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
    2015-11-10T18:52:09+00:00

    Hi, 

    I had this same restart loop problem and didn't have the option to reload 8.1 from my dvd disc I had stored away.

    I went to advance options and chose to restore to past week which didn't affect my files and any email I had saved could be recovered from my phone. I had to run through this several times. One time it completed, but didn't fix the problem. I did this to restore from two weeks past. This time it showed an error message. (Didn't make note of it)

    I also tried letting the computer die out overnite. (Couldn't remove battery)   When I turned it back on, it had the same restart "fixing the problem" loop. 

    I went back to advance options and chose Refresh. I ended up not having to reload Windows because it only completed to 80%,  but I was able to restore again to the past week. That combination did the trick! 

    I read that one of the solutions was to refresh, then cancel.  I didn't do this on purpose, but it seemed to have worked. 

    Gateway NV570p09u

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-24T18:50:49+00:00

    Hi Rachael,

    If you have the  Windows 8 installation media (DVD or USB drive) then using the same perform a Startup Repair and check if that helps.

    This is an alternate way to boot the PC and run recovery tools when something goes wrong with the Operating System.

    a) Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 8 from it.

    b) In the ‘Windows setup’ page select the language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.

    c) Click on ‘Repair your computer’ and select **‘Troubleshoot’.**d) Click on ‘Advanced options’ and select ‘Automatic Repair’ and select the operating system.

     

    Please post with the issue status.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-23T23:41:02+00:00

    I do not mind re-installing Windows...I am highly concerned however with losing my saved files, pictures, etc. Can someone help me with this?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-10-22T02:34:33+00:00

    I too am having the same problem with automatic repair and dianogostic screen. I inserted the recovery disc 1 & nothing changed.  I don't want to lose all of my files after going back to factory setings and fixing the problem , my question is also , Can I run a second windows (7 for example) and use it to acces my hard drive and save my files on an external memory ?

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