Rapid Solution for Windows 10 Repair Loop

Is your computer stuck in a loop, displaying an error message that says "Preparing Automatic Repair" or "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC"? Don't worry, stay with us and we'll get through this together.

Page Content - How to Fix the "Preparing Automatic Repair" Issue in Windows 10

On this page, we'll provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to quickly fix the "Preparing Automatic Repair" loop issue in Windows 11, 10, or 8.1/8 without losing any data:

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Quick guide: By following this guide, you should be able to successfully recover your computer from the "Preparing Automatic Repair" loop. If you're not interested in the cause of the error, you can skip straight to Step 2.

Overview of 'Preparing Automatic Repair' error in Windows 10

Automatic Repair is a built-in Windows feature designed to fix issues related to startup when problems arise. Sometimes, when it fails to work as intended, the "Automatic Repair Loop" error occurs, causing your computer to repeatedly restart. As a result, you'll encounter a failed startup, with all programs, services, and files on your computer becoming inaccessible.

"Preparing Automatic Repair" Error Symptoms

If Automatic Repair can't fix your PC, you might see one of the following symptoms:

• Your computer is stuck on a black screen that says "Preparing Automatic Repair" or "Diagnosing your PC."
• Windows shows "Preparing Automatic Repair," but all you see is a black screen with no further information.
• The automatic repair gets stuck on a blue screen with the message "Your PC didn't start correctly" or "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC." If you click "Restart," your computer will boot into the Automatic Repair loop again.

Please refer to the following article for more information about the 'Your PC didn't start correctly' error:

How to Fix "Your PC Did Not Start Correctly" | 8 Methods

"Your PC did not start correctly" is a common error in Automatic Repair. This guide will show you 8 effective solutions:

Reasons for "Preparing Automatic Repair" or "Automatic Repair Loop" in Windows

The "Preparing Automatic Repair" issue is more common on Windows 11/10/8.1/8 PCs. Usually, the Automatic Repair or Boot Repair Loop problem occurs right after a Windows update or an unexpected shutdown.

What might be causing this error? Here are a few possibilities:

• Issues with the Windows Registry
• Damaged BOOTMGR file (Windows Boot Manager)
• Missing or corrupted system files
• Hardware driver issues (hard disk driver, motherboard driver, graphics card driver)
• Other unknown reasons

To fix the "Preparing Automatic Repair" error, follow the guides for the Blue Screen, or Black Screen versions of this error to get your computer up and running again.

Recover Data from Windows 'Preparing Automatic Repair' Loop

Whether you're looking at a blue screen or a “Preparing Automatic Repair” black screen, your first order of business should be to get your important data off the unbootable machine.

Here, you will get two ways to recover Windows data from this error automatically or manually. If you prefer a simple and effective method, try Method 1.

Method 1: Recover Data from a Computer in Automatic Repair Mode Using a Bootable Data Recovery Software

Reliable bootable data recovery software - Data Recovery Wizard tool can help you boot up the system from the created bootable disk that gets stuck in the 'Automatic Repair' loop error.

Then, you can scan and recover all data from an unbootable or corrupted computer.

Step 1: Create a Bootable Disk

Launch the Data Recovery Wizard, select “Crashed PC Recovery”, and then click “Go to Recover”.

Select "Crashed PC Recovery"

Select an empty USB drive to create the bootable drive, then click “Create.”

Caution: The Data Recovery Wizard will delete all data on the USB flash drive when creating a bootable disk. Back up important data in advance.

Create a bootable USB

Step 2: Boot your computer from the USB drive

Connect the bootable disk to the unbootable computer, and change the computer's boot order in the BIOS. For most users, this will involve restarting the computer and pressing F2 to enter the BIOS.

Set your computer to boot from “Removable Devices” (your bootable USB drive) instead of the hard drive. Press “F10” to save and exit.

Restart from the bootable USB

Step 3: Recover data from a crashed system/computer

After booting from the Data Recovery Wizard bootable disk, select the drive you wish to scan for all lost files. Preview and recover desired files to a secure location.

