Top 3 Ways to Fix Infinite Automatic Repair Loop on Startup Few things are more frustrating than turning on your computer, only to be met with the blue screen of death proclaiming that “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.” When this screen becomes a never-ending loop, it signifies a corruption in the Windows boot files, registry, or drivers.
Before you consider resetting your PC and losing your files, try these top three methods to break the loop and get back to work. Accessing the Advanced Options Menu
For all methods below, you must reach the Advanced Options screen. If your computer won’t boot, force it:
Turn on the PC, and as soon as the Windows logo appears, hold the power button to force a shutdown. Repeat this 3 times.
On the fourth boot, Windows will enter Automatic Repair mode.
Select Advanced options -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options.
Method 1: Repair System Files and Boot Sector (Command Prompt)
Often, the loop occurs because the Master Boot Record (MBR) or file system is corrupted. Using the Command Prompt, you can repair these files.
From the Advanced Options menu, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
In the prompt, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each: chkdsk /r c: (This checks for disk errors) sfc /scannow (This scans for corrupted system files) bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot
After the commands finish, close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.
Method 2: Boot into Safe Mode and Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware
Sometimes, a malicious or incompatible driver keeps the system from booting, causing a crash during the loading phase.
Go to Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings. Click Restart.
When the list of options appears, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode.
If the computer boots into Safe Mode, the issue is likely a driver or software.
Optional: To stop the loop caused by anti-malware, select option 8 (Disable early launch anti-malware protection) in the same Startup Settings menu. Method 3: Use System Restore
If the loop started after a recent update or software installation, returning to a previous state is the best solution.
Navigate to Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore. Choose a restore point created before the issue began.
Follow the on-screen instructions to finish the restoration. Still Stuck?
If these methods fail, your Windows installation might be critically corrupted.
Startup Repair: In the Advanced Options menu, try selecting Startup Repair.
Reset PC: As a final resort, use Troubleshoot > Reset this PC, selecting “Keep my files” to preserve your personal data while reinstalling Windows. If you’d like, I can:
Give you the exact syntax for more advanced command prompt fixes.
Walk you through creating a bootable USB repair drive on another computer.
Explain how to access your files via Command Prompt to back them up before resetting. How to Fix Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 10