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!

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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
    2017-10-23T16:20:08+00:00

    Hi, how does one restart the computer from the command prompt? 

    Since Automatic Repair fails to repair your PC, now select "Advanced options" and then "Troubleshoot" and try these steps:

    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 /fixMBR bootrec /Fixboot bootrec /rebuildBCD

    Restart the computer and check the issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-06T01:32:24+00:00

    Reverting to "last known good configuration" in the advanced settings solved the problem for me. You won't lose any files.  But any updates to programs will revert back to that time.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-07-28T18:41:32+00:00

    im going to buy a MacBook, windows is unrepairable...

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  4. 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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