How To Fix "Windows Automatic Repair Not Working" [SOLVED]

Windows Automatic Repair Not Working

Windows system like Windows 8 and Windows 10 includes a recovery feature called Automatic Repair. When operating system fails to boot, Windows Automatic Repair option will try to repair Windows. However, it has some limitations and doesn’t always work, like any other program.

There are two most common cases for the Windows Automatic Repair not working issue based on user feedback:

Windows couldn't load correctly.

Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.

Now, this article walks you through the two errors one by one.

Part 1. FIX: Automatic Repair Windows Couldn't Load Correctly in Windows 10/8

Have you ever encountered the Windows Automatic Repair fails to work issue? If we google "Windows couldn't load correctly" or visit some professional forums like Windows forum and Windows seven forum, we find many users are talking about this error.

There are many reasons that can cause this error. For instance:

• File system integrity may become corrupt or damaged. (That happens even more often if one turns off a PC while it is in the middle of writing crucial data to the boot sector.)
• Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is missing or corrupt. (This could happen because of disk write errors, power outages, boot sector viruses, or errors made while configuring the BCD manually.)

How to fix this issue? If your Windows Automatic Repair fails to work because of the Windows couldn't load correctly error, you can try the following solutions.

Way 1. Restore PC to a Normal System State by Using System Restore Function

Generally speaking, the easiest and most effective way to fix Windows Automatic Repair not working issue is to click Restore button when you see the Windows couldn't load correctly error.

Automatic Repair
Windows couldn't load correctly
System Restore can try to restore your PC to an earlier point in time when it worked correctly. This repair will not change personal data, but it might remove some apps that were installed recently. You cannot undo this process. Restore | Cancel

Then, Windows starts to revert to a previous system state and reboot. Finally, you have just one more thing to do: recover removed data files after system restore!

Now, you might be wondering:

"How to recover moved files after system restore?"

Now, you can try MiniTool Power Data Recovery to check whether it can find your lost data. You can download it on your computer by pressing the following button.

Free Download

Fisrt, you need to launch this software and enter its interface.

Second, select the target drive you want to recover and then click the Scan button, or you can click Devices tab and select the whole disk to scan.

Or you can click Scan Settings button in the left panel to specify needed file systems as well as file types before scanning.

Finally, preview files, check needed files, and then click Save button to store them on a safe place.

Way 2. Run Chkdsk Command to Fix Hard Disk & File System Issues

Sometimes, users are still stuck in startup repair infinite loop after using System Restore function. In that case, they can try running chkdsk to troubleshoot the Windows couldn't load correctly error, as shown in the following steps.

Step 1: Insert the Windows bootable drive to your computer and boot from it.

Step 2: Select your language preferences, and click Next.

Step 3: Click Repair your computer.

Step 4: Choose Troubleshoot.

Step 5: Click Command Prompt.

Step 6: Type chkdsk /r and press Enter.

Step 7: Type exit and press Enter.

Step 8: Restart your computer and see if the Windows couldn't load correctly error disappeared.

Way 3. Run Bootrec Command to Rebuild Windows BCD

If you are still stuck in Automatic Repair with Windows couldn't load correctly error after trying the above 2 solutions, you can try rebuilding Windows' BCD.

Step 1: Insert the Windows bootable drive and boot from it.

Step 2: Click Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

Step 3: Type bootrec /fixmbr and press Enter.

Step 4: Type bootrec /fixboot and press Enter.

Step 5: Type bootrec /rebuildbcd and press Enter.

Step 5: Restart your computer and see if the Windows automatic repair not working issue persists.

Part 2. FIX: Windows 10/8 Automatic Repair Couldn't Repair Your PC

Let's start with a true example from answers.microsoft.com:

Q: Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC
I've tried every option in the boot options menu and cannot get Windows 8 to boot. I just get 'Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC." And later: "Log file: D:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt" with the Shutdown and Advanced options button, which just takes me to the boot options screen.
I have no install media as this is originally a Win7 machine for which I downloaded Windows 8.

Generally speaking, if your Windows Automatic Repair fails to work because of the Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC error, you can try the following solutions to solve the problem.

