Windows stuck on Diagnosing your PC or Preparing Automatic Repair screen

Windows 11 and Windows 10 carry a number of features which help it optimize its performance on a given computer. When an error is encountered by the operating system, it has capabilities to provide proper resources to the user to get the issue fixed or just fix it by itself. Sometimes, even the user is not notified, and an issue is either dodged or repaired in the background. One such feature is the Diagnosis of the Automatic Repair feature, which starts when the PC boots up. At such times you will see a message – Diagnosing your PC, Attempting repairs or Preparing Automatic Repair. This feature has proven to be effective, but some users have been reporting that the fixing process gets stuck.

Windows stuck on Diagnosing your PC, Attempting repairs or Preparing Automatic Repair

Before you begin working on the fixes, perform Hard Boot. Power down the PC, remove the battery and AC adapter. Reconnect them, press and hold the power button for 20 seconds, and see if it will boot up normally. If it does not help, read on

You will then have to power down your computer and boot Windows in Safe Mode. You can then carry out these fixes to get Windows 11/10 out of the stuck Diagnosing your PC, Attempting repairs or Preparing Automatic Repair screen. If you are unable to even boot into Safe Mode, then only the 4th option suggested below will help you.

1. Run System File Checker & DISM.
2. Run CHKDSK.
3. Disable Automatic Repair.
4. Use Installation media to boot and Repair your system.

1] Run System File Checker and DISM

Run CMD as Administrator and then execute the following command to run System File Checker:

sfc /scannow

Restart your system after the scan is completed.

Now, in order to fix a corrupted Windows System Image using DISM,  open Command Prompt (Admin) and enter the following three commands sequentially and one by one and hit Enter:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Let these DISM commands run and once done, restart your computer and see.

2] Run CHKDSK

Run Command Prompt as Administrator and execute the following command to run chkdsk and then hit Enter.

chkdsk c: /f

It will either start checking for errors and fixing them or ask for a system restart. Hit Y for scheduling the Disk Checker the next time the system restarts.

3] Disable Automatic Repair

When you have a system drive-related issue, the Automatic Startup Repair window opens up automatically during boot. If you think you are in such a situation, you can disable automatic Startup Repair. In Safe Mode, you need to open Command Prompt and execute the following command:

bcdedit /set recoveryenabled NO

Restart your computer and see.

4] Use Installation media to boot and repair your system

You may use the Windows Installation bootable media to boot and repair your system.

1. Create an Installation media of the same version of OS installed on the computer.
2. When you reach Install Windows screen, click on Repair your computer link.
3. Shutdown after the repair is complete.
4. Next, turn on your PC to see if Windows can boot properly.

I hope something helps!

If it does not, then there are more suggestions here that you may want to take a look at:

1. Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC
2. Windows is stuck on loading some screen.