My Windows 8.1 is stuck in an automatic repair loop, how can I fix this?

Anonymous
2014-01-02T16:49:35+00:00

my laptop will not boot at all, when I turn it on the screen shows 'preparing automatic repair' then 'diagnosing your PC'. After this, the screen shows 'your PC did not start correctly' and it doesn't work when I restart it so I selected advanced options. After this, if I click continue the repair screen appears again and I am redirected back to the same page. I can't access my desktop at all and an administrator hasn't been set on my laptop, so after clicking troubleshoot I can't refresh or reset my PC.After this I clicked on advanced settings and I cannot choose system restore, command prompt, system image recovery or startup repair because they either don't work or need an administrator and I haven't set one as I mentioned before. My last resort was startup settings which requires restarting the PC. 9 options are to choose from and I tried almost all and it won't boot up in safe mode. Help!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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Anonymous
2014-04-02T19:25:00+00:00

I've inserted the System Recovery disc 1 that came with the computer. No change.

Usually that means that that device is not higher than the hard drive in the boot device order.  You would probably need to get into your BIOS screen to change that.  See your User Guide or contact HP for more information.  Post your product id (e.g. what details you need to use HP's site to find your particular documentation and downloads but not your serial number) if you need someone to help interpret your user documentation.  In W7 HP had a nice tool that gave me those details.  I never found anything analogous from W8, except in bits and pieces.

HTH

Robert Aldwinckle

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-25T08:41:34+00:00

    Hi

    Sorry, stupid question.... are your files effected at all after this option?

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-19T12:09:10+00:00

    Hi

    I have the same problem, where can I find the in-built Recovery Partition?

    Oliver

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-08-25T09:56:30+00:00

    Hi Eloise,

    I will try to assist you with this issue. For that I would need the following information:

    1. What is the make and model of the computer?
    2. Did it came pre-install with Windows 8.1? Do you have a Windows 8.1 installation media?
    3. Are you facing the same issue as the original poster in the thread?
    4. Have you tried all the steps from this thread?

    Additionally, you can try these steps as well.

    Method 1:

    Failure to boot to Windows can indicate corrupt system files. To check if this is the reason for the issue, I would suggest you to run a System File Scan and check. Refer to these steps:

    1. When you enter the blue screen with advanced options (Windows recovery environment), click on ‘Troubleshoot’.
    2. Now, click on ‘Advanced options’ and then click on ‘Command prompt’.
    3. In the command prompt window, type the following command  and press enter.

            sfc /scannow

    If the scan reported any corrupt files but if it couldn’t repair them, then I would suggest you to run the DISM tool and check. In the Command prompt window, type the following commands and press enter after each command:

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth

    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

    Method 2:

    If the above steps didn’t fix the issue, then I would suggest you to perform a system restore to an earlier date prior to this issue. Refer to these steps to perform a system restore from within the Windows recovery environment:

    1. When you enter the blue screen with advanced options (Windows recovery environment), click on ‘Troubleshoot’.
    2. Now, click on ‘Advanced options’ and then click on ‘System Restore’.
    3. Follow the prompts and choose a restore point created before this issue started.

    Please get back to us so that we can assist you further.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-08-25T08:54:28+00:00

    Hi Anannya

    What do we do if it still won't restart? 

    Thanks

    Eloise

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