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
    2014-03-25T16:45:12+00:00

    Hi Stu,

    1. What is the exact issue you are facing? Is it the same as the Original Poster in this thread?
    2. What do you mean when you say "are your files effected at all after this option"? Which files are you referring to?

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-26T03:04:22+00:00

    Hi Anannya

    First of all, thanks a heap for the prompt response.

    My situation is as follows:

    • Left my laptop for 15 minutes, returned and to find it shut down.... As it has decent specs for a laptop, overheating wasn't my first thought; neither was badly vented ports as I regularly clean my pc.
    • When I booted it up, text popped up below the 'loading windows' icon, mentioning something about attempting to make repairs/re-configuring stuff (I apologize for being vague, my memory isn't all that good). After a few mins, I was told that the found errors couldn't be repaired, even after attempting to get it to automatically repair itself. There was an option to restore to a restore point, however I wasn't so keen to go down that path unless there was no other option. Anyway, there was an option to restart, which I did.
    • Restart went well, no issues. Upon logging in, after navigating to desktop, a command prompt window appeared mentioning something a Java folder. Windows finished loading shortly after.

    My question regarding files being effected was in response to your earlier reply to YunSuh:

    "b.Select "Advanced options" and then select "Command Prompt".

    c.If prompted, enter in the password for the user name.

    d.At the Command Prompt, type the following commands and hit enter.

    bootrec /fixMBRbootrec /Fixbootbootrec /rebuildBCD

    Restart the computer and check the issue."

    On a side note, I bought my laptop in-store with Windows 8 pre-loaded..... Not sure if that's the right way to describe it -but basically I have no installation DVD, USB or media to "fall back" on should I need to. Would you have any advice regarding this side note? (If I recall correctly there is a complete restore function in settings somewhere.... "Remove everything and reinstall Windows".... Would this work?)

    Again, thanks a heap for your prompt response.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-26T10:56:42+00:00

    Hi Stu,

    From the post I see that you are able to boot to the Desktop after performing Startup Repair. So, why do you want to perform the manual steps?

    For the installation media, I would like to tell you that when we buy OEM computer which comes in-built with Windows operating system they provide a Recovery Partition in-built. This partition helps to recover our computer from problems. In short it plays the role of the installation media.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-02T17:15:10+00:00

    I have an HP tower and am having what sounds like the same issue.

    Upon start-up, it flashes an error message saying it’s encountered a problem and needs to restart. This cycle happens several times.  Eventually, the screen says it's preparing automatic repair and the loading wheel spins forever. Windows does not load.

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

    Attempting to use F8 to start in Safe Mode was unsuccessful. No change to the cycle.

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