If a Windows Server is pending a reboot and is rebooted, is it possible that the reboot flags are not cleared?

[Cubert]

Yes, it’s possible—though not typical—for certain pending reboot flags on a Windows Domain Controller (or any Windows Server) to persist even after a reboot, especially if specific post-boot processes haven’t completed. In some cases, these flags may not clear until a user logs in interactively.

Here’s why that can happen:

- PendingFileRenameOperations in the registry (HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager) may not be processed correctly during boot if certain services or drivers don’t initialize fully until after login.

- Windows Update or CBS (Component-Based Servicing) flags might linger if updates were partially applied or if the system didn’t complete the update cycle properly.

- Group Policy or startup scripts that finalize update or reboot tasks may require a user session to trigger, especially if they're set to run in the user context.

This behavior has been observed particularly in Server 2022, where some users report that reboot-required flags remain even after multiple restarts—sometimes due to stuck registry keys or driver-related operations.

Server-2022-constantly-reports-a-pending-reboot