Method 2: Manually retrieve data from the Automatic Repair drive on another computer

Step 1: Open the case of the computer displaying the "Automatic Repair" error.

Step 2: Disconnect the drive from your computer by removing its power and data cables.

Step 3. Connect the hard drive to a healthy computer as an external drive.

Step 4. Restart your new computer and access the old computer's drive data through File Explorer.

Step Five: Copy and save all of your hard drive's data to another secure external hard drive.

Now it's time to fix the “Windows 10 is getting ready to automatically repair” error. Depending on your situation, you'll have different solutions available. Below, we've gathered all viable workarounds for two scenarios – black screen or blue screen – to bypass the PC's automatic repair.

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How to Fix a Windows 10 Boot Loop with a Blue Screen

If the automatic repair fails, you'll see a blue screen that says "Your PC didn't start correctly" or "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC." If you click "Restart," your computer will go through the same process and create an Automatic Repair loop.

Follow the steps below to learn how to recover your computer yourself from an Automatic Repair blue screen error.

1. Solution 1: Use the Windows 10 Repair Tool
2. Solution 2: Extend the System Partition
3. Solution 3: Disable Early Startup Antimalware Protection
4. Solution 4: Run System File Checker and CHKDSK
5. Solution 5: Rebuild BCD
6. Solution 6: Restore the Windows Registry
7. Solution 7: Perform a System Restore

Solution 1: Fix the Windows Automatic Repair loop using Windows Recovery Environment

A secure way to fix Windows 10 without losing data is by using a manual Windows Data Recovery Service. A professional technical team can assist you in resolving any system boot errors, including system crashes, blue screens, black screens, and more.

Windows Repair Service Tool

Click here to contact our experts for a free evaluation

Consult with our Data Recovery Experts for one-on-one manual recovery service. After a free diagnosis, we can provide the following services:

• Fix Windows startup issues, including blue screen errors
• Repair Windows errors and configure the Windows environment
• Restore the system when it fails to boot
• Optimize your Windows computer for faster performance

If you prefer to try to fix the problem yourself, proceed to the next method.

Solution 2: Extend the System Partition to Fix Windows Automatic Repair Loop

Both Windows and certain applications need enough space to run properly. If your computer's system drive is almost full, you might experience the “your PC ran into a problem” or get stuck on the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen.

To make more room for the system and applications, you can use a professional disk partition tool – AOMEI Partition Assistant to expand the system partition from a bootable disk and save your computer from the Blue Screen of Death:

1. Create a bootable disk on another healthy PC

Step 1. To create a bootable MiniTool Partition Wizard disc, you need to have a storage medium like a USB drive, a flash drive, or a CD/DVD disc. Connect the drive properly to your computer.

Step 2. Launch Partition Master, find the “Bootable Media” feature on the left and click it.

Step 3: If you have a USB or CD/DVD drive available, select it. If you don't have any storage devices, you can also save the ISO file to your local disk and burn it to media later. After making your choice, click on "Create" to start the process.

Review the warning, and then click Yes.

Step 4: When it's done, you'll see a pop-up asking if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB.

• Restart Now: You want to restart your computer immediately and boot from the installer media, without an operating system in the way.
• Finish: You don't want to restart this computer, but instead want to use the bootable USB drive on a different computer.

Note: To boot from the USB drive on a new computer, you will need to restart the target computer and press F2/F8/Delete to enter the BIOS, where you can set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Wait patiently as your computer boots from the USB boot media and loads the WinPE tool desktop automatically.

"Extend the system partition from the boot disk"

Connect the bootable USB drive to the problematic computer and restart the PC. Press F2/F11/Del to enter BIOS. Set the PC to boot from the bootable disk.

Boot the computer from the WinPE bootable disc, run Partition Wizard, and follow these steps to extend the system partition:

Option 1: Extend System C Drive with Unallocated Space

1. Right-click on the System C drive and select "Resize/Move Partition." 2. Drag the endpoint of the system partition to the unallocated space, adding it to the C drive. Then click "OK." 3. Click "Apply" and "Execute Task" to perform the operation and extend the C drive.

