What do I do if Windows automatic repair doesnt work?

The official Windows solution for Preparing Automatic Repair is to update or reset the PC directly. This is how the repair works: At the Preparing Automatic Repair window, press the power button three times to force the computer to shut down. The system will call for repair after the restart.

Many Windows 10 users have been puzzled by the Windows Automatic Repair loop issue. The problem is that Windows system files are corrupted and Windows cannot boot properly. This places the computer in a constant loop of rebooting and getting stuck.

In this article, we talk about the cause of the problem and how to fix it, as well as what you can do if you can't boot into Windows at all. Let’s get started.

What causes the “Preparing automatic repair” loop on Windows 10?

The “preparing automatic repair windows 10 stuck” screen usually appears on your computer after an error causes the system to unexpectedly shut down. For example, if your system ran into an error that caused it to crash, at the next boot Windows 10 will attempt to automatically repair the damaged files.

In some cases, this repair is simply not possible. When your computer can’t go into automatic repair mode, it gets stuck on the screen with no progress or repairs being done to the system. You can shut the computer down and start it again, but it never goes past the “Preparing automatic repair” screen.

Despite its severity, this is a common Windows error that appears on Windows 10, as well as Windows 11, 8.1, 8, and even 7. Some possible causes for this error include the following problems, errors, and scenarios:

• Issues with the Windows Registry (wrong keys, missing keys, etc.)
• File corruption to the Windows Boot Manager (BOOTMGR)
• Missing or damaged system files, often the byproduct of malware infections
• Issues with hardware drivers, such as missing or outdated drivers
• Other unknown system reasons

No matter what causes the problem, you can find a solution below by following our step-by-step guides. Let's take a look at each of them.

Solved: Windows 10 stuck on “Preparing automatic repair” loop

Here are some ways to fix the Windows 10 Automatic Repair loop:

Method 1. Perform a hard reboot

Before you get to troubleshooting via more advanced methods, try forcing your computer to shut down and attempt to power cycle. Here's how:

1. Turn off your computer entirely by pressing the Power button. A good indicator to tell when it’s shut down is the screen going entirely black and the computer fans no longer spinning.
2. Unplug all peripherals, such as USB flash drives, external hard drives, earbuds, and so on. Remove the power wire or adapter from your computer as well.
3. Remove the battery from the battery compartment if you're using a laptop with a detachable battery.
4. To drain any remaining charge from the capacitors, press and hold the Power button on your computer for roughly 30 seconds.
5. Place the battery in your laptop (if you previously removed it), and reconnect the power line to your computer. Do not, however, re-plug any of the USB devices just yet.
6. To start your computer, press the Power button until you see the boot screen. You can now see if the problem with Windows 10 stuck on the “Preparing automatic repair” screen has been resolved.

If the above trick fails, try the following solutions.

Method 2. Boot your computer in Safe Mode

If you’ve been experiencing loop issues with Automatic Repair in Windows 10, and your system fails to complete the boot process before crashing on startup, going into Safe Mode may help. 

Start by confirming whether or not this problem happens when using Safe Mode (as opposed to normal boot mode). If you don’t get into a loop with Safe Mode turned on, you can troubleshoot more efficiently by using Windows 10’s tools.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. Navigate through to See advanced repair options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
   
   
   
3. You'll now see a selection of several restart choices. By pressing F5 on your keyboard, you’ll enable Safe Mode with Networking. Wait for your system to restart and see if it successfully boots.

If you’re able to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode without encountering the “Preparing automatic repair” screen, you can troubleshoot further! For example, scanning your computer for malware with the Windows Defender is a great first step.

Method 3. Rebuild BCD with the Command Prompt

One of the common reasons why you may get into the “Preparing automatic repair” loop is if your boot files are missing or damaged. As a result, some users will rebuild key parts of the system using the procedure below.

Note: In the steps below, we assume that you’re unable to boot into your system even in Safe Mode. However, if you have access to your desktop, you can reach the Command Prompt by simply searching for it in the taskbar.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. Click Repair your computer and then click on Troubleshoot from the options.
3. A list of advanced options will be shown on the screen. Simply select Command Prompt from here and wait for it to load. You should see a black pop-up window show up on the screen.
   
