using Fast Startup and that it will restore the same state.

The problem arises when, from the other operating system, for example a Linux distribution, you try to mount those NTFS partitions. For that system, the partition appears as It was shut down in a "dirty" manner, which can cause errors during assembly or even risks of corruption if access is forced..

Therefore, in dual boot environments, many guides directly recommend Disable Fast Startup to avoid any conflicts with the file systemLeaving it enabled increases the possibility of data corruption if the NTFS partition is written to from another system while Windows considers it to be in a hybrid hibernation state.

These types of conflicts are not noticeable on a PC where only Windows is running, but For advanced users who switch between systems or work with shared disks, Fast Startup can be more of a nuisance than a help.Therefore, it is usually one of the first options to be disabled.

Cases where disabling Fast Startup might be a good idea

On systems with SSDs, the boot time improvement when using Fast Startup is, in practice, quite limited compared to the potential problems it can causeThis leads many users to choose to disable it, especially if they fit into one of these profiles.

If you use dual booting with Linux or another operating system that accesses NTFS partitions, Disabling Fast Startup is almost mandatory to prevent data corruption.In this way, each shutdown will be complete and the partitions will not be marked as hibernated.

In environments where you frequently install or update drivers, change hardware components, or test system-sensitive software, You want every shutdown to be a real shutdown., without remnants of previous kernel sessions, to minimize conflicts and strange errors.

If you've noticed that with Fast Startup enabled, you're experiencing blue screen errors, performance issues in games, shutdown crashes, or strange behavior after updates, Disabling the feature can help stabilize your deviceSome users report that disabling hibernation with the command `powercfg /h off` resolves several problems. the system becomes more consistent.

Another practical reason is disk space: the hiberfil.sys file can occupy tens of gigabytes, so Disabling hibernation (and therefore fast startup) reclaims that space on the system drive.There are cases where the user has freed up more than 20 GB with just that operation.

When is it advisable to leave Fast Startup enabled?

Despite all of the above, it's not always necessary to disable Fast Startup. On many basic home computers, where only Windows 11 is running, You can leave it activated without any major problems if you're not noticing any errors or strange behavior.In fact, for most average users, this feature goes completely unnoticed.

If your PC boots quickly, you don't use dual boot, you don't work with sensitive drivers, and you don't frequently make hardware changes, Normally, Fast Startup will simply save you a few seconds each time you turn it on.In these cases, there is no real obligation to deactivate it.

The key is for you to understand that, with Fast Startup, the standard shutdown from the Start menu is not the same as a complete shutdown. When you really need to "clean" the system state, it's best to use the restart option.which does force a clean boot without using the hibernation file.

If at any point you start seeing shutdown errors, blue screens related to drivers, failures to apply updates, or problems accessing partitions from other systems, In that case, it makes a lot of sense to try deactivating it to rule out that it is the source of the conflict..

In the professional sphere, especially in companies that manage many teams, it is sometimes preferred to leave Fast Startup enabled and Control potential driver conflicts through policies and certified versionsprioritizing startup time and the experience of the non-technical user.

How to disable Fast Startup from the Control Panel

The classic and safest way to control Quick Start is through the traditional Control Panel. From there you can enable or disable the function without touching the Registry or running advanced commandsTherefore, it is the most recommended route for most people.

To do this, the first step is to open the Control Panel. You can type Type “Control Panel” in the search box on the taskbar and click on the resultOnce inside, it's a good idea to switch the view to "Small icons" so that all sections appear clearly.

Then enter “Power options”, where the behavior of the power buttons and hybrid shutdown are managed.Within this section, you will find on the side the option called "Choose the action of the power buttons".

On that screen you'll see what the power and sleep buttons do, and further down, in the "Shutdown settings" section, the checkbox will appear. "Enable fast startup (recommended)" along with other options such as hibernation or lockIt's probably checked, and at first, you won't be able to uncheck it.

To modify it, click on "Change settings currently unavailable"You will be asked for administrator confirmation. After that, you can uncheck the "Enable fast startup" option, click "Save changes," and from that moment on, the shutdown will be complete and the computer will not use hiberfil.sys for fast startup.

Disable hibernation and fast startup using Command Prompt

If you prefer to get straight to the point or need to quickly implement the change across multiple devices, you can use the Command Prompt with administrator privileges and use a very simple command which disables both hibernation and fast startup at once.

Open the Windows search bar, type Type “cmd” or “Command Prompt” and run it as administrator with the right-click. It is important that it has elevated permissions so that the command can modify the system settings without restrictions.

