Are you stuck in a never-ending loop of “Preparing Automatic Repair” on your Windows 10 computer? Let’s explore effective solutions to fix this frustrating issue.
Perform a Hard Reboot
Performing a hard reboot can help fix a stuck Preparing Automatic Repair loop in Windows 10. Here’s how to do it:
1. Start by pressing and holding the power button on your computer until it shuts down completely.
2. Once the computer is off, unplug the AC adapter or remove the battery if you’re using a laptop.
3. Next, press and hold the power button again for about 10-20 seconds to discharge any remaining power.
4. Now, plug in the AC adapter or reinsert the battery and turn on the computer.
5. As the computer starts up, repeatedly press the Boot Menu key (usually F12, F10, or Esc) to access the boot menu.
6. From the boot menu, select the option to boot from a USB flash drive or DVD that contains a Windows installation media.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts to boot into the Windows Setup.
8. Once in the Windows Setup, select your language preferences and click “Next.”
9. Click on “Repair your computer” > “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”
10. In the Command Prompt, type “chkdsk /f /r” and press Enter to run a disk check on your computer.
11. Wait for the disk check to complete and then restart your computer.
12. If the Preparing Automatic Repair loop is still present, repeat steps 1-9, and this time, in the Command Prompt, type “bootrec /fixmbr” and press Enter to fix the Master Boot Record.
13. Restart your computer again and check if the issue is resolved.
Performing a hard reboot can help break the infinite loop and allow your computer to start normally. If you continue to experience issues, it may be necessary to seek further assistance from a professional or contact your computer manufacturer for support.
Boot into Safe Mode
1. Start by shutting down your computer completely.
2. Turn it back on and immediately press and hold the F8 key repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears.
3. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight the “Safe Mode” option and press Enter.
4. Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode, which only loads essential drivers and services.
5. Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can troubleshoot and fix the issue causing the Preparing Automatic Repair loop.
6. Run a full system scan using your installed antivirus software to check for any malware or viruses.
7. Use the CHKDSK utility to scan and repair any errors on your hard drive.
8. If the issue persists, try using a boot disk or USB flash drive with a Windows installation file to access the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
9. From there, you can access advanced troubleshooting options and repair your Windows installation.
10. If all else fails, you may need to restore your computer to a previous restore point or perform a clean installation of Windows.
Remember to back up your important data before attempting any troubleshooting steps to avoid data loss.
Note: The specific steps to enter Safe Mode may vary depending on your computer’s manufacturer (e.g., Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, Acer, etc.). Consult your device’s manual or manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions.
Rebuild the BCD or Extend System Reserved Partition
To fix a stuck preparing automatic repair loop in Windows 10, you may need to either rebuild the BCD or extend the System Reserved Partition. Here’s how you can do it:
Rebuilding the BCD:
1. Boot your computer using a Windows installation media or a bootable USB drive.
2. Press any key to boot from the media and select your language preferences.
3. Click on “Repair your computer” in the bottom left corner.
4. Select “Troubleshoot” and then “Command Prompt”.
5. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
6. Follow the on-screen prompts and choose the appropriate Windows installation if prompted.
7. Once the rebuild process is complete, restart your computer and see if it resolves the preparing automatic repair loop issue.
Extending the System Reserved Partition:
1. Boot your computer using a Windows installation media or a bootable USB drive.
2. Press any key to boot from the media and select your language preferences.
3. Click on “Repair your computer” in the bottom left corner.
4. Select “Troubleshoot” and then “Command Prompt”.
5. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:
diskpart
list disk
select disk [disk number] (replace [disk number] with the number associated with your hard drive)
list partition
select partition [partition number] (replace [partition number] with the number associated with the System Reserved Partition)
extend
6. Wait for the process to complete and then restart your computer.
Disable Automatic Repair at Boot
1. Start your computer and wait for the Windows logo to appear.
2. Press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 two more times to trigger the Automatic Repair process.
4. On the third restart, let the Automatic Repair process start.
5. When the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen appears, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
6. Repeat steps 1 and 2 two more times to trigger the Automatic Repair process again.
7. On the third restart, let the Automatic Repair process start once more.
8. When the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen appears again, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
9. Repeat steps 1 and 2 two more times to trigger the Automatic Repair process for the third time.
10. On the fourth restart, let the Automatic Repair process start.
11. When the “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen appears for the fourth time, press the power button once to turn off your computer.
