How to fix automatic repair loop in Windows 10

Automatic repair screen
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Automatic repair loop is a common issue that many Windows 10 users will run into. The tool is designed to diagnose issues with the operating system. Although it is designed to diagnose issues with the operating system, the tool itself can run into problems. Knowing how to fix an automatic repair loop in Windows 10 is useful for users looking to get back into their systems without having to get IT support involved.

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The automatic repair system-recovery tool is built to troubleshoot various common issues that may be preventing your system from booting. The tool is typically triggered automatically after two consecutive failed boot attempts.

However, while performing these diagnostic tests, the repair tool may occasionally fall into an endless reboot loop. In these cases, users are often face with a blue screen of death or a black screen, and are locked out of their system.

What causes a Windows automatic repair loop?

There are many reasons why the tool gets stuck in the dreaded automatic repair loop. This could be due to missing or corrupted systems files, including problems with Windows Registry, incompatible hard drives, file corruption in Windows Boot Manager, or even a faulty Windows update.

Here are some obvious signs that you need to look out for which show your Windows automatic repair utility has failed.

  • Your device shows a simple black screen with an error message that says "Diagnosing your PC" or "Preparing automatic repair"
  • The “Preparing automatic repair” message appears on a black screen, but with no indication of progress
  • A blue screen shows with the message "Automatic repair couldn't repair your PC" or "Your PC did not start correctly"

How to fix a Windows automatic repair loop

The solutions for fixing the Windows automatic repair loop can vary significantly, depending on if you’re dealing with a: 

  • A black screen and an unresponsive system
  • A blue screen displaying an error code

To help you, we’ve put together some solutions on how to bypass the Windows automatic repair loop error quickly and efficiently in each scenario.

Blue screen – Undo changes using System Restore

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System Restore rolls your OS back to its previous state by overwriting files on your PC’s local drive and restoring your system to a time when everything was working.

  1. Click on "Advanced options” in the automatic repair blue screen
  2. Navigate to “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced Options” > “System Restore”
  3. Choose the restore point created right before the blue screen appeared (Windows 10 creates a system restore point each time it installs an update, driver, or app)
  4. Click "Next"
  5. Wait until the restore process finishes, then restart your computer.

Blue screen – Run built-in system repair tools

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Windows offers built-in System File Checker and CHKDSK (check disk) utility tools to check and repair missing or corrupted system files. Access these helpful tools using the steps given below:

  1. Restart your PC and press the “F8” key (this will trigger the Windows troubleshooting menu)
  2. Select “See advanced repair options”
  3. In the “Choose an option” menu, click “Troubleshoot”
  4. Under the “Troubleshoot” menu, select the “Advanced options” option
  5. Select “Command Prompt” in the “Advanced options”
  6. In the command prompt window, type “chkdsk /r c:” and hit Enter. This command will check your drive for errors using the CHKDSK utility and automatically repair them if possible
  7. Type “sfc /scannow” and hit Enter. This will check the integrity of Windows system files using the System File Checker tool
  8. Type “Exit” to close the Command prompt
  9. Finally, restart your computer.

Black screen – Run antivirus scans and update drivers

In Safe Mode, you can uninstall device drivers, roll back Windows 10 updates, remove viruses, and more. Here’s how to launch your system in Safe Mode:

  1. Turn off your PC
  2. Download and install Windows Installation Media
  3. Restart your PC
  4. Upon rebooting, press “F2,” “F11,” or “Delete” to enter BIOS
  5. Boot using “Windows Installation Media”
  6. Under the Windows Setup window, choose "Next"
  7. Navigate to "Repair your computer" > "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "Startup Settings”
  8. Choose the Safe Mode (Enable Safe Mode, Enable Safe Mode with Networking, and Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt) that meets your needs
  9. Once you enter your desired Safe Mode, run antivirus software to scan and remove viruses. Delete problematic files by uninstalling incompatible software or drivers and update your device driver.

Black screen – Disable automatic repair loop

When all else fails, you can disable the automatic repair tool to see if the system will boot without it. To do so, use the following steps:

  1. Insert a Windows installation disc/media into your PC
  2. Select your language preferences, and click “Next”
  3. Click on “Repair your computer”
  4. Click on “Troubleshoot”
  5. Click on “Advanced Options”
  6. Click on “Command Prompt”
  7. In the command prompt window, type “bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled No” and hit “Enter” (this command deletes problematic system files)
  8. Type “exit” and press Enter
Dale Walker

Dale Walker is the Managing Editor of ITPro, and its sibling sites CloudPro and ChannelPro. Dale has a keen interest in IT regulations, data protection, and cyber security. He spent a number of years reporting for ITPro from numerous domestic and international events, including IBM, Red Hat, Google, and has been a regular reporter for Microsoft's various yearly showcases, including Ignite.

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