Automatic Repair Can't Make the Win 11 Boot, How Do You Fix It w/ the Windows Recovery Environment Command Prompt?

Hi Alvin, I am John J.D., a fellow Microsoft user like you.

I understand you're having issues with your computer and now troubleshooting using Windows Recovery Environment. I'm here to help.

Please try using Bootrec.exe commands via the Command Prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment.

1. Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to power off your device.
2. Press the power button to turn on your device. As soon as you see the initial indication of Windows starting (such as the manufacturer's logo appearing during a restart), hold down the power button for 10 seconds to power off your device.
3. Repeat this process twice.
4. On the third start, Windows will boot into the Recovery Environment.
5. Select "Advanced options."
6. On the "Choose an option" screen, choose "Troubleshoot" and select "Advanced options".

In Advance options, click "Command Prompt"

In Command Prompt window type this command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

(note the space between "sfc" and "/") and press Enter. Wait for the scan to complete to 100%. Next commands are for Bootrec.exe, type this commands and press Enter:

bootrec /fixmbr

(note the space between "bootrec" and "/") and press Enter. The message should be "The operation is completed successfully". Next, type this command and press Enter:

bootrec /fixboot

(note the space between "bootrec" and "/"). If you get "Access Denied", please type this command:

bootsect/nt60 sys

Once completed, type this command again: bootrec /fixboot

Lastly, type this command and press Enter:

bootrec /rebuildbcd

After that, type "Exit" and press Enter.

Then click "Continue" to exit and continue to Windows.

Please let me know how it goes.

John J.D.

I have the same issue, the new update that just came out crashed my Win 11 machine. A Lenovo Yoga 730-15 IKB. It constantly reboots into the "recovery" screen. I've tried rebooting with an Win11 ISO on a USB stick and all of the CMD line steps here as well and I've gotten nowhere. I also have similar pictures and papers that I can't access now, and I'm also dealing with the recent loss of a parent. The real issue is you can no longer trust large companies to do the right thing anymore. You have to do your own backup and storage. Its Enshittification personified. There is no recourse to hold them accountable for doing this. There is a reason why people don't want them doing "automatic" updates. I'll be wiping the computer and going with a version of Linux. Microsoft is dead to me now.

Thank you Alvin for updating me on the situation.

Can you try to boot in Safe Mode again if it can boot now?

If so, please run DISM and SFC (steps 3 and 4 here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/usi...) and the steps I provided earlier to run the Fixboot commands. After that, exit and restart.

If the issue persists or if you still can't boot into Safe Mode, and since you don't have any System Restore to go back to, consider creating a bootable USB drive with Windows 11 installation media using another computer. Ensure you have a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage, and follow the steps provided here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cre... select Windows 11 to download and continue with the steps outlined.

After creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 and inserting it into your computer, you should attempt to use the Repair option. Here’s what you need to do:

> Insert the bootable USB drive into the affected computer.

> Restart the computer and boot from the USB drive. You may need to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings to set the USB drive as the primary boot device.

> Once booted from the USB, you’ll be presented with the Windows Setup screen. Choose your language and other preferences, then click Next.

> On the next screen, instead of choosing Install Now, look for and select Repair your computer in the bottom-left corner.

> You’ll be taken to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). From here, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

> In the Advanced options, you can choose Startup Repair to fix problems that keep Windows from loading.

If Startup Repair doesn’t solve the issue, you can also try Command Prompt and run SFC and Fixboot commands again.

If the issue still persists, or you can't perform creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11, consider taking your computer to a professional repair service or go to your manufacturer's local repair service center, especially if the computer is still under warranty.

I hope this gets resolved for you soon. God bless, and Happy Mother's Day as well!

John J.D.

Hi, thank you. I did the Command Prompt commands, except the /fixmbr coz'I forgot that it's on GPT (it's on SSD) but I used /fixboot. I also had to use nt60 when it said 'access denied'.

Sadly when I booted it's stuck on the Windows logo and spinning wheel which I waited for 10 minutes for it to boot but I had to force shut it down with the power button:

stuck on spinning wheel and logo

God bless again, happy Mother's Day.

Thank you Alvin, for letting me know.

Yes, it is possible to use a Windows to Go drive to repair your system. However, it is important that the Windows to Go drive you are using is also Windows 11, especially since you’re trying to repair a Windows 11 system. If not, you can download the Windows 11 installation media directly from Microsoft’s website https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

Once done, insert the bootable USB drive into the computer that needs repair. Restart the computer and boot from the USB drive (you may need to change the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings). On the Windows Setup screen, select your language and other preferences, then click Next. Instead of clicking "Install Now," select "Repair your computer" in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

As for the commands, you will need to target the offline Windows installation on your internal drive. For example, if your internal drive is assigned the letter D: in the Windows to Go environment, you would use the following commands:

For SFC:

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows

For DISM:

DISM /Image:D:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Make sure to replace D: with the actual drive letter of your internal drive as it appears in the Windows to Go environment.

John J.D.