12. Disconnect any external devices, such as USB drives or external hard drives.
13. Press the power button to turn on your computer.
14. Your computer should now start normally without entering the Automatic Repair loop.
Run Startup Repair or System Restore
To fix the “Preparing Automatic Repair Loop” issue in Windows 10, you can try running Startup Repair or System Restore. These options can help resolve the problem and get your computer back up and running.
1. Run Startup Repair:
– Start by rebooting your computer.
– As it boots up, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this step two more times.
– After the third shutdown, your computer will enter the Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE).
– In WinPE, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Repair.”
– Follow the on-screen instructions to let Windows attempt to fix any issues automatically.
2. Run System Restore:
– Restart your computer and enter WinPE by repeating the steps mentioned above.
– In WinPE, select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “System Restore.”
– Choose a restore point that predates the issue and follow the prompts to restore your computer to that state.
Both Startup Repair and System Restore can help resolve various software-related issues that may cause the “Preparing Automatic Repair Loop” problem. It’s important to note that these methods may not work if the problem is related to hardware or a computer virus.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, you may need to seek further assistance from a professional or contact the manufacturer of your computer (such as Dell, Lenovo, Asus, HP, or Acer). They can provide specific support tailored to your device.
Check Hardware or Repair Corrupted System Files
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key to enter the Advanced Boot Options menu. |
| Step 2 | From the Advanced Boot Options menu, select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt” and press Enter. |
| Step 3 | In the Command Prompt window, type “chkdsk /f” and press Enter to run a disk check and repair any errors. |
| Step 4 | Once the disk check is complete, restart your computer and check if the issue persists. |
| Step 5 | If the issue persists, repeat steps 1 and 2 to enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt again. |
| Step 6 | In the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and press Enter to run the System File Checker tool. |
| Step 7 | Wait for the scan to complete and let the tool repair any corrupted system files. |
| Step 8 | Once the repair is finished, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved. |
Reset Windows or Reinstall
Reset Windows: This option allows you to reset your Windows operating system to its default settings while keeping your personal files intact. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Press the power button to turn on your computer.
2. While the computer is starting up, continuously press the F11 key until the Advanced Startup Options menu appears.
3. Select “Troubleshoot” and then choose “Reset this PC.”
4. Choose whether you want to keep your personal files or remove everything, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
5. Once the reset is complete, your computer should no longer be stuck in the Preparing Automatic Repair loop.
Reinstall: If resetting Windows did not resolve the issue, you may need to reinstall your operating system. Before proceeding with the reinstallation, make sure you have a backup of all your important files. Here’s how you can reinstall Windows:
1. Obtain a Windows installation media, such as a DVD or USB.
2. Insert the installation media into your computer and restart it.
3. Press any key to boot from the installation media when prompted.
4. Select your language preferences and click “Next.”
5. Click “Install now” and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows.
6. Once the reinstallation is complete, your computer should no longer be stuck in the Preparing Automatic Repair loop.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I force stop automatic repair?
To force stop automatic repair, you can follow these steps:
1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the command “bcdedit” and press Enter.
4. Check the “recoveryenabled” and “identifier” values under the “Windows Boot Loader” section to ensure they are set to “{current}” and “yes.”
How do I fix HP stuck on preparing automatic repair?
To fix an HP stuck on preparing automatic repair, you can try performing a hard reset. Disconnect the power adapter and remove the battery (if possible). Hold the power button for 15 seconds, then reconnect the power adapter and battery (if applicable) and attempt to power on the laptop.
How do I get my Dell out of preparing automatic repair?
To resolve the Dell preparing automatic repair issue, access the Advanced Startup Options menu and choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Additionally, consider restoring your system to a previous restore point or resetting your PC.
What causes automatic repair loop?
The automatic repair loop can be caused by various factors such as missing or corrupted system files, issues with Windows Registry, incompatible hard drives, file corruption in Windows Boot Manager, or faulty Windows updates.
