One of the most frustrating experiences for a Windows user is the 'Preparing Automatic Repair' loop. Instead of booting to your desktop, your PC gets stuck in a cycle of restarting and attempting repairs that never finish. This usually happens due to corrupt system files, damaged boot sectors, or problematic driver updates. In this guide, we will walk you through the proven steps to break the loop and restore your system.

Step 1: Perform a Hard Reboot

Sometimes the loop is caused by a temporary glitch in the hardware's initialization or a minor power-state error. Force a hard shutdown by holding the power button for 10 seconds until the PC turns off completely. Unplug all peripherals—such as USB drives, printers, and webcams—except for your keyboard and mouse, then turn the PC back on. If the loop persists, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Access the Advanced Startup Menu

Since Windows will not boot normally, you must trigger the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). If the 'Automatic Repair' screen offers an 'Advanced options' button, click it. If you only see a black screen, turn your PC on and then off (by holding the power button) three times in a row. On the third attempt, Windows should automatically load the blue recovery screen.

Step 3: Run the Startup Repair Tool

Before moving to manual commands, let Windows try its built-in automated fix one more time through the recovery menu:

• From the Choose an option screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
• Select Startup Repair.
• Windows will scan your system for registry errors and file path issues. If it says 'Startup Repair couldn't repair your PC,' don't panic; this is a common result and means we need to use the Command Prompt.

Step 4: Use Command Prompt to Fix System Files

Corruption in the file system is a leading cause of boot loops. We will use the System File Checker (SFC) and Check Disk (CHKDSK) tools to repair the drive:

• In the Advanced options menu, select Command Prompt.
• Type sfc /scannow /offbootdir=c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows and press Enter.
• Once the scan is finished, type chkdsk c: /r and press Enter. This command will locate bad sectors on your hard drive and recover readable information.

Step 5: Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

If the bootloader is damaged, Windows won't know where the operating system is located. In the same Command Prompt window, type the following commands one by one, pressing Enter after each:

• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /fixboot (Note: If you get an 'Access denied' error, type bootsect /nt60 sys and try again).
• bootrec /rebuildbcd

Step 6: Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

Occasionally, a recent security update or a third-party driver is incorrectly flagged as malware, causing the boot loop. To bypass this check:

• Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings and click Restart.
• After the PC restarts, you will see a list of options. Press the 8 or F8 key to select 'Disable early launch anti-malware protection'.
• This allows Windows to boot using the drivers that might have been previously blocked, allowing you to reach the desktop and uninstall the problematic software.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep your software updated to avoid these issues in the future.