Way 1. Repair mbr and Rebuild the BCD

As we know, once the MBR and Boot Configuration Data (BCD) are missing, corrupted or not properly configured, Windows won't be able to start. Therefore, you can try repairing MBR and rebuilding BCD to fix the Windows Automatic Repair not working issue.

1) Insert the Windows bootable drive and boot from it.

2) Select your language preferences, and click Next.

3) After selecting language, press Shift + F10 to open command prompt.

4) Type the following commands and press Enter after each of them:

5) Type exit and press Enter after completing each command successfully.

6) Restart your PC to see if the Windows Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC error disappeared.

Way 2. Boot to Safe Mode and Run Command Prompt

Some users reported that the reason why Windows 10 Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC could be a bad driver.caused by a bad driver. And they try the following solution to solve the Windows Automatic Repair not working issue.

1. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.

2. Click Restart button, and your computer should now restart and give you a list of options

3. Choose Enable Safe Mode with Networking.

4. Download updated version of the driver that's giving you trouble when Safe Mode starts.

5. Press Windows key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the list.

6. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, and press Enter.

7. Restart your computer.

8. Install the driver that you've downloaded and the Windows Automatic Repair fails to work issue should be resolved.

Way 3. Disable Early Launch Anti-Malware Protection

Some users recommend disabling early launch anti-malware protection to fix the Windows 10 Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC loop.

Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings. After that, the computer should restart and then will give you a list of options. Next, choose Disable early launch anti-malware protection. After that, restart your PC and check if the Windows Automatic Repair not working issue has been resolved.

Way 4. Delete the Problematic File

Sometimes, some certain files like VMW can cause the Windows 10/8 Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC issue. Now, do the following to check the log files.

Open Command Prompt. (Please see Way 1. Repair MBR and Rebuild the BCD to know how to open it.)

Type the following command:

cd C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt
SrtTrail.txt

When the file opens you will see this "Boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\tmel.sys is corrupt."

Now, type the following command in cmd to delete the problematic file.

cd c:\windows\system32\drivers
del vsock.sys

Restart to see if the issue is fixed. If not, continue to the next method.

Way 5. Disable Automatic Startup Repair

Sometimes, you just need to disable Automatic Startup Repair when you are stuck in the loop of Windows 10 Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC.

1. Open Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter to run it:

bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No

2. Type Exit and press Enter.

3. Restart and Automatic Startup Repair should be disabled.

4. Type the following command in cmd if you need to again enable it.

bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled Yes

5. Restart your computer to apply changes.

Way 6. Perform Refresh or Reset

If Windows Automatic Repair loop issue still exists, you might have to try performing a Reset or Refresh to troubleshoot the Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC issue.

To perform Refresh or Reset, you need to do the following:

In Windows Boot Options menu, choose Troubleshoot. Choose Rest your PC, or Refresh your PC. Follow the wizard instruction to complete this process.

If you choose Refresh option, your installed applications will be removed but your installed universal apps and settings will be saved. If you choose Reset option, your data, files and apps will be deleted. It is recommended to recover all your important files before taking this step.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery is recommended here. This professional data recovery software can help you effectively recover lost data. Besides, even if all solutions cannot help you, you also can try using this tool to get lost data back because it offers MiniTool Power Data Recovery Bootable Edition to recover data when PC won't boot.

Now, let's see the detailed steps.

Launch MiniTool Power Data Recovery in a normal computer, and then click Bootable Media button at the top toolbar to create bootable CD, DVD, or USB flash drive.

Top recommendation: How to Build Boot CD/DVD Discs and Boot Flash Drive with Bootable Media Builder?

Connect the burned MiniTool Boot CD/DVD Disc to your PC with Windows Automatic Repair loop issue.

Start the computer and enter BIOS.

Set the Bootable Disc as the 1st boot device and press F10 to save configuration changes.

Click MiniTool Power Data Recovery in the main interface of MiniTool PE Loader interface.

Now, you will see the main interface of this professional data recovery software, and then select target drive and click Scan button.

Check all needed files and save them on a safe place.

Thus, all work has been done.

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Bottom Line

Now you have probably learned everything about how to fix Windows Automatic Repair when it is not working.

If you still have any question regarding this Windows Automatic Repair loop, please feel free to write them in the comment section or send your email to support@minitool.com.

Windows 10 Startup Repair Not Working FAQ