Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the Preparing Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 10/11
Dealing with a Windows device stuck in the “Preparing Automatic Repair” loop is a nightmare. It’s like your PC just refuses to get past that screen, no matter how many times you restart. Usually, it’s caused by corrupted system files, a bad update, or even hardware hiccups. The good news? There are a few things worth trying before giving up and re-installing everything. This guide walks through the best methods to break out of that never-ending repair cycle and get your machine back, hopefully without losing too much time or data.
How to Fix the Preparing Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 10/11
Accessing Advanced Startup Options
Since the system’s stuck, you need to forcefully trigger the Advanced Startup Options. Normally, holding Shift while clicking restart helps, but if the system is totally unresponsive, you might need to do a hard shutdown (hold the power button until it turns off), then turn it back on. On the third boot attempt, Windows will usually automatically enter recovery mode after detecting repeated failures. Once there, you’ll see options for troubleshooting.
Pro tip: if that doesn’t work, try a power cycle a couple of times—power off during the Windows loading screen—sometimes it prompts the system to enter recovery mode on its own.
Use Startup Repair
This is the first thing to try because Windows’ built-in tool is pretty good at fixing simple startup issues. It scans your system for corrupt files or misconfigurations that could cause that repair loop.
- Click Troubleshoot in the recovery menu.
- Select Advanced options > Startup Repair.
Expect Windows to automatically detect and fix common issues—sometimes it works on the first try. Keep in mind, this process might take a few minutes, and on some setups, it might say it couldn’t fix anything. Still worth a shot before diving deeper.
What if Startup Repair Doesn’t Help?
If the automatic repair keeps failing, it’s time to grab the Command Prompt from the same advanced options menu. It might look intimidating, but you just need to run a few commands to repair the bootloader and BCD (Boot Configuration Data).
- In the same Advanced Options, pick Command Prompt.
- Type these commands one after another, pressing Enter after each:
bootrec /fixmbrbootrec /fixbootbootrec /scanosbootrec /rebuildbcd
Sometimes the bootrec /fixboot command causes a “Access is denied” error. If that happens, you might need to assign a drive letter or run a few other steps to fix UEFI boot issues. Honestly, it’s a little tricky sometimes—Microsoft’s weird boot configs can be a pain—so don’t be surprised if things don’t go perfectly on the first try.
After running these commands, restart and see if Windows boots properly. If not, another trick is to run a disk check or repair system files.
Running System File Checker (SFC)
For those suspected corrupted system files, the SFC tool can help. It scans and repairs Windows core files, which might be the root of the problem.
- Boot into the Troubleshoot menu, pick Command Prompt again.
- Type this command and press Enter:
sfc /scannow
Expect this to take a little while—like 10-30 minutes depending on your system’s speed. If it finds issues, it’ll try to fix them automatically. After the process, restart to see if Windows loads normally. Sometimes it’s a miracle worker, other times, it’s just a shot in the dark, but hey, it’s easy enough.
More Advanced Options If Nothing Works
When all else fails, consider using Windows installation media (like a USB drive) to perform a repair install. Brute-force options include resetting Windows or even a clean install, but that’s a last resort after backing up whatever you can salvage.
– Check for hardware issues; faulty RAM sticks or a dying hard drive can cause startup problems. Tools like Memtest86 or a SMART check from your drive manufacturer can tell you more.
– If you can boot into Safe Mode (sometimes the repair loop skips over this), it’s worth trying to uninstall recent updates or drivers.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
While troubleshooting, don’t forget:
- Make sure your PC is plugged in and power is steady—because Windows loves to make life harder than necessary.
- Backing up data beforehand is never a bad idea, especially if you’re considering resets or reinstallations.
- If any steps seem risky or confusing, it’s okay to ask around for help or look up specific errors you see.
Wrap-up
Finding your way out of the “Preparing Automatic Repair” loop can be a real hassle. Sometimes these fixes work right away, other times it’s a matter of trying a few different tricks. The key is to stay patient and try what’s most straightforward first—like Startup Repair, then the command-line fixes. If nothing gets it working again, hardware might be the culprit, and a deeper diagnosis could be needed.
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of frustration—fingers crossed this helps.
Summary
- Access Advanced Startup Options (force shut down 3 times if needed)
- Run Startup Repair from the Troubleshoot menu
- If needed, use Command Prompt to fix boot issues with bootrec commands
- Run SFC /scannow for system file repairs
- Consider hardware checks or clean installations if everything else fails