Once at the console, enter the following command and press Enter: powercfg /h offWith this command, Windows completely disables the hibernation function and, as a direct consequence, Fast Startup is also disabled because it depends on the hibernation file..

When the command is executed, the hiberfil.sys file is deleted from the disk, so that You'll gain storage space and ensure that the system will no longer use it to store the kernel state.This is why some users suddenly see more than 20 GB of storage freed up after disabling hibernation.

Please note that, from that moment on, The hibernation option will also disappear from the shutdown menuIf in the future you want to use both hibernation and fast startup again, simply open Command Prompt as administrator and run powercfg /h on.

Modify Fast Startup from the Registry Editor

The most advanced and delicate method for controlling Fast Startup is to use the Registry Editor, since It allows you to directly change the value that Windows uses to decide whether or not to enable the function.It is not the most recommended option for inexperienced users, because an error in the Registry can cause serious problems.

If you still want to see it, press the combination Press Windows + R to open the “Run” box, type regedit and press EnterAccept the User Account Control prompt to enter the Registry Editor with elevated privileges.

Within the Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ PowerThis key controls, among other things, how certain aspects of system startup and shutdown are managed.

In the right panel you should locate a DWORD value called HiberbootEnabled, which indicates whether Fast Boot is enabled or disabledDouble-click on it to edit it and change the value to 0 if you want to disable it. A value of 1 will reactivate it.

Before touching anything in the Registry, it is highly recommended Make a backup of the key or, at the very least, write down the original valuesExtreme caution is advised, as changing the wrong keys can cause instability or even prevent the system from starting correctly.

Shutdown errors and event ID 45 related to Fast Startup

On some computers running Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 (and by extension, in similar scenarios with Windows 11), a specific problem has been observed: When attempting to shut down or hibernate with Fast Startup enabled, the system fails and returns to the lock screen without completing the operation..

In these cases, if you open the Event Viewer and go to the system log, you can find an event associated with the identifier 45. On the details tab, in the "words" view, Binary data appears with codes such as C0000034 (STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND) and C004002D (IO_DUMP_DRIVER_LOAD_FAILURE)which point to failures when loading the dump controller.

According to Microsoft, the cause of this behavior is that when Fast Startup is enabled, when the computer is shut down... Windows attempts to initialize the configuration for system memory dumping as part of the hybrid hibernation processIf any driver involved in that phase is not found or does not load correctly, the process fails.

To resolve this, Microsoft indicates that you need to review the contents of the Registry value. DumpFilters located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControlIn the right panel, this value should only contain dumpfve.sys to avoid conflicts with other dump filters.

The recommended procedure consists of Open the Registry Editor, navigate to the specified path, delete any other values ​​that appear under DumpFilters, and leave only dumpfve.sys.Close the editor and restart your computer. After that, you should be able to re-enable Fast Startup without the problem occurring.

If you prefer to avoid these types of incidents altogether and don't particularly need hybrid hibernation, Disabling Fast Startup via the Control Panel or with powercfg /h off remains the simplest solution, since it forces the system to always perform a classic shutdown.

Alternative ways to perform a complete shutdown

Even if you have Fast Startup enabled, you can still force a complete shutdown using the built-in Shutdown.exe tool. This command It allows you to explicitly specify whether you want a hybrid or a traditional shutdown., with its corresponding advantages and disadvantages.

If you want to shut down the computer without using the hybrid behavior of Fast Startup, you can use the command Shutdown /s /t 0which performs an immediate full shutdown. When this command is executed, the system does not use hiberfil.sys to save the kernel state.

Similarly, if you wish to take advantage of the new hybrid method, the parameter is available. /hybrid, so that Shutdown /s /hybrid /t 0 shuts down using the same type of shutdown as Fast Startup.This can be useful in scripts or environments where you want to have detailed control over the shutdown process.

This flexibility is useful in cases where, for example, You usually want a quick startup, but on some specific occasions you need a completely clean shutdown.For example, after installing sensitive drivers or making hardware changes. With Shutdow.exe you can choose how you want the system to behave at any time.

In any case, regardless of the method you use to shut down or hibernate, Restarting still involves a full boot cycle without the hybrid hibernation optimizationsTherefore, when it comes to finishing applying important updates or changing system components, it is always recommended to restart and not just turn off and on.

With all of the above in mind, it's easier to understand why Fast Startup in Windows 11 can be either an ally or a headache depending on how you use your computer: On machines with SSDs, multiple operating systems, or frequent driver changes, it's usually worth disabling it, while on simple computers it can be left enabled as long as it doesn't cause problems..