PC stuck in automatic repair start up loop after updating from windows 10 to 11

Question

PC stuck in automatic repair start up loop after updating from windows 10 to 11

Will J 0

I was updating my pc from windows 10 to 11. When the update finished and i went to login to my pc it took me to a black screen where only my cursor would show. When I went into recovery mode it wont let me go into safe mode, there were no previous points which I could rollback to. Now my PC is stuck in an automatic repair loop.

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2 answers

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Answer 1

Use the built-in recovery tools first, then reinstall Windows 11 if needed.

Let Automatic Repair load into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). If it does not appear automatically, force it:
- Power on the PC.
- As soon as the Windows logo or manufacturer logo appears, hold the power button until the PC turns off.
- Repeat this 2–3 times until “Preparing Automatic Repair” or “Recovery” appears.
In WinRE, try Startup Repair:
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair > Restart.
- If the drive is BitLocker‑encrypted, enter the BitLocker recovery key.
- Let Startup Repair scan and attempt to fix boot and startup issues.
If Startup Repair cannot fix the loop and Safe Mode and System Restore are unavailable, use a Windows recovery option appropriate for your case:
- From WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Reset this PC and choose:
  - Keep my files to reinstall Windows while keeping personal files (apps and settings are removed), or
  - Remove everything for a full reset.
- Follow the prompts to complete the reset.
If Reset this PC fails or WinRE options do not work, reinstall Windows using installation media:
- On another working PC, download the Windows 11 installation media from Microsoft and create a bootable USB.
- Boot the affected PC from the USB.
- Follow the on‑screen steps to reinstall Windows 11.

If none of the recovery options work and the PC still will not start, a clean reinstall from installation media is required.

References:

Answer 2

Hi, I'm Bernard. I'm happy to help!

Since the upgrade is finished and you only see a black screen, I recommend using Windows installation media on a USB to repair the issue. To do that, kindly follow the steps below:

Note: We need another PC and a USB drive of at least 8GB, and make sure there are no files inside, as it will reformat the USB. Once you have that, kindly follow the steps:

Step 1: Create Windows 11 installation Media

Go to this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Scroll down and under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" click "Download Now" then run the Media Creation Tool (the downloaded file)

If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

On What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 11.

This table will help you decide which edition of Windows 11 you’ll choose:

On Select which media, you want to use click USB and save it to your USB drive.

Once done, do the repair kindly follow the steps below:

Insert the USB into the affected PC

Start the PC and if you see “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

Tap or click advanced options, and then click on Startup repair.

Note: This is a public forum. I may respond shortly, but I apologize in advance for any delays. I am simply a fellow user trying to provide helpful insights and information.