Option 2: Extend System C Drive with No Unallocated Space

1. On the system disk, right-click a large partition with sufficient free space, and then choose "Allocate Space." 2. In the "allocate from (*) to" section, select the system drive, and then drag the end of the System C drive to the unallocated space. Click "OK" to confirm. 3. Click "Perform Tasks," which will list the pending operations. Then click "Apply" to save the changes and extend the C drive.

0:00-0:26 Extend the system drive with unallocated space; 0:27-0:58 Extend the system drive without unallocated space.

3. Restart your PC from the original operating system disk.

After you extend the system drive, you can now restart the PC from the original system disk:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press F2/F11/Delete to enter BIOS.

Step 2. In the Boot Menu, switch and set the original system disk as the Boot Drive.

Step 3: Save the changes, exit the BIOS, and restart your computer.

Wait for your computer to boot up. If you see the login screen, congratulations – you've fixed the problem! If the issue persists, try the next solution.

Fix 3: Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

Another way to exit the Windows Automatic Repair loop is by disabling Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection. You can do this through Command Prompt with the following steps:

Step 1: Restart your computer and click on “Advanced options” on the Blue Screen of Death's “Automatic Repair.”

Step 2: Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.

The computer will restart and display a list of options.

Step 3: Select “Disable early launch anti-malware protection.”

After that, restart your computer and see if you can boot into Windows normally.

Fix 4: Run System File Checker and CHKDSK disk utility

If your system files are damaged or missing, this could be the issue. Windows has an inbuilt System File Checker and CHKDSK disk utility that you can use to scan for and repair any corrupted or missing system files.

To use this tool, you'll need to connect your Windows installation media to your computer and follow these steps to fix the Blue Screen error:

Step 1. Restart your computer from the Windows installation media.

Step 2: In the Windows Installer window, click Next.

Step 3: Choose “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”

Step 4: Type sfc /scannow, and press Enter.

5. Type chkdsk /f /r /x C: and press Enter.

Run CMD to fix the Automatic Repair loop error

Step 6. Type exit to close the command prompt, and then restart your computer.

Fix 5: Repair BCD to Resolve Windows Automatic Repair Issues

If the Master Boot Record (MBR) and the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) are missing, damaged or incorrectly configured, Windows will fail to boot. If that is the case, you need to enter Windows and manually repair MBR and rebuild BCD.

The bootrec.exe tool can be used to fix the Master Boot Record (MBR), the boot sector, the Boot Configuration Data (BCD), and the boot.ini when your computer fails to start up.

Step 1. Connect the Windows installation media/CD to your computer.

Step 2: Boot your computer from the Windows installation media or DVD.

Step 3: In the Windows Setup window, choose Next > Repair your computer.

Step 4. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Step 5. When the command prompt appears, type in each of the following lines, one at a time:

• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /scanos
• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /rebuildbcd
• exit
These are commands used in the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) Command Prompt to troubleshoot and fix boot-related issues. Here's a brief explanation of each command: 1. **bootrec /fixboot**: This command writes a new boot sector to the system partition, which can help if the existing boot sector is corrupted or missing. 2. **bootrec /scanos**: Scans all volumes for installed Windows operating systems and lists them. It's useful when you need to identify missing OS entries in the Boot Configuration Data (BCD). 3. **bootrec /fixmbr**: Fixes the Master Boot Record (MBR) by replacing it with a non-destructive Microsoft MBR. Use this if your MBR is damaged or has been replaced with a non-Microsoft boot loader. 4. **bootrec /rebuildbcd**: Attempts to locate all installed Windows instances and adds them to the BCD store. This can be helpful if the BCD store is corrupted or missing entries. 5. **exit**: Closes the Command Prompt and returns you to the WinRE main menu or exits the recovery environment entirely.

Then, restart your computer and check if it starts normally.

Fix 6: Repair the Windows Registry

The Registry is a database that contains configuration information for the operating system and most applications. A corrupted Registry can cause issues, such as an Automatic Repair loop.

The good news is that the Registry automatically creates backups of its configuration data. You can use these to restore the Windows Registry to a working version.

