How to Fix the Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 8.1

I am a laymen, unfamiliar with many of these terms. I have inserted the CD, but not sure what you mean when you say to boot from it as nothing is happening after I insert the CD.

My case, nevertheless, is quite unique.

I encountered the problem after my laptop suddenly switched off while rendering video (maybe because of the excessive CPU heat). When I restarted it, Windows failed to load and the automatic repair loop kicked in.

Then I tried to boot via Windows USB Installation (to try to apply your suggestion) but failed. What I did after that was, I used a Ubuntu Linux USB and run it as Live CD, and thus booted in as Linux. My intention at that moment was to backup all the files in my Windows User's directory (personal data) to other external location, which I did.

Then I shut down the Live CD session, plug out the Linux USB, and restart my laptop. Suprisingly, I managed to arrive at Windows login without that automatic repair screen!

I do not know if this can be considered as solution. But I did encountered the same problem again, did the same procedure (Linux Live CD, backup, shutdown, restart) and the problem eliminated.

This post saved me a trip to the Microsoft Store. The only thing I'd like to add is that the USB flash drive does not have to be a specific brand. I used a SanDisk and that did the trick. Thank you for posting this!!

-M

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

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.

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

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.

I tried all three of these solutions and could not bypass the loop!  I tried everything and spent hours googling!  Finally, when going into my BIOS to force my PC to start from the Windows 8 installation disk I noticed Boot Priority #1 was "Windows Boot Manager".  I then changed Boot priority #1 FROM Windows Boot manager to my hard drive where my Windows 8.1 OS resides. I then saved and exited my BIOS screen. When my computer restarted it booted right to my log in screen with no more issues!  To make sure it was actually fixed I restarted my PC and everything is back to normal.   I'm not sure why some fixes work for some and don't work for others. 

Anyway, I hope this helps someone.

Not a single solution helped. Tried everything and more, searching online for solutions in other places too.

I decided to wipe my PC due to viruses, and obviously the repair loop came on. If you have a Windows 8.1 Installation disk, I will tell you a method that will probably get you up and running again.

1. Insert the installation disk into the PC DVD drive.
2. Boot from the disk
3. When prompted by the install setup wizard, click on "Install Now"
4. Select language and country, then click "Next"
5. Fill in your Windows License Key (Usually found on the side, top, front or back of your PC)
6. Select CUSTOM install, not "recommended". This is a must.
7. You will now be prompted with multiple "drives", usually followed by "partition 0", and you can't select them.

When you see this, hold Left Shift and press F10 to bring up CMD.

8. Then type this:

diskpart

listdisk

sel disk 0

Clean

Click on "Refresh" and you should be able to install Windows 8 and the automatic repair loop should be gone :)

(Credit to Emerald on TomsHardware.com)