My laptop keeps booting into Automatic Repair. I checked the drives through Notepad, but I can only see the X: drive, so I'm not sure which drive letter contains Windows or how to run the repair commands. The advanced options don't show a reset option, and I also don't see a way to boot from a USB device. The BIOS does recognize that the internal drive is installed. What should I try next without losing my files?
2 Answers
If the built-in recovery tools don’t work, create a Windows installation USB on another computer and boot the laptop from it. Choose “Repair your computer” instead of installing Windows, then try Startup Repair or open Command Prompt. If you eventually need to reinstall, back up important files first; avoid formatting the drive until you’re certain the files are safe.
Since the BIOS detects the drive, the hardware is at least being recognized. The X: drive is usually the temporary Windows Recovery Environment, not your normal Windows installation. From Command Prompt, use `diskpart`, then `list volume` to identify the Windows partition and its drive letter. Exit DiskPart and run repairs against that letter, for example `chkdsk C: /f` and `sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C: /offwindir=C:Windows`, replacing C: if Windows is on another volume. Double-check the letter first because it may change in recovery mode.
I don’t see Startup Settings or a reset option in the menu, so I’ll try using a Windows USB and choose the repair option first.