Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

Users are reporting a new issue where Windows 10 loads to a blue screen which says “Preparing Security Options” and you won’t be able to use your keyboard, and you be stuck on that screen. This problem has a history which goes way back to Windows 7, but thankfully there are quite a few solutions which seem to fix this issue. Generally, Windows 10 Preparing Security Options error message is displayed on welcome or log off-screen.

There is no particular cause for this error message as some would say that it’s a virus issue other would say its a hardware issue, but one thing is for sure that Microsoft doesn’t acknowledge this issue because the fault is at their end. So without wasting any time let’s see how to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options with the help of below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Contents

• Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options
• Method 1: Perform System Restore
• Method 2: Manually uninstall recently installed updates
• Method 3: Disable Fast Startup
• Method 4: Run SFC and CHKDSK
• Method 5: Run Automatic/Startup Repair
• Method 6: Rebuild BCD
• Method 7: Restart Windows Update service
• Method 8: Disable Credential Manager Service
• Method 9: Rename SoftawareDistribution
• Method 10: Reset Windows 10

Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options

Note: Before continuing, make sure to remove all external USB Devices. Also, create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Perform System Restore

1. Press Windows Key + R and type sysdm.cpl then hit enter.

2. Select the System Protection tab and choose System Restore.

3. Click Next and choose the desired System Restore point.

4. Follow the on-screen instruction to complete system restore.

5. After reboot, you may be able to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Method 2: Manually uninstall recently installed updates

1. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click on Update & Security.

2. From the left-hand side, select Windows Update then click on “View installed update history“.

3. Now click on Uninstall updates on the next screen.

4. Finally, from the list of recently installed updates, double-click on the most recent update to uninstall it.

5. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 3: Disable Fast Startup

1. Press Windows Key + R then type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel.

2. Click on Hardware and Sound then click on Power Options.

3. Then, from the left window pane select “Choose what the power buttons do.“

4. Now click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable.“

5. Uncheck “Turn on fast startup” and click on Save changes.

Method 4: Run SFC and CHKDSK

1. Open Command Prompt. The user can perform this step by searching for ‘cmd’ and then press Enter.

2. Now type the following in the cmd and hit enter:

Sfc /scannow sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows

3. Wait for the above process to finish and once done, restart your PC.

4. Next, run CHKDSK to Fix File System Errors.

5. Let the above process complete and again reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 5: Run Automatic/Startup Repair

1. Insert the Windows 10 bootable installation DVD and restart your PC.

2. When prompted to Press any key to boot from CD or DVD, press any key to continue.

3. Select your language preferences, and click Next. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left.

4. On choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

5. On Troubleshoot screen, click the Advanced option.

6. On the Advanced options screen, click Automatic Repair or Startup Repair.

7. Wait till the Windows Automatic/Startup Repairs complete.

8. Restart and you have successfully Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Also Read: How to fix Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.

Method 6: Rebuild BCD

1. Using above method open command prompt using Windows installation disk.

2. Now type the following commands one by one and hit enter after each one:

bootrec.exe /FixMbr bootrec.exe /FixBoot bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

3. If the above command fails, then enter the following commands in cmd:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup c: cd boot attrib bcd -s -h -r ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old bootrec /RebuildBcd

4. Finally, exit the cmd and restart your Windows.

5. This method seems to Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options but if it doesn’t work for you then continue.

Method 7: Restart Windows Update service

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode using any of the listed methods.

2. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

3. Locate the following services:

Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS)
Cryptographic Service
Windows Update
MSI Installer

4. Right-click on each of them and then select Properties. Make sure their Startup type is set to Automatic.

5. Now if any of the above services are stopped, make sure to click on Start under Service Status.

6. Next, right-click on Windows Update service and select Restart.

7. Click Apply, followed by OK and then reboot your PC to save changes.

See if you can Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options, if not then continue with the next method.

Method 8: Disable Credential Manager Service

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode using any of the listed methods.

2. Press Windows Key + R then type services.msc and hit Enter.

3. Right-click on Credential Manager Service and then select Properties.

4. Set the Startup type to Disabled from the drop-down.

5. Click Apply, followed by OK.

6. Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 9: Rename SoftawareDistribution

1. Boot into safe mode using any of the listed methods then press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

2. Now type the following commands to stop Windows Update Services and then hit Enter after each one:

net stop wuauserv
net stop cryptSvc
net stop bits
net stop msiserver

3. Next, type the following command to rename SoftwareDistribution Folder and then hit Enter:

ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.old
ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 catroot2.old

4. Finally, type the following command to start Windows Update Services and hit Enter after each one:

net start wuauserv
net start cryptSvc
net start bits
net start msiserver

5. Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you can Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options.

Method 10: Reset Windows 10

1. Restart your PC a few times until you start Automatic Repair.

2. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything.

3. For the next step, you might be asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, so ensure you have it ready.

4. Now, select your Windows version and click on only the drive where Windows is installed > remove my files.

5. Click on the Reset button.

6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset.

Recommended:

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• Fix CD or DVD Drive Not Reading Discs in Windows 10

That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows 10 Stuck at Preparing Security Options but if you still have any questions regarding this post then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.