Step 1: On the Automatic Repair blue screen, select the Advanced options.

Step 2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Step 3. Select your account and enter your password.

Step 4. Enter each of the following lines one at a time, pressing Enter after you type each:

• Change directory to CD Windows\System32
• Change directory to CD config
• List contents of directory with DIR
• Change directory to CD regback
• List contents of directory with DIR
• Go back one directory with CD..
• Rename the file default to default1
• Rename the file sam to sam1
• Rename the file security to security1
• Rename the file software to software1
• Rename the file system to system1
• Change directory back to CD regback
• Copy all files in the current directory to C:\Windows\System32\Config

Step 5: Type exit, and then press Enter.

On the “Choose an option” screen, select “Shut down your PC,” and then turn it back on.

Fix 7: Perform a System Restore to Fix Windows 10 Automatic Repair Stuck Issue

If a System Restore point was created before this repair loop occurred, you can perform a System Restore to fix this issue.

Please note that a System Restore will overwrite files on the C drive, so please back up your data from the computer first. There are two reliable ways to restore your data.

Here are the steps:

Step 1. On the Blue Screen of Death, select the advanced options.

Step 2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.

Perform a system restore

Step 3: Select a restore point and click "Next" to return your computer to its normal state.

Step 4: Wait for the recovery process to finish, and then restart your computer.

How to fix the black screen loop with Automatic Repair issue

When you get the "Preparing Automatic Repair" black screen issue, your computer will remain black after it finishes preparing for automatic repair.

Here are some solutions that might help you:

• Solution 1: Perform a Hard Reboot
• Solution 2: Boot into Safe Mode
• Solution 3: Disable Automatic Repair
• Solution 4: Refresh or Reset PC
• Solution 5: Fresh Install or Reinstall Windows 10

Solution 1: Perform a hard reset

If your computer is black screened and showing the “Preparing Automatic Repair” warning, start with a hard reset. A hard reset is when you restart your computer without going through the operating system.

Step 1: Press and hold the power button on your computer until it turns off.

Step 2: Release the Power button and start your computer.

Step 3: Check if the issue is still present.

Fix 2: Enter Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode of Windows. You can use it to troubleshoot system-related issues by uninstalling/removing incompatible software or drivers, deleting problematic files, and getting rid of viruses, among other methods.

If your computer is stuck on the "Preparing Automatic Repair/ Diagnosing Your PC" screen, or if your screen goes black and unresponsive, you can boot your PC from the Windows installation CD/DVD and get into Safe Mode to fix this issue.

If you don't have an installation disc, create a Windows installation media using Microsoft's instructions instead.

Here's how to enter Safe Mode:

Step 1: Connect the Windows installation media to your PC.

Step 2. Restart your computer and press F2/F11/Delete to enter the BIOS.

Step 3. Select to boot from the installation media from the screen that appears. Wait for the program to load.

Step 4. In the Windows installer window, click Next.

Step 5: Select “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings.”

Step 6. Choose Safe Mode - Enable Safe Mode, Enable Safe Mode with Networking, and Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Step 7. Fix your computer's problems in Safe Mode:

• Run an antivirus scan and remove any viruses.
• Delete problematic files that might be causing the "Preparing Automatic Repair" loop.
• Uninstall suspicious software or drivers.
• Update hardware drivers using the CD/DVD/USB that contains the drivers.

Fix 3: Disable Automatic Repair

Automatic Repair itself could also be the reason your computer isn't starting up properly. You can disable Automatic Repair in Windows to fix this issue.

You'll need to open Command Prompt the same way you did in Method 3 to complete this task.

Step 1. Insert your Windows installation CD/DVD into your computer.

Step 2: Boot your computer from the Windows installation media.

Step 3: In the Windows Setup screen, click Next > Repair your computer.

4. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Step 5: Type bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled No and press Enter.

You can also delete the problematic file from the Command Prompt: C: \> cd Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt SrtTrail.txt

If you see a message like “The file c:\windows\system32\drivers\vsock.sys is corrupted,” navigate to the specified location using Command Prompt and enter the del command to delete the problematic file.

