Even the most advanced operating systems are prone to technical errors. However, some can be quite dreaded. One such issue is the preparing Automatic Repair loop on Windows 11 as the PC gets stuck during boot, leaving all your valuable data at stake. Now the question arises, Why does your computer keep saying preparing Automatic Repair and how to fix it? We’ll discuss all of it in our guide today.
Preparing Automatic Repair Loop in Windows 11: Reasons and Fixes
It’s no less than a threat for a PC that freezes in the process of booting up. The loop indicates that the system has encountered an issue during startup and is attempting to repair it automatically. This feature is designed to diagnose and fix problems that prevent the OS from loading correctly. Fortunately, you can rescue the system from this loop, without having to worry about loss of data.
Tip: Remove all peripheral devices connected to the PC, and then boot it. If it starts normally without the preparing Automatic Repair loop, reconnect one after another. Restart the PC after each connection to identify the malfunctioning hardware.
Quick Answer
To resolve this issue, hard reboot the PC or run the Startup Repair:
1. Open Settings and navigate to Recovery in System tab.
2. Next to Advanced startup, click on Restart now to enter WinRE.
3. Click on Troubleshoot, followed by Advanced options and select Startup Repair.
4. Restart the PC.
Why Does My Computer Keep Saying Preparing Automatic Repair?
Before we fix the issue, let’s first understand why it occurs in the first place. Here are a few reasons that this loop in Windows 11 can be attributed to, such as:
- Corrupt System Files
- Failed Windows Update
- Hardware Damage
- Software Conflicts
- Power Interruptions
- Malware and Virus
Method 1: Hard Reboot
Performing a hard reboot forcefully shuts down and restarts the PC, which can break the loop and allow the system to start normally. Here’s how to proceed:
1. Press and hold the Power button for about 5 to 10 seconds until the PC shuts down completely.
2. Disconnect the power source, wait for some time, and connect it again.
3. Now press the power button and check if the PC starts up normally without entering the loop.
Method 2: Boot in Safe Mode
As the PC is unable to boot normally without entering the loop, you can attempt Safe Mode. It allows the PC to start with essential drivers and you can later identify the source of the error. Follow our guide on How to Boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode.
Method 3: Run Startup Repair
Windows Startup Repair helps diagnose and fix issues preventing the PC from starting properly, such as corrupt system files or missing booth configuration data.
1. Open Settings and in the System tab, click on Recovery.
2. Click on Restart now next to Advanced startup.
The PC will restart and enter the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment).
3. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
4. Click on Advanced options.
5. Now select Startup Repair and wait for some time.
6. Once the process is complete, Restart the PC.
Method 4: Run System File Check
SFC (System File Checker) scan can identify, replace, and repair corrupt or missing system files. You can hence execute the file check process to fix the issue. Refer to our guide on How to Repair System Files in Windows 11.
Method 5: Delete Corrupt Files
Corrupt, damaged, or missing system files can be why your Windows 11 PC ends up stuck in the preparing Automatic Repair loop. Removing them can fix the error.
1. Access the WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) as shown above.
2. Follow the path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Copy-paste the following command in the Command Prompt terminal and then press Enter: cd C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt
4. Similarly execute the following command: cd c:windowssystem32drivers and press Enter.
5. Copy and paste the following command Delvsock. sys and press Enter to delete all the problematic files.
6. Lastly, enter the command shutdown /r to restart the PC.
Check whether the issue is resolved or not.
Also Read: 16 Best Free Teleprompter Apps for Windows
Method 6: Rebuild Boot Configuration Data and Run CHKDSK
Boot Configuration Data plays a key role in the startup process as it stores boot-related information, including the bootloader settings and boot options. Rebuilding it and running the CHKDSK scan can potentially fix the preparing Automatic Repair loop error in Windows 11.
1. Enter WinRE and navigate the path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
2. Execute the following commands one after the other:
bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd bootrec.exe /fixmbr bootrec.exe /fixboot
3. Once done, execute the following CHKDSK scan commands, one at a time.
chkdsk /r c chkdsk /r d
4. Once done, exit the Command Prompt and Restart the PC.
Method 7: Disable Automatic Repair Tool
If the issue still persists, it’s better to disable the Automatic Repair tool, isn’t it? Although it allows you to control the start-up process and fix the issue, make sure to re-enable it later for smooth bootup.
1. Enter the WinRE as told in previous methods.
2. Follow the path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Run the command: bcdedit and press Enter.
4. Check if the value of the identifier is set to default and recoveryenabled is Yes.
5. Now execute the command to disable the automatic repair tool:
bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled no
If it does not work, copy and paste this command and press Enter:
bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled no
6. Exit CMD and Restart the PC to check if the issue is resolved.
Method 8: Deactivate Anti-Malware Protection (If Applicable)
Windows 11 offers an Early Launch Anti-Malware (EALM) protection which ensures that essential anti-malware drivers and services start easily in the boot sequence to protect the system from threats before they can take hold. However, sometimes this restricts essential boot drivers in the startup process. Follow the steps to deactivate it:
1. Enter WinRE and follow the path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
2. Press F8 on the keyboard to select Disable early launch anti-malware protection.
3. Click on Restart at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Method 9: Restore Windows Registry
Malware infections or disk issues can corrupt the Windows Registry, leading to boot loop errors such as preparing Automatic Repair in Windows 11. This can be resolved by restoring the registry to its default settings. Follow the steps:
1. Access WinRE as explained earlier.
2. In WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
3. Type and run the following command and press Enter.
C:\Windows\System32\config\regback* C:\Windows\System32\config\
4. Type All to choose to restore all entries and press Enter.
5. Wait for the restoration to finish, then Restart your computer.
Also Read: Is the EaseUS Data Recovery Safe?
Method 10: Restore PC Using System Image Recovery
If the issue started after the installation of third-party software or any Windows update, it can be said that the error is caused due to it. You can consider restoring the system using System Image Recovery.
1. Access WinRE as explained earlier and select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
2. Click on System Image Recovery.
3. Enter the password and click on Continue.
4. Select Use the latest available system image (recommended) and click on Next.
5. Select Next to Choose additional restore options and click on Finish.
6. Once the restoration process is complete, click on Restart on the pop-up to check if the issue is resolved.
Method 11: Factory Reset PC
As a last resort, if nothing helped resolve the issue, we suggest you perform a factory reset to wipe your PC clean. However, the process of reverting all the settings to default can cause data loss. Fortunately, we have a guide for you on How to Reset Windows 11. Follow Option 1 in our guide to reset the PC without losing your files.
How Long Does Windows 11 Automatic Repair Take
The duration of Automatic Repair on Windows 11 can vary significantly depending upon the complexity of the issue. In many cases, it can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more. You can wait for some time but if the loop does not end, you can get rid of it manually following the discussed methods above.
Recommended: How to Remove Malware from Windows 11
That is it! We hope our guide helped you get rid of the preparing Automatic Repair loop in Windows 11. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, do let us know in the comments section. For solutions to such tech-related issues, stay connected to TechCult.
