How to disable Fast Startup in Windows 10, 8 and 8.1

Fast Startup is a new feature of Windows 10, 8 & 8.1 OS, that allows a computer to boot and start faster than before. Fast Startup feature is named also hybrid-boot or hybrid shutdown, because when you shutdown your computer (or log off,) the system saves a part of system drivers and files to a hibernation file (hiberfil.sys) and then when you turn on your computer it uses the information from this file to open faster. In other words, Windows 8 and 8.1 doesn't perform a full system re-initialization, but in fact it resumes from the hibernation state.

Fast Startup (Hybrid Shutdown) in enabled by default in Windows 10, 8  & 8.1 Operating System, but there are several reasons to disable the Fast Startup feature. For example: Many Windows users complain that their system keeps restarting or crashes when it does Fast Startup. Another problem is that when Fast Startup is enabled on a dual boot system {(e.g. a system with Windows 8 and another operating system (e.g. Windows 7)}, Fast Startup doesn't allow the access to the other OS.  If you face similar problems, then use this tutorial to disable Fast Startup feature and then leave it turned off.

How to turn off Fast Startup on Windows 10, 8 & 8.1.

1. Press “Windows”    + “R” keys to load the Run dialog box.

2. Type “control panel” and press Enter.

3. Change the View By (at the up right) to Small icons and then click Power Options.

4. At the left choose "Choose what the power buttons do".

5. Click at "Change settings that are currently unavailable" option.

6. Scroll down and uncheck the "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" option and click Save changes. *

* Note: If the "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" option is missing from this window, then you have to enable Hibernation on your computer.

Part 2: How to display the 'Turn on fast startup' option in power options (Enable Hibernation).

If the "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" option is missing from this window (like in the screenshot below), this means that hibernation is disabled on your computer.

In this case, you have to enable hibernation on your system to get back the missing "Turn on fast startup" option. To do that:

1. Press “Windows”    + “F” keys to open Search.
2. At search box type “command prompt" and click Apps.

3. Now right-click on Command Prompt (on the left) and choose Run as Administrator.

(Press Yes at the UAC warning message)

4. At the command box type the following command and press Enter to enable hibernation:

• powercfg /hibernate on

5. Close command prompt window and then navigate to control panel. Fast Startup should be there now.

That's it!

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