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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

156 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2014-10-30T14:52:40+00:00

     My problem is, I don't see any of my files on the drive.

    Often this is a sign that the user is looking at the wrong drive letter.  E.g. even if you have switched from X: to C: it is possible that the lettering during the boot is not the same lettering that you are used to.  So, it would be an idea to go into diskpart to do a list volume and see if there is a better letter to choose.

    FYI

    Robert

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-04T02:06:59+00:00

    Hi Seth,

    Thank you for the important update.

    Your system does not seem to stuck on Automatic repair loop but you get an error stating the drive on which Windows 8 is installed is locked. I suspect the partitions made on the Hard Drive to install Windows 8 are GPT (GUID Partition Table) partitions which forms a part of the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) standard of BIOS, to cover the limitations of MBR (Master Boot Record) partition tables. While all Windows can boot from an MBR disk, you can only boot from a GPT disk if your motherboard has an enabled UEFI BIOS and you have an operating system (Windows 7 or Windows 8) that supports booting to GPT that is installed with UEFI.

    In order to convert the GPT partitions to MBR partitions to reinstall Windows 8 in a no boot situation, you need to clean install Windows 8, i.e., you need to delete the "primary" and "recovery" partitions and install Windows 8 afresh.

    But before that, I would suggest you to contact the system manufacturer to get it confirmed if those are GPT partitions and get your data backed up in some external drive getting support from the manufacturer.

    Hope this information is helpful. Keep us updated with the status of the issue.

    Hi Harkanwar,

    I now have a DVD that the manufacturer mailed to me.  This is what it says:

    Operating System

    Already installed on your computer

    Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products 64-bit

    Use this disc only to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer.

    Is this what I need, or will this disc not work once we delete the primary and recovery partitions?

    Thanks,

    Seth

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-10T04:52:03+00:00

    Hi Seth,

    Thank you for the update.

    Yes, you can use the disc to reinstall Windows 8 on the computer. Refer to the following article:

    How to refresh, reset, or restore your PC

    Do let us know if you need any further assistance on the issue.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2014-12-07T05:50:22+00:00

    Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC.

    Press "Advanced options" to try other options to repair your PC, or "Shut down" to turn off your PC

    Log file: C:/WINDOWS/System32/Logfiles/Srt/SrtTrail.txt

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments