How to Fix Windows Startup Repair Infinite Loop

Fix: Boot into Safe Mode

1. 1. Insert the disc and reboot the system.
2. 2. Press any key to boot from the DVD.
3. 3. Choose your keyboard layout.
4. 4. Click Repair your computer at the Install now screen.
5. 5. Click Troubleshoot.
6. 6. Click Advanced options.
7. 7. Click Startup Settings.
8. 8. Click Restart...

7 Fixes to Stuck in Windows 7 Startup Repair 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."

Follow the fixes to troubleshoot your Windows Startup Repair loop.

1 - Windows 7 Startup Repair Infinite Loop Error Details

🚩See Also: Windows 10 Stuck on Welcome Screen

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.)

Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally

Description: Fix problems that are preventing Windows from starting

Startup Repair will fail to load, launch but fail to repair, or run and claim repairs have been executed. Your PC will continue to attempt to endlessly start Startup Repair each boot. In Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 this is called Automatic Repair:

2 - Startup Repair Error Symptoms

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 reasonably 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 Error with 7 Fixes

A clean Windows installation is a guaranteed fix for Windows Startup Repair, which takes forever but costs a complete data loss. So, is there another 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.

Fix 1. Disable Automatic Startup Repair to Fix Startup Repair Loop

You should try to disable the automatic restart. Although it could not solve the boot error, it can stop the endless restart.

Step 1. Restart your computer.

Step 2. Wait for your BIOS to complete POST (the screen with your manufacturer logo and/or system information).

Step 3. Quickly begin tapping F8 repeatedly until you see the list of boot options.

Step 4. Choose "Disable automatic restart on system failure".

Step 5. Press "Enter" and wait for your PC to boot.

🧑‍💻Read Also: Fix Windows 10 Boot Loop

Fix 2. Run CHKDSK Command to Check and Repair Drive Errors

This helps check or even repair the drives to tackle file system corruption.

Step 1. Boot Windows from the bootable device. (If you cannot boot, use Windows 7 installation CD.)

Step 2. Navigate to the "Repair your computer" option and select "Command Prompt".

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /r c: and press "Enter". (c represents the drive where Windows is installed)

Step 4. Click "Y" so that the next time the system restarts, the CHKDSK utility can check the disk errors and try to fix them. Restart the system and let CHKDSK check hard drive errors and repair.

Run CHKDSK Alternative Tool to Repair Device

Download EaseUS CleanGenius and install it on your computer. Let's start checking and refixing file system error on your device now.

Step 1. Click "File Showing" to enter the next step.

Step 2. Choose the target device and tick the box of "Check and fix file system error". Click "Execute" to start fixing the problematic device.

Step 3. When the fixing process completes, click "here" to open and use your device. 

Fix 3. Run Bootrec to Fix Damaged or Corrupted BCD Settings

The startup repair loop could also happen if the bootloader installation or configuration comes with some errors. You could solve this error by following the steps below.

Step 1. In the same way open Command Prompt as the second fix did.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type those following commands and press "Enter".

Step 3. Restart the system and let bootrec repair MBR.

Fix 4. Perform System Restore to Solve Windows Startup Repair Loop

The System Protection is enabled by default, and you can use it to restore your computer to an earlier state to fix your problem. 

Step 1. Boot Windows from the bootable device.

Step 2. Click "Troubleshoot > System Restore".

Step 3. Follow the wizard instructions to continue the process. Choose a restore point before the date when the Automatic Startup Repair loop error happened.

Fix 5. Delete the Problematic File to Resolve Startup Repair

Step 1. Access Command Prompt again and enter the following command:

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

Step 2. Then, you could see "Boot critical file c:\windows\system32\drivers\tmel.sys is corrupt." Type the following command:

cd c:windowssystem32drivers
delvsock.sys

Restart your PC. If these steps can not help, try the following troubleshooting steps.

Fix 6. Restore Windows 10 Registry to Fix Repair Loop

Step 1. In the Windows Boot Options menu, choose "Troubleshoot >Advanced Options>Command Prompt".

Step 2. In Command Prompt, type the following command and then hit "Enter".

cd C:\windows\system32\logfiles\srt\

Change your drive letter according to your needs.

Step 3. Type txt to open the file in notepad.

Step 4. Press "Ctrl + O". Select "All files" from file type and navigate to C:\windows\system32.

Step 5. Right-click CMD and select "Run as administrator". Type the following command and press "Enter".

cd C:\windows\system32\config

Step 6. Backup those files by renaming Default, Software, SAM, System, and Security files to .bak. Type the following command one by one and hit "Enter":

Step 7. Restart your PC to check if you have solved the error.

Fix 7. Check Device Partition and Osdevice Partition

Sometimes, if your device partition values aren’t correct, you will get stuck in the startup repair loop. Follow the steps below to check the device partition and os device partition and fix your error.

Step 1. In Command Prompt, type bcdedit and press "enter".

Step 2. Find device partition and os device partition values. Make sure their values are correct and set to the correct partition. 

Windows is preinstalled on C partition only, and the correct value is C. Enter the following commands and press "Enter" after each one if the value isn’t set to C.

bcdedit /set {default} device partition=c:
bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=c:

After that, reboot the PC and fix the Windows startup repair loop.

Additional Fix - Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 7/8/10

Often booting into Safe Mode and uninstalling recently installed device drivers or software may fix the Automatic Repair loop error. To boot into Safe Mode of a Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10 system, you need to have the original DVD or USB. If you do not have the installation disc, follow the guide from Microsoft to create a Windows Installation Media. Then enter Safe Mode:

Step 1. Insert the disc and reboot the system.

Step 2. Press any key to boot from the DVD.

Step 3. Choose your keyboard layout.

Step 4. Click Repair your computer at the Install now screen. Choose "Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings".

Enter a Safe Mode option (Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, and Safe Mode with Command Prompt).

How to Recover 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 EaseUS data recovery tool perhaps can salvage your data. For example, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can recover data after formatting, deleting, PC resetting, system refreshing, and more. And You deserve a try and see if the software helps find your lost data.

You get 7 ways to get rid of the Startup Repair Windows 7 loop, no matter whether you have an installation disc or not. Don't worry if the windows 7/8/10 startup repair is taking forever, and you cannot stop or cancel it. Also, you can get back lost data after you have fixed the error with EaseUS data recovery software.