5 Quick Fixes to Startup Repair in Windows 7 Not Working

Overview of Startup Repair in Windows 7 not working

Startup Repair is one of the recovery tools in the System Recovery Options menu. It can be used to scan your computer and fix missing or damaged system files that prevent Windows from starting correctly. When Windows 7 fails to boot properly, this tool can be used to scans your PC for issues like corrupt system files or an invalid boot file, then tries to fix the problem.

However, sometimes, when you use this tool, you may meet Startup Repair loop or Startup Repair not working issue in Windows 7. Here not working basically has two situations: Startup Repair stuck and Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically.

Case 1: Startup Repair stuck

Windows 7 Startup Repair stuck also can be called Startup Repair Windows 7 loop. This error prevents you from accessing anything on your computer and presents an endless loop of loading Startup Repair.

My 2-year-old shut down my computer manually and Since then, I have been unable to turn the computer on. It is stuck in startup repair. My husband tried to do a system restore, but it went straight back to startup repair. Please advise!

Case 2: Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically

When your operating system does not start properly, and you try to repair it with Startup Repair. However, the error message "Startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically" pops up and prevents the Startup Repair to fixing some problems of your PC.

Tried to boot up my computer this morning and was given the message: “Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically”. I'm running Windows 7 Professional, installed onto a Crucial M4 SSD. Would anyone be able to help me resolve this? Thanks a lot.

2 Solutions to startup repair stuck

If you stuck on computer startup repair screen, the problem is probably caused by damaged or corrupted BCD settings or corrupted boot partition. Follow the following steps to solve this problem.

Method 1: Run chkdsk on the boot volume

The command line chkdsk tool can be used to check (and sometimes repair) your drives for file system corruption.

Open Command prompt from System Recovery Options and type chkdsk C: /f to check your installation for corrupted, invalid or deleted system files.

Method 2: Disable Automatic Restart

1. Restart your computer

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

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

4. Choose “Disable automatic restart on system failure”

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

Note: this will not fix the boot error you are experiencing in and of itself

3 Solutions to startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically

Sometimes, your windows got corrupted in a really bad condition that Startup repair cannot fix it, or some files need to be replaced because of some minor fault in your previously installed Windows.

Solving this problem, you need to troubleshoot it step by step and fix the real problem.

Method 1. Run the sfc /scannow command (System File Checker) to repair file system

1. Restart your computer.

2. Start pressing F8 repeatedly until the Startup Options screen is displayed.

3. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

4. When Command Prompt appears, type the following command: sfc /scannow /offbootdir=d:\ /offwindir=d:\windows.

5. Press Enter and restart your computer after the process is done.

Method 2: Manually attempt to rebuild the BCD

Open Command prompt from System Recovery Options and type

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /rebuildbcd

Method 3: Fix Windows files manually

Open CMD from System Recovery Options and then type the following command:

Command 1: - C: (change the CMD path)

Command 2: - dir

Command 3: - cd\windows\system32\config

Command 4: - dir

Command 5: - MD mybackup

Command 6: - copy *.* mybackup

Command 7: - CD RegBack

Command 8: - DIR

Command 9: – copy *.* ..

Command 10: – exit

Startup Repair in Windows 7 not working | Try its alternative 

If the problem is too severe that all the above-mentioned method cannot solve the problem, you can try to perform a system restore. System restore can always be a simple solution to fix for this issue.

Choose System Restore from System Recovery Option, follow the instruction and choose the appropriate point. The precondition is you have enabled the System Restore on your computer or you have created a system backup. The only limitation is you cannot restore system to a dissimilar computer.

Here is a third party software – AOMEI Backupper Standard, allowing you to restore system to the previous state even you cannot boot your computer. Make a bootable CD or USB by AOMEI. Suppose you have already created a system backup. If not, please download this software and create one ahead of time.

Boot the computer from the bootable media and it will take you to the main interface of AOMEI Backupper. Click Restore and follow the instructions. It only takes you a few clicks. If you want to restore to a dissimilar hardware, tick Universal Restore. Here is the Restore interface.

With AOMEI Backupper, you do not need to bother about Startup Repair in Windows 7 not working issue. This software also can be applied to Windows 8/8.1/10/Visa/XP.

If you want to protect unlimited computers within your company, you can pick AOMEI Backupper Technician. With the inbuilt AOMEI Image Deploy tool, you are also allowed to deploy/restore system image file on server-side computer to multiple client-side computers over network.