Stuck in 'Preparing Automatic Repair' — Get Back In Without Losing Files
Windows can loop on Automatic Repair for hours and never actually repair anything. Here's the fix, in order, from safest to most drastic.
Symptoms
- 'Preparing Automatic Repair' or 'Diagnosing your PC'
- 'Your PC did not start correctly'
- 'Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC'
Likely causes
- Boot Configuration Data (BCD) got corrupted mid-update
- A driver or filter is loading before Windows and crashing
- The system reserved / EFI partition is full or damaged
- The disk itself is failing — worth ruling in or out early
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Force it into the Recovery menu
Power the machine on. When you see the Windows logo, hold the power button for 5 seconds to force a hard shutdown. Repeat 3 times. On the 4th boot Windows opens Recovery — Advanced Options.
- 2
Try 'Startup Repair' once
Advanced Options → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Repair. Give it 30 minutes. If it fixes it, great. If not, come back to this menu — don't run it in a loop.
Unlock the remaining 4 steps + engineer follow-up
Detailed instructions, screenshots where it matters, and a real UK engineer on standby if a step doesn't behave.
Payments aren't wired up in this build — the button takes you to the expert form and an engineer follows up.
Watch out for
- 'Reset this PC → Keep my files' keeps your documents but removes installed apps. Make a note of what you'll need to reinstall before you run it.
- Don't blindly run `chkdsk /r` on a drive you suspect is failing — it can push a marginal drive over the edge. Image first if the data matters.
Frequently asked
Do I need my BitLocker recovery key?▾
If BitLocker is on (most business laptops and many home ones) you'll be prompted for the key when you enter Recovery. Sign into aka.ms/myrecoverykey with the Microsoft account tied to the device — it's stored there automatically. Have it ready before you start.
Still stuck? A UK engineer can jump on remotely.
Fixed fee, secure one-time session, usually within the hour.