   
   
4. Type in the following commands one by one, pressing the Enter key on your keyboard to execute each line:
   • bootrec /fixmbr
   • bootrec /fixboot
   • bootrec /scanos
   • bootrec /rebuildbcd
5. You’ll see the “Successfully scanned Windows installations” message show up when the repair process is complete. Type exit and press Enter to quit the Command Prompt.
6. Reboot your computer and check if you’re able to get past the repair screen during the boot process.

Method 4. Disable Automatic Repair at boot

You might try disabling the Automatic Startup Repair feature if you feel your Windows 10 installation is in working order. This should allow you to boot into Windows without going through the repair cycle and subsequently getting stuck on it.

Please bear in mind that this method will only work if your system is functional beneath the startup repair screen. If there is a real system error taking place, you won’t be able to troubleshoot with this part of the guide!

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. Click Repair your computer and then click on Troubleshoot from the options.
3. A list of advanced options will be shown on the screen. Simply select Command Prompt from here and wait for it to load. You should see a black pop-up window show up on the screen.
4. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it:
   • bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
     
     
     
5. Alternatively, if the command didn’t execute successfully, try the following command and press Enter to execute it:
   • bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled no
     
     
     
6. Restart your PC and see if the same boot loop occurs after making this adjustment.

Method 5. Run the Fixboot and Chkdsk commands

The fixboot command is used to force your computer to boot and potentially fix issues with the startup. You can use this to try and get past the automatic repair, allowing you to boot into your system.

If the fixboot command didn’t work, continue with the steps and try running Check Disk to repair your PC. The chkdsk command attempts to identify and get rid of disk issues, which may help you with resolving issues with the boot loop at hand.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: chkdsk C: /r
   
   
   
4. Wait for the scan to finish. If there was an error or the scan is unable to run, try using the following command: fixboot C:
   
   
   

Method 6. Repair corrupted system files

Corrupted systems files can cause massive problems with your operating system, including boot loops. The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool to help troubleshoot in Windows 10. It's able to detect and repair corrupt files.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
   
   
   
4. Wait for the System File Checker to finish scanning your computer. In the case of a discrepancy, the utility will restore system files and fix all errors related to them.

When the scan is complete, restart your computer and see if you’re able to get past the repair loop. If so, you’ve successfully solved the issue with the System File Checker’s help!

Method 8. Restore the Windows Registry

Mainly caused by malware infections or disk issues, the Windows Registry can become corrupt. This often leads to fatal system errors like a boot loop or blue screen problem. Luckily, from the restoration environment, you can easily rebuild the Registry and fix any missing, misconfigured, or corrupt keys.

By restoring the Windows Registry, you essentially reset it to its default settings. This means that any modifications were done to it — whether by you or a third party, — will be lost.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: C:\Windows\System32\config\regback* C:\Windows\System32\config\
4. You’ll be prompted to choose which entries to restore and overwrite with the defaults. Type in “All” and press the Enter key to proceed.
5. When the process is finished, restart your computer and see if you still experience the boot loop caused by the Automatic Repair.

Method 9. Reset or Refresh Windows 10

Resetting Windows 10 is the last resort for a PC trapped in an automated repair boot cycle. You don't have to worry about losing your files or data since you may choose between two options: making a clean reset (which deletes everything) or saving your personal files and applications.

Our experts recommend trying to save as much as possible before opting for the full reset — unless you don’t mind getting rid of your files in the first place.

1. Reboot your computer and hold the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is visible to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). On certain devices, you may need to hold down the Fn (function) key as well.
2. From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
3. Pick from one of the available options, and then follow the on-screen instructions to reset or refresh Windows 10. After the process is complete, you should be able to boot into your system without the loop happening.
   
   
   

Final thoughts

Windows Automatic Repair loops can be a frustrating problem. With this article, we’ve covered the causes and how to fix it, as well as what you should do if your computer is unable to boot into Windows at all.

If you have any questions or need help with these tips, please don't hesitate to reach out! We're happy to answer any tech-related question that comes our way. Contact us by email, live chat, and phone every day of the week!

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