The Operating System Did Not Shutdown Cleanly - How to Fix?

You may encounter the 'the operating system did not shutdown cleanly' error message for different reasons. This tutorial will discuss the reason behind this error on your Windows computer. After that, we'll outline 6 solutions you can apply to fix the error.

The operating system is the cornerstone of your computer. If something is wrong, it will affect many operations, including the shutdown process. Have you recently experienced the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message? Are you struggling to fix it?

EaseUS will discuss this error message in detail. After that, you'll learn the different fixes you can apply to address this issue. Also, we'll recommend to you a backup tool that you can use for your data security. Read on.

Methods	Description	Time	Difficulty
1️⃣Disable Intel Optane Memory	It helps turn off the Intel Optane memory, which is the major cause of the error message	2 mins	Easy
2️⃣Perform Startup Repair	This fix addresses any issues affecting normal booting.	4 mins	Easy
3️⃣Restore UEFI Firmware to Default	It resets UEFI Firmware settings	30 mins	Hard
4️⃣Run Hardware Diagnostic	It helps to check for any problems with your computer hardware.	3 mins	Medium
5️⃣Perform System Restore	It restores your system to a previous healthy restore point.	30 mins to 1hr	Medium
6️⃣Reset PC	It erases all settings on your PC and restores them to their defaults.	30 mins to 3hrs	Easy

What Does This Error Message Mean on Your Windows Computer

When you turn on your Windows 10 computer after an incorrect shutdown, you may encounter the error message: "The operating system did not shut down cleanly. Reconstructing Cache Metadata. Please do not interrupt this process…"

Once you proceed further and press the ESC key per the instructions, the system will display the "Abnormal Status Reported by Rapid Storage Technologies UTFI driver" error message. The second error message implies an incompatibility issue between your computer's hardware and Rapid Storage Technologies.

Therefore, this means there's a problem with the Intel Optane memory; hence, your computer can't support it. The Intel Optane memory is a technology responsible for quick file retrieval, minimizing lagging, and fast launch of programs.

If your laptop fails to support the Intel Optane memory, you'll experience the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message. The next section will outline possible fixes to this error message. 

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How to Fix the Operating System Did Not Shutdown Cleanly Stuck

To continue using your PC normally, you must find ways to fix the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message. This section will examine 6 fixes you can apply to fix the problem. The table below shows a summary of the methods we'll discuss.

Fix 1. Disable Intel Optane Memory

Since this error message occurs due to a problem with the Intel Optane memory, the first recommendation would be to turn it off. There exist two ways to disable Intel Optane memory. We'll discuss each one as follows:

Way 1. Through BIOS

Below are the steps to disable Intel Optane memory via your BIOS settings.

Step 1. Access the Windows Recovery Environment on your PC, then click "Advanced Options."

Step 2. Next, go to "Troubleshoot">"Advanced Options">"UEFI Firmware Settings," then select "Restart" to launch BIOS settings.

Step 3. Once the BIOS window opens, navigate to the "Devices" tab and select "ATA Drive Setup">"Intel Rapid Storage Technology," then press Enter.

Step 4. Select the "Start deconcatenation" option under "Optane Volume Separation" and press Enter. Select "Yes," then hit Enter to confirm your selection. Stay patient while the process executes. Once done, you can exit BIOS, try rebooting your computer, and check whether the error has disappeared. If not, you can proceed to the next fixes.

Way 2. Through Intel Rapid Storage Technology

Disabling Intel Optane memory via the Intel Rapid Storage technology settings is also possible. Follow the steps below to accomplish that:

Step 1. Start your PC and log in as an administrator.

Step 2. Go to the search bar and type "Intel Rapid Storage Technology."

Step 3. On the results that display, select to launch Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

Step 4. Once the next window displays, click the "Intel Optane Memory" tab. Next, click the "Disable" button and restart your PC. This will disable Intel Optane memory.

Fix 2. Perform Startup Repair

Performing a Windows Startup Repair can help you fix any issues affecting your device's normal booting or shutdown. Follow the steps below to perform a Startup Repair and fix the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message.

Step 1. Shut down your PC and reboot it several times until the Startup/Automatic Repair screen displays.

Step 2. Next, click "Advanced options," then select "Troubleshoot."

Step 3. Click on "Troubleshoot" again, then "Advanced options."

Step 4. Lastly, click on "Startup Repair." Once the Startup Repair tool launches, your PC will start repairing itself. When the process completes, you can shut down and turn on your device to check if the error message has disappeared.

Fix 3. Restore UEFI Firmware to Default

Sometimes, you may have accidentally altered the UEFI Firmware settings. This could lead to cache metadata corruption, hence the error message. You'll need to reset the UEFI firmware settings to resolve the issue. Follow the steps below:

Step 1. Open Settings on your computer, then navigate to "Update & Security."

