Why is my laptop stuck on ‘Preparing Automatic Repair’ during start up?
Why is my laptop stuck on ‘Preparing Automatic Repair’ during start up?
I’m facing an issue with my laptop that has been quite frustrating. Every time I try to start it up, it gets stuck on a screen that says ‘Preparing Automatic Repair.’ No matter how many times I restart the device, it continuously ends up on this screen. I have tried waiting for a long period, but nothing seems to change. This leaves me unable to access my desktop or any of my files, which is quite concerning since I have important work stored on the laptop. I’m not very tech-savvy, so I don’t know what could be causing this or how to resolve it. I haven’t made any recent changes to the system or software, so this problem has come out of the blue. I’m worried that my system might be corrupted or that there’s been some hardware failure. I would really appreciate understanding why this is happening and what might be going wrong with my laptop.
4 Answers
This problem may stem from corrupted system files or hardware issues. Here’s how you can troubleshoot it:
1. Hard Reboot: Press and hold the power button for 10-15 seconds to force your laptop to shut down, then restart it.
2. Safe Mode: Constantly press F8 during startup to enter Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, you can run diagnostic tools to check your system.
3. Disk Error Checking: In Safe Mode, open Command Prompt and type ‘chkdsk /f /r’ to run a disk check and repair any errors discovered.
4. System Restore: If possible, use System Restore to revert to an earlier system state when everything was functioning correctly.
A recent update or software installation may be the culprit. Follow these steps:
1. Uninstall Updates: Boot into Safe Mode, go to Settings > Update & Security > View update history, and uninstall recent updates, then restart.
2. Remove Software: If the issue began after installing new software, uninstall the software in Safe Mode.
3. Recovery Drive: Use a Windows recovery USB drive to reset or repair the OS. You may need another computer to create this drive.
If simple fixes don’t work, consider more in-depth troubleshooting:
– BIOS Settings: Press F2, F12, or Del during startup to enter the BIOS. Verify boot order and settings.
– Windows Reinstallation: As a last resort, back up your data and perform a clean Windows installation, which should fix persistent issues.
This may be due to software conflicts or file corruption. Use these methods to address it:
– Restart Procedures: Restart your laptop, and keep pressing the F11 key as it powers up to access recovery options. Opt for ‘Troubleshoot’ > ‘Advanced options’ > ‘Startup Repair.’
– Remove External Devices: Disconnect all external peripherals, which might be causing conflicts.
– System File Checker: Access Safe Mode and use Command Prompt to run ‘sfc /scannow’, which scans and fixes corrupted system files.