Step 6: Type exit to close the Command Prompt, then restart your computer.

Fix 4: Refresh or reset your PC

For the endless “Preparing to Auto-Repair” loop, Microsoft's official solution is to refresh or reset the PC.

Note that refreshing or resetting your computer can result in significant data loss, so be sure to back up your files first from your computer.

Here are the steps:

Step 1: On the "Get ready to auto-repair" screen, press and hold the Power button three times.

"Force shutdown."

Step 2. Your system will restart 2-3 times and enter the Startup Repair screen.

Step 3: Choose Troubleshoot, and then continue with Refresh your PC or Reset your PC.

Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your computer. When it's finished, restart your computer and you should be good to go.

If that doesn't fix the page, try the steps below.

Fix 5: Perform a clean install or reinstall Windows 10

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A Windows Repair can take hours, or even days, to resolve. Your last resort might be to reinstall Windows 10 on your computer.

You can use a Windows installation media to reinstall Windows 10/8.1/8, or download the latest Windows 10 update to perform a clean install of Windows 10 on your computer.

Now it's your turn to bring the computer back to life.

On this page, we explain what Automatic Repair is and what can cause the Automatic Repair loop error on Windows 11/10/8.1/8.

If you're dealing with this issue, we recommend that you follow this comprehensive guide. If your data is extremely important, remember to use a bootable data recovery software to retrieve it from the unbootable PC first.

Then, you can try the respective fix depending on what you're seeing – whether it's the blue-screen “Automatically Repairing…” or the black-screen “Preparing to automatically repair” error.

Last but not least, we also recommend that you create a system image backup right away. It can save your life when your PC fails and brings your computer back from the dead.

"Frequently Asked Questions about the 'Windows Automatic Repair Loop'"

If you still have problems, read the “Problems and Solutions” section below for help.

1. How long does preparation for repair usually take?

If the automatic repair works as expected, it can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on the hard drive specifications.

**2. How do I fix the "Preparing Automatic Repair" issue?** To resolve the "Preparing Automatic Repair" problem, follow these steps: 1. **Restart your computer**: First, try restarting your computer. This can often fix temporary system errors. 2. **Boot in Safe Mode**: If restarting doesn't work, attempt to start your computer in Safe Mode. This can help you isolate any software conflicts causing the issue. Press the power button, and during the startup process, repeatedly press F8 (for Windows 8 or later, you may need to quickly press Shift + F8) to access the Advanced Boot Options. Choose "Safe Mode" and see if it boots normally. 3. **Check for hard drive errors**: Run the disk check tool to find and fix any hard drive errors. Type `chkdsk /r C:` in the Command Prompt (replace C: with your system drive), then hit Enter. This may take some time; once done, restart your computer. 4. **System Restore**: If you can access Safe Mode, try using System Restore to revert to a previous restore point. Open "Control Panel" > "System" > "System Protection", then click "System Restore". 5. **Update or reinstall the operating system**: If all else fails, you might need to update your operating system to the latest version or, as a last resort, reinstall it. Make sure to back up all important files and data before doing this. 6. **Professional assistance**: If the issue persists, consider contacting your computer manufacturer's technical support or a professional IT service for assistance. Note that these steps apply to Windows operating systems. If you're using a different OS like macOS or Linux, the solutions might differ.

The official fix for this, which involves updating or resetting your computer, can be found here. To reset your computer:

• While you see the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen, press the power button three times to force your computer to shut down. • When you restart, your system should prompt you to perform a repair.

Why does my Lenovo laptop show "Preparing Automatic Repair"?

This error occurs when your computer fails to start up properly due to missing boot files or corrupted registry entries.

How to fix the Windows Boot Repair loop?

Fix Windows Startup Repair Infinite Loop:

Insert the installation media and restart the system. Press any key to boot from the DVD. Select your keyboard layout. On the “Install now” screen, click on “Repair your computer”. Click on “Troubleshoot”. Click on “Advanced options”. Click on “Startup Settings”. Click on “Restart...”.