Step 2. Click on "Recovery," then select "Restart Now" under "Advanced startup."

Step 3. When the "Choose an option" page displays, select "Troubleshoot">"Advanced options." Next, click on "Advanced options" again and select "UEFI Firmware Settings">"Restart."

Step 4. When the BIOS page displays, you can press F9 (or any other relevant key for your HP, Dell, ASUS, MSI, Lenovo, Acer, etc) to access the default settings.

Step 5. Next, press "Restore Settings." This will restore the default UEFI Firmware settings. In the event of a warning message, select "Yes" and then hit Enter.

Fix 4. Run Hardware Diagnostic

If you have corrupted computer hardware, the chances of encountering the "The operating system did not shut down cleanly" error message are very high. To fix this problem, you'll need to run a hardware diagnostic to evaluate your system for any potential issues. Check the steps below:

Step 1. Launch the Run dialog box, type "mdsched.exe," and press Enter. You’ll then have access to the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool. 

Step 2. Next, click the "Restart now and check for problems" option to start checking your computer hardware.

Step 3. The scanning process will then initiate. Once done, the system will display any faulty hardware. You can then replace them appropriately.

Fix 5. Perform System Restore

If you suspect a problem with your current system, restoring it to a previous working state could fix the shutdown error message. You can perform a system restore as follows:

Step 1. Go to the Control Panel and click the "View by" dropdown. Select the option for "Small icons."

Step 2. Find the "Recovery" option from the program list, then click on it.

Step 3. Next, click on "Open System Restore." You can then select your preferred restore point and click "Next." This will trigger the restore process. Stay patient while it completes. After that, the error message will likely disappear.

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Fix 6. Reset PC

If the error message hasn't disappeared despite applying the previous fixes, the last option is to reset your device. This will erase all apps, files, and settings and allow you to reinstall Windows. Since this process entails data loss, it's important to backup your important files. Next, follow the steps below to reset the PC and fix the "The operating system did not shut down cleanly" error message.

Step 1. Launch your Windows 11 or 10 Settings, then click "Update & Security."

Step 2. Next, click on the "Recovery" tab, navigate to the "Reset this PC" tab, and select "Get Started."

Step 3. When the Reset PC window opens, select "Keep my files" or "Remove everything." You can follow the on-screen instructions from there to finish the reset process. After that, your computer should now work normally.

Bonus Tip: How to Backup Your PC for Data Security

When fixing the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message, it's possible to encounter data loss incidents on your PC. To ensure data security, it's important to back up your data using efficient software like EaseUS Todo Backup.

This tool supports multi-path storage and allows you to back up your files to external hard drives, the cloud, the network, NAS, or local drives. It also offers a free cloud storage space of up to 250GB if your storage gets depleted. Whenever you want to access your backup data, EaseUS allows you to restore it easily.

The main data backup features of EaseUS Todo Backup include the following:

Ensure you download and use EaseUS Todo Backup today to secure your computer data. The steps to get started with this tool are very straightforward.

To Wrap Things Up

You'll primarily experience the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message due to a problem with the Intel Optane memory. The first fix will, therefore, entail disabling this memory. Other solutions include performing Startup Repair, restoring UEFI firmware to default, running hardware diagnostic, performing system restore, and resetting the PC.

In addition to these fixes, it's important to safeguard your computer data using a reliable tool like EaseUS Todo Backup. This software allows you to back up your data and restore it whenever needed. It supports multi-path backup storage and password-protected backups. Ensure you download EaseUS Todo Backup today for your backup needs.

FAQs

Below are frequently asked questions about the "The operating system did not shutdown cleanly" error message. 

1. What happens if computer is not shutdown properly?

If a computer isn't shut down properly, you may experience data loss and file corruption. Data loss could occur due to unsaved work, while file corruption could happen when you shut down your system while some files are still in use. Something else that could happen due to improper shutdown is damage to HDDs or SSDs. Also, you may encounter software problems in your operating system.

2. Why does my PC not shutdown completely?

Your PC may fail to shut down completely because some programs are still running. Ensure you close down all applications before you turn off your device. Another reason could be the power settings. Under the Power Options setting in the Control Panel, you must specify that closing the lid or pressing the power button shuts down your device.

3. How do I fix my operating system that did not shut down cleanly?

If your OS didn't shut down cleanly, the first remedy entails disabling Intel Optane memory. Other fixes discussed in this article include:

• Performing Startup Repair.
• Restoring UEFI firmware to default.
• Running hardware diagnostic.
• Performing system restoration or
• Resetting PC.