How to Fix Windows 10 Boot Loop: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you stuck in a frustrating Windows 10 boot loop, where your computer keeps restarting itself over and over again? This issue can be caused by various factors, such as incompatible device drivers, corrupted system files, or even a recent Windows update gone wrong. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through several methods to help you fix the Windows 10 boot loop and get your computer back up and running smoothly.

Using Safe Mode to Fix Windows 10 Stuck in Restart Loop

One of the most effective ways to troubleshoot a Windows 10 boot loop is by booting into Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which can help you identify and resolve the underlying issue. Here’s how to boot into Safe Mode:

1. Hold down the Shift key and then select Start > Restart to boot into the Advanced startup options.
2. Press Win I to open Settings and then select Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup > Restart now.
3. Once your computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
4. After your computer restarts again, select option 4 or F4 to boot into Safe Mode.

Once you’re in Safe Mode, you can try various troubleshooting steps, such as running System Restore, checking for driver updates, or scanning for malware.

Disabling Automatic Restart on System Failure

Another method to fix the Windows 10 boot loop is by disabling automatic restart on system failure. This setting can sometimes cause your computer to restart prematurely, preventing you from troubleshooting the issue. Here’s how to disable this setting:

1. Press the F8 key repeatedly during startup until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu.
2. Select “Disable automatic restart on system failure” and press Enter.
3. Once your computer boots up, open the System Properties by typing “sysdm.cpl” in the search box and pressing Enter.
4. Go to the Advanced tab and click on Settings under “Startup and Recovery”.
5. Uncheck the “Automatically restart” checkbox and click OK to save the changes.

After disabling automatic restart, you should be able to see any error messages that are causing the boot loop, which can help you identify and resolve the issue.

Using the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to Fix Boot Loop

If you can’t boot into Safe Mode or the boot loop persists, you can use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to troubleshoot and fix the issue. WinRE is a separate environment that loads when your computer fails to boot normally, and it provides various recovery options. Here’s how to use WinRE to fix the Windows 10 boot loop:

1. Boot from a Windows installation media or recovery drive.
2. Select your language and keyboard input, and then click “Repair your computer”.
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
4. In the Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each one:

    bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd 

5. Once the commands have finished running, restart your computer and check if the boot loop has been resolved.

If the boot loop persists, you can also try using the System Restore or System Image Recovery options in WinRE to restore your computer to a previous working state.

Performing a Clean Installation of Windows 10

If none of the above methods work, you may need to perform a clean installation of Windows 10. This will erase all your files, settings, and installed programs, so make sure to back up any important data before proceeding. Here’s how to perform a clean installation:

1. Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website.
2. Run the tool and select “Create installation media for another PC”.
3. Choose your language, edition, and architecture, and then select the USB flash drive or ISO file option.
4. Once the media is created, boot from it and select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

After the installation is complete, you’ll have a fresh copy of Windows 10 without any of the previous issues that were causing the boot loop.

In conclusion, there are several methods you can use to fix the Windows 10 boot loop, ranging from booting into Safe Mode to performing a clean installation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify and resolve the underlying issue causing the boot loop on your computer.