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
    2015-03-26T08:44:46+00:00

    I have a tosiba and it comes up with the toshiba logo and the automatic repair loop after about 2min it goes to a blank screen what do i do

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-03-25T07:54:26+00:00

    I would love to be able to reformat my C: drive but two IT-literature friends didn't know to do it.  Some people do it by accident, why can't I do it on purpose?  

    I tried the factory reset via Windows 8. No go.  Tried right clicking on C: drive and format, says can't do it. And now I can't even get into it due to this repair loop.   Seriously considering installing a new hard-drive so I can just install Win 8 on that.  $70 would be worth wasting all this time and effort trying to sort this one out.  Cheaper than paying an IT tech to do it too.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-03-24T12:08:24+00:00

    Samsung n220 notebook - windows 8.1 factory reset did not work. Tried booting from Win 8 cd but multiple times but have now got stuck in this loop.

    • Windows boot manager is not in my boot list and I cannot change the usb cd option from n/a (have external drive)
    • trying to boot using official windows 8 installation disk. downloaded 8.1 a week ago (worst mistake ever!)
    • also cannot boot in safe mode (tried F8 and Shift > restart so far).
    • cannot get to command prompt either

    Any help gratefully appreciated.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-03-18T04:01:00+00:00

    In Bios I tried to change # 1 to my hard drive, but I found no way to do it. ???

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-03-03T19:47:37+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.

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