How to Fix the Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 8.1

Anonymous
2014-03-24T00:15:09+00:00

I installed the update KB2919394 and my computer was thrown into the dreaded automatic repair loop, which Microsoft hasn't fixed yet.

Anyways I thought I would give some solutions on how to get out of this. Solution 1 is what worked for me.

Solution 1

This solution is to disable the automatic repair from starting if your computer fails to boot into windows.

What you will need - A Windows 8 or 8.1 CD

Step 1: Place the CD in your drive and proceed to boot from it

Step 2: When the install screen pops up, look to the bottom left and select "Repair Your Computer".

Step 3: You will now see a screen that says "Choose an option". Select "Troubleshoot", then "Advanced Options", and finally "Command Prompt".

Step 4: You should now see the command prompt. Type "bcdedit" (without quotes) and hit enter.

Step 5: A list should have appeared. Towards the top, you should see "resumeobject" (It is under "default"). Highlight the long number, including the brackets, and copy.

Step 6: Now type "bcdedit /set (the long number you copied) recoveryenabled No" (Without quotes). Hit enter.

Step 7: You should now see the message "The operation completed successfully"

Step 8: Type "Exit" (Without quotes)

Step 9: Reboot

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Solution 2

Booting into safe mode first, then rebooting the computer.

What you will need - nothing

So you are at the screen that says something on the lines of "Windows did not load properly".

Step 1: Select "Advanced repair options"

Step 2: Select "Troubleshoot"

Step 3: Select "Advanced Options"

Step 4: Select "Start up settings"

Step 5: Select "Restart"

Step 6: The computer should restart. Now you want to hit the 4 key, which is safe mode.

Step 7: You should be able to log in now. Restart the computer and the computer should boot normally.

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Solution 3

Running check disk to see if your hard drive is the problem

What you will need - A Windows 8 or 8.1 CD

Step 1: Place the CD in your drive and proceed to boot from it

Step 2: When the install screen pops up, look to the bottom left and select "Repair Your Computer".

Step 3: You will now see a screen that says "Choose an option". Select "Troubleshoot", then "Advanced Options", and finally "Command Prompt".

Step 4: Type "chkdsk /r C:" (Without quotes)

Step 5: The scan should start. This could take several hours depending on the size of your hard drive.

Step 6: Once the scan is done, type "exit" (without quotes).

Step 7: Reboot

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Solution 4 (Found out by user DayDay13)

Making sure your hard drive is first in boot priority.

What you will need - nothing

Step 1: Boot into BIOS on your computer

Step 2: Go into your boot priority list

Step 3: If you see "Windows Boot Manager" as number 1 in your priority, change it so that your hard drive is number 1.

Step 4: Save and exit BIOS

Step 5: Reboot

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Microsoft community, please do not delete this thread. These are confirmed solutions that have worked for many others with the automatic repair loop problem. I will add more if any other solutions become available.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-20T06:57:08+00:00

    The Solution 1 and Solution 2 , it will not erase all the Software App installed in my computer? Thank You.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-04T05:27:38+00:00

    I chose Solution 2 and it looped back to the same screen, the other suggestions i cant do without the reuwuired tooks but solution 4 i will try..

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-12T08:24:33+00:00

    I came home and a blue screen was on the set automatic repair I have read through all the comments below and I’ve tried a lot of them  I want to try some other ones and says I need to be signed in as administrator but I have no login options so literally all I can do is continue to restart the computer if anyone can help me please reply is also on a laptop and does not have a disk reader

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-10T16:46:12+00:00

    My laptop is down because of the Automatic Repair Loop.

    I have Windows 8 and I just updated in the last 2 days, restarted my computer and then

    now it's toast!

    When it starts, I get the Loading Screen

    Then for less than a second, a blue screen with NO options.

    Then it goes to a black screen saying "loading automatic repairs"

    Then it goes all black for about 5 minutes.

    Then it loops, wash, rinse, repeat.

    I was able to F2 into BIOS and found the HDD password was frozen. I fixed that.

    But I can't F8 into Safe Mode, and I have no options to click on like most How To's 

    are showing.

    I also tried using an external keyboard (which lights up when plugged in and working) 

    to try and F8, but that didn't work either.

    Help!

    Also when I tried the last option to restart in BIOS and change the Boot from option.

    It doesn't allow me to select anything else except "disable" (which just caused it to fail)

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-11-10T16:44:01+00:00

    My laptop is down because of the Automatic Repair Loop.

    I have Windows 8 and I just updated in the last 2 days, restarted my computer and then

    now it's toast!

    When it starts, I get the Loading Screen

    Then for less than a second, a blue screen with NO options.

    Then it goes to a black screen saying "loading automatic repairs"

    Then it goes all black for about 5 minutes.

    Then it loops, wash, rinse, repeat.

    I was able to F2 into BIOS and found the HDD password was frozen. I fixed that.

    But I can't F8 into Safe Mode, and I have no options to click on like most How To's 

    are showing.

    I also tried using an external keyboard (which lights up when plugged in and working) 

    to try and F8, but that didn't work either.

    Help!

    Was this answer helpful?

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