Rebooting Pc Running Windows 7

[tearinghair]

I don't usually switch my PC off, but I tried to reboot it just now and all I can get is the window panes and 'starting Windows'. Is this because there is no longer support for Wibdows 7? I'm not having any problems with my tablet or phone.

[JimF]

"Is this because there is no longer support for Wibdows 7?"

No.

[Togo]

Hmmm. It could just be, just mind, that it is doing updates that have not been done in the past because you never turned it off. Let it run and see. Otherwise turn it off again and re-boot I would think.

[JimF]

"updates that have not been done in the past because you never turned it off"

That's not how Windows Update works, though. It will download the updates as and when and, depending on your settings, will either schedule their installation or just do it.

[Togo]

//depending on your settings, will either schedule their installation or just do it.//

Dead right jimf. We don't know what the settings were though . Turning off triggers a re-boot, a re-boot triggers updates with some settings.

[Buenchico]

Unplug the PC. (Don't just turn it off. Completely disconnect it from the mains).

Unplug any USB devices. (If you had an external drive, such as a pen drive, plugged into a USB port it might be worth trying a normal start up at this point, rather than bothering with the stuff below straight away).

Wait a couple of minutes.

Plug the PC in and turn it on again.

During the boot-up process (i.e. before you get to a Windows screen), press F8. (You sometimes have to press it several times).

Choose the option to boot into Safe Mode. (Just use the simplest version, ignoring things like 'Safe Mode with networking). You'll need to use the Up/Down keys, and then 'Enter', to do so.

If you can get into Safe Mode, you might find that your screen looks rather odd. That's because the display driver hasn't been loaded. Don't worry, it's normal!

Simply restarting your computer (in the usual way, via the Start button) might be all that you need to do.

If you then still find that you can't get past the 'Starting Windows' screen, repeat the above steps to get back into Safe Mode and check the disk for errors:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/2641432/check-your-hard-disk-for-errors-in-windows-7

If you can't get into Safe Mode at all, please post again.

[tearinghair]

First of all, apologies for my mistyping, it was because I was using the smaller keyboard on my tablet instead of the PC. I rather like Wibdows, though...
Thank you for the suggestions and advice. I held off on yours for a while, Buenchico, because I'm frightened of safe mode, (I got in a muddle with it once) but I will print it and keep it for future reference. After about 25 minutes it did consent to ask me for my password, and finally loaded about 15 minutes after that.
I have all the updates until they stopped a couple of weeks ago.