Is your computer stuck on a screen that says "Windows cannot repair this computer automatically," or will it not start at all? You are in the right place. This windows computer repair guide explains what that error really means, the free steps you can try yourself right now, and what to do when those do not work. The most important thing first: a Windows computer that will not start does not mean your files are gone. They are almost always safe. Let us walk you through it, and if the free steps do not fix it, we can. We fix Windows on every brand of computer; see all our computer repair services.
This message appears when Windows tried to fix a startup problem on its own and could not. It is one of the most common Windows errors, and it sounds scarier than it usually is. It does not mean your computer is dead or your files are lost.
Before anything else, try these free steps from the Windows recovery menu, which is the blue troubleshooting screen that appears when Windows cannot start. They fix a good number of cases at no cost.
Sometimes Startup Repair works on the second or third try, because it fixes one problem at a time. From the recovery menu, choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Repair, and let it run again. Try this a couple of times.
Safe Mode starts Windows with only the basic parts, which often lets a stuck computer boot. From Advanced options, choose Startup Settings, then restart and pick Safe Mode. If it starts in Safe Mode, a recent program or update is likely the cause, and you can remove it.
System Restore rolls Windows back to a time when it worked, without touching your files. From Advanced options, choose System Restore and pick a date before the trouble started. This undoes a bad update or change.
If Startup Repair, Safe Mode, and System Restore all fail, the cause is often a failing hard drive, which is the part that stores Windows and your files. This is not a keystroke fix, but it is very much a windows computer repair we do, and your files can usually be saved.
Clicking or buzzing sounds, the computer freezing before it even reaches Windows, the error coming back no matter what you try, or the drive not being found at all. These point to the drive, not just the software.
We test the drive, recover your files first to keep them safe, then either repair the Windows installation or fit a new, faster drive and move your files over. You end up with a working computer and all your files intact. If the drive is truly failing, you may also want to look at our RAM upgrade service, since a fresh drive and more memory together make an old computer feel brand new.
This is the reassurance that matters most. A Windows computer that will not boot almost never means lost files. Your photos and documents sit on the drive, separate from the Windows software that is acting up.
Even if Windows is too broken to start, we can pull your files off the drive and keep them safe. See our data recovery service for how that works. We always recover your files first, before any repair that touches the drive, so your memories are never at risk.
The cannot-repair error is the most common, but we fix every kind of Windows trouble. If your computer is doing any of these, bring it in for a free check.
The screen turns blue with an error message and the computer restarts. A blue screen can come from a bad update, a driver problem, which is the software that runs your hardware, or failing parts. We find the real cause.
The computer keeps restarting over and over and never reaches the desktop. This is a classic broken-Windows problem, and we repair it.
A Windows update went wrong and now the computer will not boot. We roll back the bad update or repair the installation, and get you back in.
The Windows logo sits there forever and never finishes loading. We diagnose whether it is software or a failing drive and fix it. If your laptop battery is also old and dying fast, a weak battery can sometimes cause strange boot behavior. See our laptop battery replacement page if that sounds familiar.
Whatever version you run, the cannot-repair error and won't-boot problems work in a similar way, and we fix them all.
The newest versions show the recovery menu automatically after a couple of failed starts. We handle their startup errors, bad updates, and boot problems every day.
Older versions like Windows 7 and Vista reach repair options with the F8 key during startup. These older computers also gain the most from a fresh drive. If you are still on Windows 7, we can also talk about safely moving to a newer version.
If your Windows computer starts up fine but just runs slowly, that is a different problem with its own answers. A slow computer is usually about memory, an old drive, or background clutter, not a startup error.
For a computer that works but feels slow, see our slow computer repair guide, which covers the real causes and the upgrades that make an old computer fast again. This page is for Windows that will not start or throws errors; that page is for Windows that is simply slow.
The price of windows computer repair depends on the cause, and the diagnosis is always free. You approve any cost before we start. Here is a general guide.
| Service | What It Covers | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Free diagnosis | Find the real cause: software or failing drive | $0 |
| Windows startup repair | Fix boot files, bad updates, settings | $59 to $119 |
| Windows reinstall (files kept) | Fresh Windows with your files saved | $99 to $169 |
| New drive plus Windows and file transfer | Failing drive replaced, files moved over | $129 to $279 |
| Data recovery (if needed first) | Rescue files from a failing drive | Quoted at diagnosis |
For the exact price on your computer, call (703) 594-9339 or request a quote online.
Almost always yes. A Windows repair costs far less than a new computer, and you keep all your files and programs. If your computer is very old, we may suggest a fresh drive that also makes it faster, so you get a fix and a speed boost in one. If it is not worth it, we tell you honestly.
Our windows computer repair process is built to protect your files at every step. Here is how it works.
Many Windows repairs are done the same day or the next, and we keep your files safe the whole time.
What does "Windows cannot repair this computer automatically" mean?
It means Windows tried to fix a startup problem with its built-in Startup Repair tool and could not. The usual causes are a damaged startup file, a bad update, a changed setting, or a failing hard drive. The first three are often fixable for free with Startup Repair, Safe Mode, or System Restore. A failing drive needs a repair, but your files can still be saved.
Will I lose my files if Windows won't start?
Almost never. Your files live on the drive, separate from the Windows software that is broken. Even if Windows is too damaged to start, we can pull your files off the drive and keep them safe. We always recover files first, before any repair that touches the drive. See our data recovery service for how that works.
How do I fix "cannot repair this computer automatically" myself?
From the blue recovery menu, try three free things: run Startup Repair again a couple of times, start in Safe Mode through Startup Settings, and use System Restore to roll back to a working date. Avoid "Reset this PC," which can erase files. If these do not work, the cause may be a failing drive, and we can help.
How much does Windows computer repair cost?
The diagnosis is free. A startup repair runs $59 to $119, a Windows reinstall with your files kept is $99 to $169, and a new drive with Windows and your files moved over is $129 to $279. You approve the price first, and we tell you honestly if a repair is not worth it. Get a free quote or call (703) 594-9339.
My computer is stuck in a restart loop. Can you fix it?
Yes. A boot loop, where the computer restarts over and over and never reaches the desktop, is a common broken-Windows problem. We diagnose whether it is a software fault or a failing drive and repair it, keeping your files safe.
Should I just reinstall Windows myself?
You can, but be careful, because some reinstall and reset options erase your files. If your files matter and you are not certain, let us do it. We save your files first, then reinstall Windows cleanly, so you do not risk losing anything.
Windows won't start after an update. What now?
A bad update is a common cause of a computer that will not boot. Try System Restore from the recovery menu to roll back to before the update. If that does not work, bring it in. We roll back the update or repair the Windows installation and get you back in, with your files intact.
My computer starts but is really slow. Is that the same problem?
No, that is a different fix. A computer that starts fine but runs slowly usually needs more memory, a faster drive, or background cleanup, not a startup repair. See our slow computer repair guide for that. This page is for Windows that will not start or shows errors.
Do not panic over a "cannot repair automatically" screen, and do not risk a wrong button that erases your files. Our windows computer repair service fixes startup errors, blue screens, boot loops, and computers that will not start, on Windows 11, 10, 7, and Vista, and your files stay safe the whole time. We try the simple fixes first and tell you honestly what your computer needs. Call (703) 594-9339, request a quote, or contact us to bring it in for a free diagnosis today. 30-day warranty on every repair. Trusted by 443+ reviewers since 2013.
