◆Error Codes Wiki

Windows Startup Repair Loop — Automatic Repair Cannot Fix Your PC

Criticalboot

Overview

Fix Windows Automatic Repair loop where the system repeatedly fails to boot and shows 'Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC' with restart cycles.

Key Details

  • Automatic Repair triggers after two consecutive failed boot attempts
  • A repair loop occurs when Automatic Repair runs but cannot fix the issue, and Windows fails to boot again
  • The system shows 'Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC' with options for Advanced options or Shutdown
  • The repair loop log is stored at C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt
  • This issue can be caused by corrupted boot files, registry damage, driver issues, or disk errors

Common Causes

  • Corrupted Windows boot files or BCD store
  • Critical driver failure preventing Windows from completing startup
  • Registry hive corruption making system settings unreadable
  • Recently installed Windows Update causing boot failure
  • Failing hard drive or SSD with bad sectors in system areas

Steps

  1. 1From the repair screen: click Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options
  2. 2Try System Restore: select a restore point from before the issue started
  3. 3Try Safe Mode: Startup Settings > Restart > press 4 for Safe Mode — uninstall recent updates/drivers
  4. 4Open Command Prompt and run: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows
  5. 5Rebuild BCD: bootrec /rebuildbcd && bootrec /fixmbr && bootrec /fixboot
  6. 6Disable Automatic Repair to break the loop: bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No (then troubleshoot manually)
  7. 7Last resort: Reset this PC (keep files) or perform an in-place upgrade repair

Tags

startup-repairautomatic-repairboot-looprecoverysrttrail

Related Items

windows-error-0xc00000e-boot-configwindows-sfc-dism-repair-guide

More in Boot

windows-error-0xc0000034Windows Boot Error 0xC0000034 — Missing Boot Configuration Data
Critical
windows-error-0xc00000e9Windows Boot Error 0xC00000E9 — Unexpected I/O Error
Critical
windows-error-0xc0000098Windows Boot Error 0xC0000098 — BCD Missing OS Entry
Critical
windows-error-0xc00000e-boot-configWindows Error 0xc00000e — Boot Configuration Data Missing or Corrupted
Critical
windows-safe-mode-boot-issuesSafe Mode Boot Issues — Windows Cannot Start in Safe Mode Troubleshooting
Critical
windows-recovery-environment-errorsWindows Recovery Environment — WinRE Boot and Repair Tool Failures
Critical

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. From Advanced options > Command Prompt, access C:\ drive to copy files to a USB drive. Or boot from a Linux live USB to access and back up your files.