Surface Pro 4 Preparing Automatic Repair

Question

After my first turn off, turn back on, it is stuck trying to recover. I have tried all the options, even download install Windows from cloud. I can get to the c prompt, but when I do, it is a X drive - I have no C drive - it is damaged or missing.

Answer 1

Hello trauma2000

Sorry to hear you are having trouble starting Surface Pro 4.

What was Surface doing before this? 

Was there an update in progress that may have been interrupted?

Has Surface been able to proceed past this point?

You may need to consider resetting via USB recovery media.  Here is how to download an image and create the USB drive. 

Best regards

Answer 2

I got it Sunday, turned it on, paired the pen. Then turned it off, as I had to leave for business trip. Next day, when I tried to turn it back on, it immediately said attempting to repair. I tried all the options for recovery, including wireless download recovery. It said log file in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ETC\LOGFILES\SRT. When I took the option to go to C prompt, it took me to the path X:|WINDOWS\SYSTEM. When I tried to access the C drive, it said invalid file structure or some such error. I think it is corrupted/damaged. I will try your suggestion when I get hold of a USB drive and reply back.

Answer 3

I now have this exact same problem on my third Surface Pro 4. This most recent one just did the same thing the first two did after leaving it sitting for two days. The process was the exact same:

-Turn on for the first time

-Go through initial setup

-pair pen

-Finally get in and do Windows Update

-leave for a day or two, 

-start up gain and immediately goes into "Diagnosing your PC" "Attempting repairs" and "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC" 

I haven't installed anything on the device other than doing the Windows Update and rebooting. 

Any restarts after that immediately go into the same loop. EXTREMELY frustrating. I'm not sure how this made it out of QC. As I said, this is my third one in a row exact same symptoms as trauma2000 when trying repairs.

Answer 4

Update: I did create a bootable USB drive, and that didn't help either. I gave up after dozens of tries of every menu option. I am certain the drive damaged itself somehow. It is sold state, but when I went to the C prompt (a diagnostic option), it took me to the X drive. When I tried to access the C drive from there, it said it was an invalid drive.

I returned it to Amazon, and got the lower end one (M processor) as it does not need a fan - less noise and longer battery life. Happy with it, but not great as an iPad replacement, slower to start up after going to sleep.

Answer 5

Try this. Advanced Options - CMD Prompt

At the prompt, execute a Check Disk.

x:\windows\system32\chkdsk /f c:

See if the resultant output fixes any file problem. Reboot and test.

This did occur on my second boot of my first SP4 today and this resolved the issue with the looping Repairs and locked drive errors trying to RESET the device. Good Luck.