Computer stuck in "Preparing Automatic Repair" loop

Question

Original Title: Preparing Automatic Repair loop

My daughters laptop is a Samsung note book NP300e5e windows logo preparing automatic repair new screening Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart. and is a loop. I tried everything F4 F8. shift & alt.

I have a Packard bell easynote laptop I have a scandisk all ready for any problems I may encounter I have placed it into the Samsung note and nothing as happened it's still in a loop. Do I need to have a recovery disk for a Samsung or should mine work and what else if anything do I need to press to help it recover windows 8.1 or even stop the looping. Read about the novo button but where is it? if at all the Samsung as one.

Answer 1

Hello Jacqueline,

Thank you for your reply, appreciate the time taken by you in keeping us updated on the status of the issue.

The recovery disc created on other computer wouldn't be much helpful in recovering Windows on this computer.

However, You can create a new Windows 8.1 reinstallation media (A DVD, Flash Drive, Pendrive etc.)  on your Packard bell computer, we can get the Windows recovered with that installation media. Once we will have Windows back on your daughter's computer we can create recovery disc for that computer as well.

For product key I would suggest you to contact the OEM (Original Equipment manufacturer) Samsung, they should be able to provide you your product key.

Hope this information is helpful. Feel free to write us back for any further assistance, we'll be glad to assist you.

Answer 2

Thank you for responding.

There is no other external devices.

The Samsung came with windows 8 pre-installed there was no product key number

I don't know if windows 8 media is installed.

Please tell me where I would find my product key number on the computer?

and the Samsung computer once I have gained access to it.

Can I create a recovery USB for the Samsung on my Packard bell I have windows 8 preinstalled on mine. or does it have to be another Samsung laptop?

Thank you Jacqueline

Answer 3

Hello Jacqueline,

Thank you for visiting Microsoft Community Forum.

As per the problem description, I understand that your daughters Samsung Notebook NP300e5e is stuck in “Preparing Automatic Repair” loop. You tried pressing F8 and other keys to try advanced boot options but that did not have any effect. You want to know if you can use a recovery disc created for your Packard Bell Easy note laptop.

I would appreciate if you can provide us the following information to help us understand the issue better.  

1. Is there any external device (other than mouse and keyboard) is connected to the computer?
2. Did this computer come with Windows 8.1 preinstalled or was upgraded from previous version of Windows?
3. Do you have Windows 8.1 installation media and your product key?

Let’s try these methods below and check if that helps.

Windows 8 have pre-activated recovery feature called “Startup repair” which automatically launches when it detects boot failure. However, in some circumstances where there are major system files corruptions it fails to initiate automatically or goes in Preparing Automatic Repair loop. We can initiate these recovery options through Windows 8 re-installation media.

If you do not have a Windows 8 reinstallation media you can create one. You might be required to have your Windows 8 product key, you can look for the product key on your machine or contact the computer manufacturer to get it.

You may refer the article below to create a bootable CD/DVD or a USB drive.

Create installation media for Windows 8

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

After you have your Windows 8 bootable USB drive ready you can initiate the recovery process.

Let’s try these methods below:

Method 1:

1. Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 8 from it.
2. In the ‘Windows setup’ page select the ‘language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.
3. Click on ‘Repair your computer’ and select ‘Troubleshoot’.
4. Click on **‘Advanced options’**and select ‘Automatic Repair’ and select the operating system.

Method 2:

If automatic repair does not help, you may also try to rebuild the BCD booting from the Windows 8 installation media and follow these instructions:

1. Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 8 from it.
2. In the ‘Windows setup’ page select the ‘language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.
3. Click on Repair your computer.
4. Click on Troubleshoot and then select Advanced Options.
5. Click on Command prompt and type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

Bootrec /fixmbrBootrec /fixbootBootrec /rebuildbcd 6. Restart the computer. Check if you’re able to boot now.

Hope this helps. Please let us know the results. Feel free to write us back for any further assistance with Windows, we’ll be glad to assist you.