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

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-04-09T11:27:31+00:00

    OK you have half the job done. Now power down and then back up while holding volume up key or google how to enter boot order menu. Change to usb>network>ssd so USB boot is priority.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-04-09T02:29:06+00:00

    You could use a USB drive if you have one,  mine is a 16 gigabyte model and it worked just fine.  You can just search the Microsoft website for "recovery Windows 8.1" download the program and put the recovery files on he disk/USB drive. My twitter is drb2018 and if you want to send my pics of the errors of the computer I can walk you through step by step. 

    That's what I did. Downloaded the installer from Microsot onto an 8GB USB 3 stick. Download went fine. Installation and system restet took several minutes (normal) and was successful. PC restarted and started "preparing for automatic repair"!!!

    I also tried all sorts of things with the command prompt.  I even did a disk check which found loads of errors in the system, but for some reason was unable to fix them!

    HEY, BILL GATES, THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT'S BEEN PISSING OFF A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, FOR TOO LONG. IT'S BEEN WEEKS NOW AND IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU REALLY DON'T GIVE A SHEET. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR COMPANY? HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO START DEALING WITH THIS??? MY MOM'S BEEN UNABLE TO USE HER FIRST COMPUTER FOR WEEKS NOW. I GOT HER AN APPLE MACBOOK AIR. IT WORKS FLAWLESSLY. SHE TOLD ME WE SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THIS INSTEAD OF A COMPUTER! I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE COMPUTER MANUFACTURERS WHO ARE STUCK WITH YOUR OS. ONE DAY, THEY WILL ALL SWITCH TO LINUX, OR EVEN ANDROID!  I'M WRITING THIS ON MY REFURB 3-YO MACBOOK PRO RETINA. SO FAR, 0 PROBLEM, 0 CRASH/FREEZE, 0 WAIT TIME. I TURN IT ON, LOGIN AFTER 2 SECS AND IT GETS TO WORK INSTANTLY. I'M ABOUT TO TURN IT OFF. I'VE GOT 6 PROGRAMS RUNNING, AND 150 TABS OPEN IN FIREFOX. THAT SHOULD TAKE 5 SECS FOR THE PROGRAMS TO CLOSE + 2 SECONDS FOR THE SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN. WHEN YOU TREAT PEOPLE LIKE SHEET, YOU KNOW THE REST...

    Close

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-04-08T17:48:01+00:00

    install windows to another extenal HD.. boot to external HD check for errors and repair if needed after scan.. reboot normally. THIS WILL WORK

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-04-02T19:56:19+00:00

    I've tried all of these solutions and can't get past this loop. Nothing seems to be working. it just keeps trying to repair and does nothing. could anyone help me?

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-03-28T20:58:43+00:00

    Brother, I only had 13 solutions to toss out.  I am tapped. Bite the bullet, bring it in, have someone wipe it/reset it and install new drive(s). That's all I got man.

    Good luck. Let me know how you make out.

    trheyer

    ******@outlook.com

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