automatic repair on loop

This usually mean the HDD/SSD is failing or has failed and needs to be replaced.

You can try this, When running a command in the Command Prompt in the RE, you must first change the drive letter of the drive to the one with Windows on it, this may not be the C: drive.
At command prompt (x:\sources) Copy and Paste or type this exactly as written:
bcdedit |find “osdevice” (Must include ” and the |), the | before Find is the Upper case \ key) press enter. This will tell you what drive letter the OS is on. It may not be on the C: drive.
Now Type the drive letter of the Windows drive and press Enter (ie) C:

Then copy and paste or type
bootrec /rebuildbcd and press Enter. Try to start normally. If this fails, the drive needs to be replaced.

Is this a laptop or desktop PC? If a laptop then remove the battery for a few minutes. If a desktop then do a full power off restart by turning off the PC at the mains switch. I would also replace the CMOS battery and load the BIOS defaults.

wiliamvw said:

automatic repair on loop

William,

Boot from a Windows installation disk or Macrium boot disk.
- The act of booting from it might then allow your normal boots to work again even without taking any particular action.
- Then, if necessary, try the Startup repair function on the Windows installation disk*** or Macrium boot disk+++ [if you have the choice then note that many Macrium users have posted that its Startup repair is much more effective than Windows'].
*** For the Windows installation disk, boot to the screen that asks you to choose region etc then, at the main 'Install' screen click on the link for 'Repair the computer' instead. The menus & procedure for the rest of the procedure are the same as Startup Repair - TenForumsTutorials
+++ Macrium Reflect Boot disk - Fix Boot Problems

And, yes, if all else fails you will be able to rescue your own files as long as you can boot from one of these disks. If you cannot boot from them then please post a photo of the boot menu and explain what happens & does not happen when you try to select the appropriate option.
How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files - TenForumsTutorials
Sorting out this boot problem should be easier than taking out the computer's internal disk, fitting it in a USB enclosure then copying off your own files onto another computer.

Best of luck,
Denis

---

Welcome to TenForums.

It's really worth making time to browse through the Tutorial index - there's a shortcut to it at the top of every page.

- At the foot of the Tutorial index is a shortcut to download it as a spreadsheet.
- I download a new copy each month.
- By downloading it as a spreadsheet I can benefit from Excel's excellent filtering capabilities when I search for topics of interest.

- Tutorials are also listed by category at Tutorials - there's also a shortcut to that at the top of every page.
- Both tutorial lists are searchable.
- You can also search for TenForumsTutorials in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com/tutorials after your search term. For example,
taskbar toolbars site:tenforums.com/tutorials

You can search TenForums using the search box in the top-right corner of all TenForums webpages or using Advanced Search - TenForums
- You can also search TenForums threads in many general search engines, such as Google, by adding site:tenforums.com after your search term. For example,
Search for drivers by HardwareID site:tenforums.com
- [This is what the search box in the top-right corner of TenForums webpages does automatically]

wiliamvw said:

Tried several 'Repair Disks' on sale

You do not need to buy anything.
Use your wife's computer to make a Windows 10 installation USB or a Macrium boot USB - post #4

I have not heard anything about Windows 10 'Repair Disks' on sale.
I did hear complaints about Windows 7 'Repair Disks' on sale - they were apparently not what they seemed and had none of the repair capabilities of the proper Installation USB.


Denis

William,

wiliamvw said:

Problem is that since that unrequested 'update' that fouled -up everything, I now have no ability to use any USB -- just doesn't recognize it when attached.

Including from your boot menu?
Are you still unable to start Windows?

wiliamvw said:

Will the downloaded data burn to disk and will it work as well?

Not if cannot see any USB in the first place.

Denis