1/2/2019 FIX: Startup Repair Infinite Loop on Windows - EaseUS

FIX: Startup Repair Infinite Loop on Windows

Updated on Nov 12, 2018 by Jean to

Data Recovery

Summary

This page offers fixes for startup repair infinite loop on Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and 7, including boot into safe mode for automatic
repair, run chkdsk command to check and fix drive corruption, run bootrec command to rebuild the damaged BCD, run system
restore to revert Windows to an earlier normal state, etc. If data was unfortunately erased during the troubleshooting, try
EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard to recover data after formatting, deleting, PC resetting, system refreshing and more.

Download for PC

Download for Mac

Stuck in Windows Automatic Startup Repair infinite loop

"My computer keeps running Startup Repair during every startup and I can't boot it normally. I tried running Startup Repair multiple
times but I'm still getting the same problem. Startup Repair won't seriously automate repair at all. I got stuck in an infinite loop."

# 1 - Error details

Windows Error Recovery

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup Repair can help diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, choose
Start Windows Normally.
(Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice.)

https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/startup-repair-infinite-loop.html 1/4
1/2/2019 FIX: Startup Repair Infinite Loop on Windows - EaseUS
Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally

Description: Fix problems that are preventing Windows from starting

# 2 - Symptom

Unexpected PC shutdown, virus, malware, driver issues, damaged BDC settings, corrupted boot partition,

blue screen of death

as well as a black screen of death on reboot, all those factors account for Windows startup problems.

As the 'Windows error recovery' suggests, Start Repair should automatically fix the abnormal Windows startup. However, when you
choose the recommended option, you'll only confront 2 facts:

1) Startup Repair takes a fairly long time to load or launch.

2) Startup Repair immediately runs but the repairing process never finishes.

In both situations, on each reboot, your PC will continuously attempt to call Startup Repair for the fix, meanwhile, getting stuck in a
Startup Repair loop that never ends

# 3 - Troubleshoot Windows Automatic Startup Repair infinite loop

A clean Windows installation is a guaranteed fix for Windows Startup Repair taking forever, but it costs a complete data loss. So, is
there other option to recover from an infinitely looping Startup Repair without reinstalling Windows?

We gave the possible fixes from easy to complex, from safe to risky. You'd better try them sequentially.

Important
The essential tool for most of the fixing methods:
A corresponding Windows installation media, let it be a
bootable USB drive, CD or DVD disc.

Fix 1. Disable Automatic Startup Repair

1) Restart your computer.

2) Wait for your BIOS to complete POST (the screen with your manufacturer logo and/or system information).
3) Quickly begin tapping F8 repeatedly, until you see the list of boot options.
4) Choose "Disable automatic restart on system failure".
5) Press Enter and wait for your PC to boot.

Fix 2. Run chkdsk command to check and repair drive errors

1) Boot Windows from the bootable device.

2) Navigate to "Repair your computer" option and select "Command Prompt".
3) In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /r c: and press enter. (c represents the drive where Windows is installed)
4) Click Y so that the next time the system restarts, chkdsk utility can check the disk errors and try to fix them.
5) Restart the system and let chkdsk check hard drive errors and repair.

Fix 3. Run bootrec to fix damaged or corrupted BCD settings

1) In the same way to open Command Prompt as the second fix did.
2) In the Command Prompt window, type those following commands and press enter.

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/startup-repair-infinite-loop.html 2/4
1/2/2019 FIX: Startup Repair Infinite Loop on Windows - EaseUS
3) Restart the system and let bootrec repair MBR.

Fix 4. Perform system restore

1) Boot Windows from the bootable device.

2) Click Troubleshoot and then System Restore.
3) Follow the wizard instructions to continue the process. Choose a restore point before the date when the Automatic Startup
Repair loop error happened.

How to recover computer data after fixing Startup Repair Infinite loop?

Besides a clean install of the Windows operating system, the fixes for users to get rid of an endless startup repair loop including
system restore and PC factory resetting will also result in part of computer data loss.

It's not the end of the day and a third-party

data recovery

tool perhaps can salvage your data. For example, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is able to recover data after formatting, deleting,
PC resetting, system refreshing and more. And You deserve a try for its

free data recovery software

edition, and see if the software really helps find your lost data.

Download for PC

Download for Mac

Step 1. Select a partition to scan - Open EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard and you can view all of the partitions. Just select the
wanted partition.

Step 2. Scan the partition - Click the "Scan" button and the process begins immediately.

https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/startup-repair-infinite-loop.html 3/4
1/2/2019 FIX: Startup Repair Infinite Loop on Windows - EaseUS

Step 3. Recover the lost data - Click the "Recover" button as long as you have selected the wanted files.

Extra Tips:

Select another place to save the recovered

files to avoid data overwriting.
The "Filter" and "Search" option will help you
find desired files quickly.

https://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/startup-repair-infinite-loop.html 4/4