A straight update or reset of the computer is the recommended Windows response for Preparing Automatic Repair. Here’s how the fix goes: Press the power button three times while the Preparing Automatic Repair window is open to force the computer to shut down. Once the system has restarted, it will request maintenance.
We’ll go over the cause of the problem, how to solve it, and what to do if you can’t boot into Windows at all in this article. Let’s get going.
What causes the Windows 10 “Preparing for automated repair” loop?
After a mistake forces the system to shut down abruptly, the “preparing automated repair windows 10 stuck” prompt shows on your computer. For example, if your system had an error and crashed, Windows 10 will attempt to automatically repair the damaged files on the next boot.
This repair may not be achievable in some circumstances. When your computer is unable to enter automatic repair mode, it remains frozen on the screen with no progress or fixes. You can turn off and on the computer, but it will never get past the “Preparing for automatic repair” prompt.
Despite its seriousness, this is a typical Windows problem that can be found on Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and even Windows 7. The following issues, mistakes, and circumstances could be the source of this error:
- Windows Registry problems (wrong keys, missing keys, etc.)
- Corrupted files in the Windows Boot Manager (BOOTMGR)
- Malware attacks frequently result in missing or corrupted system files.
- Hardware driver problems, such as missing or obsolete drivers,
- Other unknown system causes
Whatever the problem is, you can solve it by following our step-by-step instructions below. Let’s take a look at each one individually.
Windows 10 is no longer trapped in the “Preparing for automatic repair” cycle.
Here are a few options for getting out of the Windows 10 Automatic Repair loop:
Method 1: Completely restart the computer.
Try forcing your computer to shut down and power cycling before moving on to more complex troubleshooting procedures. This is how:
- By hitting the power button, you can completely shut down your computer. The screen becoming completely black and the computer fans no longer running are good indicators that it’s shut down.
- Remove all USB flash devices, external hard drives, earphones, and other gadgets. Remove your computer’s power cord or adapter as well.
- If you’re using a laptop with a detachable battery, remove it from the battery compartment.
- Press and hold the power button on your computer for about 30 seconds to drain any remaining charge from the capacitors.
- Reconnect the power line to your computer and replace the battery (if you removed it previously). However, do not re-plug any USB devices just yet.
- To start your computer, hold down the power button until the startup screen appears. You can now check to see if the issue with Windows 10 stuck on the “Preparing for automatic repair” screen has been fixed.
If the above method does not work, try the following options.
Method 2: Boot your computer into Safe Mode.
If your system fails to finish the boot process before crashing on startup due to loop difficulties with Automatic Repair in Windows 10, booting into Safe Mode may assist.
Begin by confirming whether or not this issue occurs in Safe Mode (as opposed to normal boot mode). If you don’t get stuck in a loop while in Safe Mode, you can use Windows 10’s tools to troubleshoot more quickly.
- To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- Follow the link to See Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart for advanced repair options.
- You’ll now be presented with a number of restart options. Safe Mode with Networking can be enabled by pressing F5 on your keyboard. Wait for your computer to restart and check if it boots correctly.
- You can troubleshoot further if you can boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode without seeing the “Preparing for automatic repair” box. Scanning your computer for malware with Windows Defender, for example, is a good first step.
Method : 3 Using the Command Prompt, rebuild the BCD
If your boot files are missing or corrupted, this is one of the most common causes of the “Preparing for automated repair” loop. As a result, some users will follow the technique below to rebuild important components of the system.
Note: We’ll presume you can’t boot into your system even in Safe Mode in the steps following. If you have access to your desktop, you can find the Command Prompt in the taskbar by searching for it.
- To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- Select Troubleshoot from the options after clicking Repair Your Machine.
- The screen will provide a list of advanced settings. Simply click on the Command Prompt and wait for it to load. A black pop-up window should appear on your screen.
- To execute each line, type the following commands one at a time, pressing the Enter key on your keyboard:
bootrec / fixmbr
bootrec/fixboot
bootrec/scanos
bootrec/rebuildbcd
- When the repair is finished, the notification “Successfully scanned Windows installations” will appear. To exit the command prompt, type exit and hit enter.
- Check if you can get beyond the repair screen during the boot process by restarting your machine.
To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- Select Troubleshoot from the options after clicking Repair Your Machine.
- The screen will provide a list of advanced settings. Simply click on the Command Prompt and wait for it to load. A black pop-up window should appear on your screen.
- To run the following command, type it in and hit Enter:
no bcdedit/setdefaultrecoveryenabled
- If the command didn’t work, try entering the following command and pressing Enter:
current recoveryenabled no bcdedit
- After making this adjustment, restart your computer to determine if the boot loop persists.
Method 4: Run the commands “Fixboot” and “Chkdsk.”
The fixboot command is used to force your computer to boot and perhaps fix startup problems. You can use this to try to bypass the automatic repair and gain access to your system.
If the fixboot command fails, proceed with the procedures and execute Check Disk to repair your computer. The chkdsk tool aims to find and resolve disc problems, which may assist you in fixing the boot loop issue at hand.
- To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE).
- You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
- To run the following command, type it in and hit Enter: C: chkdsk
- Allow the scan to complete. If an error occurred or the scan could not be completed, try the following command: C: fixboot
Method 5: Recovering corrupted system files
System files that are corrupted can create major issues with your operating system, including boot loops. In Windows 10, the System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in utility for troubleshooting. It can discover and fix damaged files.
To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
To run the following command, type it in and hit Enter: /scannow sfc
Allow the System File Checker to complete its scan of your computer. If there is a disparity, the tool will restore system files and correct any faults that are associated with them.
Restart your computer after the scan is finished to see if you can get out of the repair loop. If this is the case, you’ve effectively resolved the problem with the help of the System File Checker!
Method 6:Restore the Windows Registry
The Windows Registry might become corrupt due to malware attacks or disc difficulties. This frequently results in fatal system issues such as a boot loop or a blue screen. Fortunately, you can quickly recreate the registry from the restoration environment and fix any missing, misconfigured, or damaged keys.
You essentially reset the Windows Registry to its default settings by restoring it. This implies that any changes made to it—whether by you or someone else—will be lost.
- To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
- To run the following command, type it in and hit Enter: C: Windows System32configregback* C: Windows System32config
- You’ll be asked which entries to restore and which to replace with defaults. To continue, type “all” and press the Enter key.
When the operation is complete, restart your computer to determine if the boot loop triggered by the automatic repair is still there.
Method 7:Reset or Refresh Windows
For a PC stuck in an automated repair boot cycle, resetting Windows 10 is the last resort. You don’t have to be concerned about losing your data or files because you have the option of performing a clean reset (which deletes everything) or keeping your personal files and programs.
Unless you don’t mind losing your files in the first place, our experts recommend trying to save as much as possible before performing a full reset.
- To access the Windows Recovery Environment, restart your computer and press the F8 key on your keyboard while the boot screen is showing (WinRE). You may also need to hold down the Fn (function) key on some devices.
- From the Choose an option screen, navigate to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC.
- To reset or refresh Windows 10, select one of the available options and then follow the on-screen instructions. You should be able to boot into your system without the loop after the process is completed.
Last thoughts
Preparing for automatic repair loops in Windows may be a real pain. We’ve addressed the causes and solutions in this post, as well as what to do if your machine won’t boot into Windows at all.
Please don’t hesitate to contact a Lenovo laptop expert if you have any questions or need assistance with these tips. We’ll gladly answer any tech-related questions you may have. Contact us every day of the week by email, live chat, or phone!
