Users of Windows 11/10/8 may have noticed that it includes a new recovery feature called Automatic Repair. If your Windows 11/10 cannot boot or start up, Automatic Repair, earlier called Startup Repair, will come into action and try to diagnose and fix the issue. It will scan system files, Registry settings, configuration settings, and more and try to fix the problem automatically.
When the computer boots up, the OS detects something is wrong with the files. It will trigger Automatic Startup Repair. If it doesn’t, try interrupting the boot process three times in a row – for when you do this, Automatic Repair mode will appear.
Automatic Startup Repair in Windows 11/10
If you want to access and run Automatic Repair manually, you need to boot into Advanced Startup options. This will let you start Windows from an external device, change Windows startup settings, or restore Windows from a Factory image.
Windows 11
To carry out Startup Repair in Windows 11, you need to boot to the Advanced Startup Options screen:
- Open Windows 11 Settings
- Click open System settings
- Scroll down till you see Recovery on the right side, and then click on it
- In the next screen, under Recovery options, you will see Advanced startup
- Click on the Restart now button to initiate the process.
Related: How to repair Windows 11 without losing data or programs
Windows 10
Save your work and open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup.
Select Restart now.
Windows 11 or Windows 10 users will see the following screen on a restart. 
From the WinRE screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. 
Under Advanced options, select Automatic/Startup Repair. 
You will be asked to select the User Account to continue. Do so and continue. If asked, enter your password, too, and click on Continue. Windows Automatic Repair will now begin to identify and resolve the problem. This process may take some time, and your system may even boot. Once the process completes successfully, you will see a message.
Automatic Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC
If Startup Repair fails, and you get an error message Automatic Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC, you may check the log file at:
C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt
This log file can provide more information about the issue that caused Automatic Startup Repair to fail and may help you troubleshoot the problem. You can open it and check for details such as session details, test performed, root cause, etc.
What is the SrtTrail.txt file?
SrtTrail.txt is a log file that logs down causes that may have caused Automatic Startup Repair to fail or cause a Blue Screen Stop Error. It is located at C:\Windows\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt. It can contain error messages, debugging information, or record of actions.
You may also want to check this post on Windows fails to boot; Automatic Repair, Refresh, Reset PC also fail.
What if your computer still says repairing disc errors after 48 hours? Nothing works and reinstalling the software is not working either still keeps my computer in repair mode?
Hi Cindy,
Could you see if this helps you then? https://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-8-fails-to-boot-automatic-repair-refresh-reset-pc-fail
You are not reading that I wrote. I CAN’T DO ANYTHING! IM STUCK! I WOULD GLADLY CHOOSE REFRESH ETC. BUT EVERYTIME I TURN MY COMPUTER ON, IT GOES TO AUTOMATIC REPAIR. I CAN’T TYPE ANYTHING. I CAN’T REBOOT ANYTHING. I know it’s from Win 8. I know there is absolutely nothing wrong with my computer. I never had these problems with Win7. Please that actually can help me. It is still repairing my disc errors. Now since last night. Now for almost 11 hours REALLY???? This just SUCKS!
Sorry I need solutions not more stuff that doesn’t help.
I read you! But you don’t understand do you! You have to request for help – not shout and demand! And that is exactly what you are doing by the tone of your comment. This is a non-Microsoft site and we try our best to help folks voluntarily – as a part of our passion for the Windows OS.
I suggest you take your grievance to Microsoft or go in for paid support.
I’m not shouting at you. I’m frustrated and trying the best I can to find a suction however if my computer is in automatic repair and repairing disk errors now 15 hours in, it’s not really repairing is it? As mentioned, I am unable to type anything, my command keys such as F2 F12, etc. do not work. Even installing the installation CD again doesn’t help. It continues in it’s repair mode. I’ve unplugged it, turning off the computer, unplugging it, but nothing works. You have to understand my frustration, & I know I’m certainly not the first one to type in all CAPS, in frustration. Now, if Theresa si something else i can try, I would appreciate it. I have work I must try and finish today. Many thanks. Also, I would obviously choose remote assistance, but that seems impossible since I cannot even let anyone have access to my computer, since I’m stuck in virtual repairing disk error mode. Thank you.
