How to Fix Windows 10 Automatic Repair Loop on Black Screen

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through various solutions to fix the Windows 10 automatic repair loop and black screen problem. We’ll cover booting into safe mode, repairing the master boot record (MBR) and boot configuration data (BCD), reinstalling graphics drivers, rolling back updates, and performing a clean install of Windows 10 if necessary.

Causes of Automatic Repair Loop and Black Screen

There are several potential reasons why your Windows 10 device may get stuck in an automatic repair loop with a black screen:
Corrupted system files essential for Windows to run properly
Faulty hard drive or partitions with bad sectors or errors
Outdated or malfunctioning graphics drivers
Incorrect boot configurations or errors in the boot settings
Understanding the underlying cause is crucial for effectively troubleshooting and resolving the issue. Keep these potential causes in mind as we explore the various solutions.

Solution 1: Boot into Safe Mode and Troubleshoot

Safe mode is a minimal version of Windows that runs only essential services and can often bypass the black screen issue. Here’s how to boot into safe mode:
Restart your PC and continuously press the F8 key (or Shift F8) as it boots up.
Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Startup Settings”.
Choose “Enable Safe Mode with Networking”.
Once in safe mode, conduct a system diagnosis using Windows tools like System File Checker.
Repair any identified errors and restart your system to see if the issue is resolved.

Solution 2: Repair MBR and Rebuild BCD

The master boot record (MBR) and boot configuration data (BCD) are critical for starting your Windows system. If they’re corrupted, you may encounter a black screen. Here’s how to repair them:
Boot from a Windows installation media and click on “Repair your computer”.
Navigate to “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced Options” > “Command Prompt”.
In the Command Prompt, type the following commands one after another: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, and bootrec /rebuildbcd.
After entering the commands, restart your computer to see if the issue is resolved.

Solution 3: Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Issues with graphics drivers can also lead to a black screen after automatic repair. Follow these steps to reinstall the graphics drivers:
Boot into safe mode (as mentioned in Solution 1).
Open Device Manager and expand the “Display Adapters” section.
Right-click on the graphics driver and select “Uninstall device”.
Download the latest graphics driver from the manufacturer’s website.
Install the new driver and restart your computer.
If the issue persists, you can also try rolling back the graphics driver to a previous version:
Open Device Manager and double-click on the graphics driver.
Go to the “Driver” tab and click on “Roll Back Driver”.
Select a previous version of the driver and follow the on-screen instructions.

Solution 4: Uninstall Recent Updates

Recent Windows updates, both quality and feature updates, can sometimes cause compatibility issues leading to an automatic repair loop. Try uninstalling the latest updates:
Boot into safe mode (as mentioned in Solution 1).
Open the Settings app and navigate to “Update & Security” > “Windows Update” > “View update history”.
Click on “Uninstall updates”.
Select the most recent quality or feature update and click “Uninstall”.
Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Solution 5: Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10

If none of the above solutions work, your last resort is to perform a clean install of Windows 10. This will erase all data on your system drive, so make sure to back up important files before proceeding. Here’s how to do it:
Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official website.
Run the tool and select “Create installation media for another PC”.
Follow the on-screen instructions to create a bootable USB drive or DVD.
Boot from the installation media and select “Repair your computer” when prompted.
Navigate to “Troubleshoot” > “Reset this PC” and follow the on-screen instructions to perform a clean install of Windows 10.

Recovering Data Before Clean Install

If your computer is stuck in an automatic repair loop and you need to perform a clean install of Windows 10, it’s crucial to recover your data first. Here’s how to do it:
Boot from a live Linux USB drive or DVD.
Open a file manager and navigate to your Windows system drive.
Copy important files and folders to an external storage device.
Once the data recovery is complete, proceed with the clean install of Windows 10.

Conclusion

Dealing with an automatic repair loop and black screen on Windows 10 can be frustrating, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can often resolve the issue. Start by booting into safe mode and running diagnostics, then try repairing the MBR and BCD, reinstalling graphics drivers, or uninstalling recent updates. If all else fails, perform a clean install of Windows 10, but make sure to back up your data first.
By following the solutions outlined in this guide, you should be able to fix the Windows 10 automatic repair loop and get your system back to normal. Remember to keep your drivers, BIOS, and Windows updates up to date to prevent future issues.