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Sometimes a Windows Server may be stuck in the automatic repair loop. Following the steps in this guide fixes this problem.
Step 1: Disable Automatic Startup Repair
Here are the steps:
- Boot your server to Recovery.
- When automatic repair displays Choose an option, click Troubleshoot.
- Then, at Advanced options screen, click Command Prompt.
- Select a user with admin privilege. Then type the password for the selected user and click Continue.
- When Command Prompt opens, type the command below. Then press enter.
bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
This command disables automatic repair.
Step 2: Restore Registry from Backup
Once you have disabled automatic repair, the next step is to fix the actual reason for Windows Server 2016 automatic repair loop – restore registry from backup.
Before you can restore registry, you first need to determine the location of your windows installation. To do this, type this command. Then press enter.
Dir c:
This will list the files and folders in drive C:\.
If drive C:\ has a folder called Windows, your Windows server is installed in C:\.
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On the other hand, if, it does not have a Windows folder, try Dir D:, Dir E:. Check the result of each command for a Windows folder.
Once you have confirmed the path your Operating System is installed, move to the next step – restore registry from backup.
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- To restore registry from backup, type this command. Then press enter.
Copy C:\windows\system32\config\RegBack\* C:\windows\system32\config
Replace C with the drive letter where your OS is installed. Note that it appears in two places in the command. They are both in bold.
When you press enter, you will receive a prompt to confirm that you wish to overwrite your current registry. Type All then press enter.
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- When the command completes, type the command below. Then press enter. You will be returned to Choose an option screen. Select Continue to boot Windows Server 2016 to normally.
Exit
If your server boots normally, it means that your Windows Server 2016 automatic repair loop issue have been fixed.
You need to re-enable automatic repair. See next step..
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Step 3: Enable Automatic Startup Repair
This is the final step. To re-enable automatic repair:
- When the server boots to logon screen, login with your admin account.
- Then open command prompt as administrator – search for it, right-click. Then select Run as administrator. Type the command below and press enter.
bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled Yes
After re-enabling automatic repair, to confirm that Windows Server 2016 automatic repair loop is fixed, restart your server.
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Conclusion
The steps in this guide should fix Windows server 2016 automatic repair loop for you.
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Want more Windows Server fixes? Visit our Windows Server Fix page.
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I am getting an error.
The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.
3 files(s) copied.
I recently changed one failed HDD on server. RAID-5. Rarity rebuilding is in progress.
thanks for the descriptive solution but, unfortunately there is no C drive in CMD prompt and my machine is in VMWare.
Need to load pvscsi driver i think. please advise.
thanks in advance
Mohamed Bilal