Sorry, my phone is sometimes misspelling what I’m trying to say, I need a solution, not a suction. Sorry.
Well I ended up getting my hard drive replaced. It was fried I guess from the lightening storm we had. I didn’t have it plugged into my surge protector. Lesson learned.
hi I tried that but on the software part it says something is still running
Hi there, I’m trying to get some help with my gateway all in one ZX series, I was sharing my commuter with my friend and I beleve it crashed. It was running windows 8, and as soon as I Turn my computer on it gos to the ” automatic repair” then says it could not be repaired. I tried to go not F12 to do the last good config or try something at least but I Have nooooo idea what my password is.
I appreciate your help.
Hi,
Does anything here – Windows 8 fails to boot; Automatic Repair, Refresh, Reset PC also fail https://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-8-fails-to-boot-automatic-repair-refresh-reset-pc-fail help you?
^^ What is the exact message when it says Windows could not be repaired, did you see any error code?
YOU ARE CRAZY LADY! I CAN’T STAND PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
Well you are a pretty ignorant and obviously misinformed jack ass. You are obviously an unhappy person to attack me without any reason & I truly hope you feel better to talk to me, someone you don’t even know with such hatred. And I truly think you are the CRAZY one to attack me, when you obviously are a very sad character. Have a nice rest of your day. No one else has or would ever talk to me like that on here. Oh, & F— yourself. Or do you not understand that?
Why would you ever talk to someone like that? Someone you obviously don’t know & someone that has not attacked you? You are an unhappy person & I think your comment is not warranted on this group or discussion. You should never ever attack someone that you’ve never actually met or treat them with disrespect. I hope you actually feel better that you felt the need to call me names that are so untrue. I actually am not crazy and have an MBA from UW. I am going to take the higher road & not call you names or speculate about how miserable you are. Have a wonderful Sunday evening , as I am. CHEERS!
LOL you are too funny. Yeah Cheers to you to haha
Absolutely NOTHING funny about someone making rude comments to someone they’ve never met or spoke with. Glad you felt the need to actually make a comment on something that actually doesn’t concern you. I’m done here. Two people have actually managed to make me now unsubscribe from this because they are more than eager to comment and once again respond to something that doesn’t concern them & has NOTHING to do with Windows 8. I hope people actually grow up soon.
Will be deleting the last few comments made here, not related to the thread in an hour.
hi I am trying to trying hard to repair but nothing changes.
I need help please!Anytime I switch on My windows 8 laptop,it starts and when the toshiba logo is displayed it shuts down like four times by itself and starts up Automatic repair . The automatic repair fails to repair it. It displays a blue screen with the option to shutdown the pc or Advanced option. Each time I choose the shutdown option, my windows start normally. The first time I experienced it I chose advanced option and refresh my pc , my windows worked. But the same problem came up the next day I switched on my pc. Since then I choose the option of shutting down my pc and it works. Could anyone help? I need a permanent solution to this problem.
I wonder what bill gates would do
would this fix my corrupted CBS files?
Hi when i access troubleshooting and click on advanced option it just covers the screen i a faint grey colur and freezes can you help me ?
Hi there. I need some help. I have Windows 8.1 profesional and my Windows Defender ‘died’ suddenly. I use avast as an antivirus program but i clearly remember that i could open Windows Defender. I search my regedit file and looks like that the defender is deleted from my PC. Do you know if a repair could fix the issue? Will i lose all my personal staff and apps from my PC? Any answer is appreciated. Thanks.
Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC, you may check the log file at C:WindowsSystem32LogfilesSrtSrtTrail.txt. this error is coming in my laptop