I installed Docker Desktop while trying to set up a large language model. The installation asked me to restart, and I mistakenly thought it only meant restarting the application, not my Windows 11 PC. Since then, the computer never reaches the Windows sign-in screen. It shuts down and repeatedly tries to boot again.
I tried reaching recovery options and Safe Mode so I could uninstall Docker, but the system crashes before getting to the desktop. I'm worried that the only solution will be wiping the SSD and losing my files. I've also seen suggestions involving virtualization, Hyper-V, WSL2, and BIOS settings, but I'm not sure what to change. Is there a safe way to repair the boot process or restore the system without reinstalling Windows?
4 Answers
Before attempting anything drastic, use the Windows recovery menu and try Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore. Select a restore point from before Docker was installed. This can roll back the relevant system changes without deleting personal files.
If System Restore and Safe Mode don’t work, make a bootable USB with a Linux distribution or Windows recovery environment using another computer. Boot from it and copy important documents and photos to an external drive or cloud storage first. If the drive uses BitLocker or device encryption, you may need the recovery key before accessing the files.
A complete reinstall should be a last resort, not the first step. Since the machine was eventually repaired by changing the relevant firmware settings, there was no need to erase the SSD. Also, avoid installing experimental software directly on your main computer unless you have a current backup or a separate test machine.
Docker itself may not have damaged the computer. Its installer can enable Hyper-V and WSL2, and on some systems a virtualization or firmware configuration can cause a boot loop. Enter the BIOS or UEFI setup by repeatedly pressing the key shown during startup—often Delete, F2, or F12—and check that CPU virtualization is enabled. A repair technician may also need to adjust the related Hyper-V settings.
That seems to have been the issue. The technician changed a few BIOS-related settings and the computer is working again without wiping the drive.
That backup approach is useful, but Windows 11 often enables TPM-based device encryption or BitLocker, so access may be blocked without the recovery key.