How to Fix the Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 8.1

My computer is stuck in a loop that says:

Windows 8 Recovery Issue - Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you."

I don't have a CD drive or any other computer. And I can't get it out of this loop to be able to use any of the keys or the mouse. I've tried the F8 trick but it's not working. None of the shortcut keys seem to be working. I've tried turning it off and back on several time but it just keeps going back to this loop. Help!

Its a Samsung Windows 8.1 is the most recent download with an update to it yesterday or the day before. But it seemed to be working fine. 

Only other her issue over had is my c drive is full and I can't figure out why. So I was going to do a system reset or something (can't remember) and now it's stuck in this loop.

Thanks!

S

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.

Solution 1

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

What you do not  need - A Windows 8 or 8.1 CD

Pick Command prompt. cd X:\Windows\System32\bcdedit

Thanks for your response. I'm sorry but I don't know what you mean when you say:

"Pick Command prompt. cd X:\Windows\System\32\bcdedit"

there is no point for me to pick anything or to type anything. My keyboard and mouse don't work. Like I said it is stuck on a loop from the moment it turns on it instantly starts and does not stop! No tricks that I've found this far have stopped it so that I can do anything to fix this issue.

and I'm not sure if this is even correct but my computer is a 64 bit not 32. Not sure if that's what you're referring to above.

thanks!!!!

Did you tried SHIFT+8?

So if 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: 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 cd X:\Windows\System32\ , then 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

Unfortunately that's not the error message I'm getting. And yes I've tried shift +8 and shift +F8...I've pretty much tried every combination of keys I know about. 

My my computer isn't stuck on one screen, it's stuck on a loop that started when I tried to do a system restore I believe. Message says "preparing automatic repair" then switches screens to say Samsung and then switches to show Windows log and then switches to screen that says "your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. We're just collecting some error info, and then we'll restart for you." Then it repeats that over and over again, never ending.

Called Samsung and they weren't very helpful at all. They said I need to do a system restore of Windows from a cd. But I don't have a cd drive only usb. 

Does se anyone know how I can download the Windows 8 onto a thumb drive instead of using a cd? Also can I get that Windows 8 from using a Mac when I have a PC? I don't know why it would be a problem because I'm not downloading anything from that computer just the Windows website.

Thanks for any help! I desperately need my computer and I have no money to get it fixed!