Preparing Automatic Repair [Solved]

Windows with major new updates are compelled with a lot of functionality, but it also comes with stability issues and bugs. After updating to the new Windows version, users reported being stuck on the “Preparing Automatic repair” screen forever.

If something goes wrong in your computer Windows invoke “Preparing Automatic repair” as it prepares to repair it by itself. This error is usually encountered during the first reboot after installing Windows 10.

In case your screen gets stuck on Preparing Automatic repair, then rebooting the computer also might not help. As your screen would be stuck on the repairing loop and as a result, you would notice the same screen again and again.

What Causes Preparing Automatic Repair Stuck Issue?

If you are stuck in the screen of “Preparing Automatic repair” in Windows 10, then there are some common causes for it.

1. There might be an issue with the Windows Registry
2. Your BOOTMGR file might be corrupted
3. Missing or any damaged system files
4. Any issue with the hardware driver

You can be in an endless loop for this and hence it can be quite frustrating. Moreover, we have listed down some possible fixes for this issue. Hence, apply them accordingly.

Also Read: Laptop Screen Repair

How to fix Preparing Automatic Repair Loop?

The automatic repair tool is the same as Startup repair as they both are designed to fix any boot related issue. However, sometimes the automatic repair tool doesn’t work and is fixed in a continuous loop. To fix this “Preparing Automatic repair” issues here are the following methods.

Fix 1: Perform Hard Reboot

If your system is not responding, you can perform a hard reboot to fix this issue

• First, press and hold the power button until it shuts down. 
• Then, remove all the Power cord and cable from your system.

Note: It’s important for a hard reboot to flush your RAM completely. To do so, remove all the attached cable from your system and let it rest for a few minutes. 

• Attach all the peripherals to your system and restart your computer.

In case you are still facing the issue after a hard reboot, then refer to the other methods provided.

Fix 2: Reset or Refresh PC

Microsoft has provided an official solution for the endless automatic repair loop, to reset PC using the boot-repair page.

1.  To access the boot repair page, press and hold the power button 2-3 times to shut down the machine forcefully.
2. Then, after 2-3 times of reboot, your system will enter the boot repair page.
3. Now, navigate to the Troubleshoot option and press enter to access the Reset PC option.
4. Thereafter, click on the Reset/Refresh PC option to start a boot repair.

According to Microsoft, this fix will solve the “Preparing Automatic repair” loop error. So, if you are still facing this issue continue with the other methods. 

Fix 3: Enable XD-bit in your BIOS

In case you are stuck on the repair loop then, restart your computer and enter into the BIOS settings. You might need to change the boot order of your computer to fix this error. To enter into BIOS setting, press Esc or F2 to F8 key. 

It’s been noticed that if the XD-bit feature is disabled on your computer, then you are more prone to suffer from the “Preparing Automatic repair” screen loop. In every computer, it is disabled by default. Therefore, follow the steps to enable XD-bit in your system.

1. First, enter into the BIOS mode of your computer.
2. Then in the BIOS settings menu, navigate to the XD-bit setting.
3. Now, enable the XD-bit and save the changes made.

Restart your computer the “preparing repair screen” loop should be fixed.

Fix 4: Run File Checker Tool

Windows have a built-in system file checker tool that checks and repairs missing or corrupted system files. To use the system checker tool, you need to have a Windows installation media. To create one

• First, download the media creation tool from the Windows official site on a different PC and run it.
• Then, agree to the license terms. On what do you want to do page select create installation media for another PC option.
• Now, select the language, edition and also the architecture of the other PC and click Next.
• Thereafter, select the media you want to use and press next to create an installation media.

After this process, the installation media will be created. Now in safe mode run the file checker tool in your computer to fix the issue.

• Connect the installation media that you just created on your computer.
• Then, choose the option to boot from the installation media. A Windows setup layout will open.
• Now in the Windows setup, click next and choose “Repair your computer”. Navigate to Troubleshoot option from there.
• In the Troubleshoot menu, click on the “Advanced option” and choose Command Prompt option.
  
• Thereafter type sfc/scannow in the Command prompt and hit Enter.

Once the process is completed, exit the Command Prompt window and restart your computer. It should restart normally if the problem still exists then perform a rebuild of your boot configuration data.

Fix 5: Rebuild BCD

If your Boot Configuration Data(BCD) files are corrupted or missing then Windows won’t be able to start. If you are facing issues with the BCD, then manually repairing it is the only option. To do so you need to first enter the safe mode of your computer and perform these steps.

1. First, insert the installation media you created on your computer and run the Windows setup window.
2. Then in the Windows setup menu choose next and select “Repair your computer” option.
3. Now, navigate to the Troubleshoot option in the Windows boot menu and select “Advanced Options”.
4. In the “Advanced option” menu, select the Command Prompt option and enter the following command.

“bootrec/fixboot”

“bootrec/scanos”

“bootrec/fixmbr”

“bootrec/rebuildbcd”

“Exit”

After you successfully initiate the command restart your computer and check if your system boots up normally.

Fix 6: Disable Automatic Repair

If you are still unable to solve the “Preparing Automatic repair” error, the reason might be the Automatic Repair itself as it might conflict with the boot loader. To disable the Automatic repair, enter Command prompt by running the media creation tool for Windows in the safe mode.

• After the installation files are loaded, choose “Repair your Computer” from the Windows Setup window.
• Next, click on the “Troubleshoot” menu and select “Advanced Options” to open Command Prompt.
• In the Command Prompt, enter the following command 

“bcdedit /set{current} recoveryenabled No”

• Exit the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Fix 7: Delete Problematic Files

Some files may be corrupted or creating a problem with the boot loader. By deleting these problematic files you can fix this automatic repair loop issue.

1.  In the Windows boot option menu, select the Troubleshoot option.
   
2. Now, in the Troubleshoot menu find the “Advanced options” and open the Command Prompt.
3. In the Command prompt enter the following command “C: cd Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt.SrtTrail.txt”. And hit Enter.
4. If any critical boot file is corrupted then navigate to the specified location using Command Prompt. After specifying the problematic file delete it.

Now, restart your computer and boot into normal mode and check if the problem is resolved.

Fix 8: Reinstall your Window 10

If you haven’t installed your Windows 10 properly, then there can be a problem while the system boots up. This might also lead up to your screen and get stuck in the “Preparing Automatic repair” window.

To resolve this issue perform a complete reinstallation of your Windows 10 operating system. This might also solve the automatic repair issue if there was any problem with the installation files.

Reinstalling Windows should be the last step you perform as it will erase files from your system.

Hopefully, you are able to fix the Automatic repair issue with all the other given solutions provided.