16 Ultimate Fixes to Windows Stuck on Repairing Disk Errors

It’s common for Windows to check or repair disk errors when booting. Typically, it takes from a few minutes to hours. But if you’re seeing that your Windows is stuck for many hours on the boot screen with the message ‘Repairing disk errors, this might take an hour to complete’, you will be worried. Follow below to find the troubleshooting tips you need to solve this problem.

Solutions to Stuck on Repairing Disk Errors This Might Take an Hour

Implement these solutions one by one. If in a hurry, try solutions 2 and 3.

1. Leave it Running for a Few Hours or Overnight
2. Remove All External Devices
3. Startup Repair/Automatic Repair
4. Boot in Safe Mode
5. Fix Disk Errors with the Check Disk Command Using Command Prompt
6. Try the Rebuild BCD command Using Command Prompt
7. Repair PC Registry/SFC Scan Using Command Prompt
8. Set Hard Drive at the Top of the Computer’s Boot Order
9. Try the Repair-Volume Command Using PowerShell
10. Perform System Restore
11. Roll Back to Windows 10/8.1/7
12. Use Microsoft Troubleshooter
13. Reset Your PC
14. Refresh Your PC
15. Install Fresh Windows
16. Replace the Hard Disk

Solution 1: Leave it Running for a Few Hours or Overnight

In some cases, the easiest solution to the ‘repairing disk errors’ issue is to keep it running so it can fix the problem on its own. This function checks and repairs your hard drive so it’s actually good for your PC and you should let it complete its progress.

You can leave it running for a few hours or leave it overnight. Moreover, don’t forget to plug-in the charger if it’s a laptop. If the problem persists the next morning, move to the next solution.

Solution 2: Remove All External Devices

The culprit of your Windows being stuck on repairing the hard disk error could be an external device that you installed recently. An incompatible or incorrectly installed device can produce problems for your system. Remove all the external devices such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, scanner, external hard drive, USB, DVD, and others. Now restart your PC and check if it boots correctly.

Solution 3: Startup Repair/Automatic Repair

You can let Windows perform startup repair and fix the issue automatically. This is the recommended method to perform when facing any boot problems on your Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and Windows 11 laptops. For this, you need to access Windows Advanced Recovery options.

How To Access Advanced Recovery Options?

There are two methods of getting to the Advanced Recovery menu:

Your first option is to access Windows Advanced Recovery Options by performing force shutdown multiple times

In this technique, we will force power off your computer twice to get to the Windows Recovery menu.

1. Turn on your PC and wait for the Windows logo.
2. When the logo appears, press the power button for 10 seconds to turn off the PC.
3. Perform the above two steps again.
4. Now turn on the computer and it will take you to the Windows Recovery options.

2. Access Windows Advanced Recovery Options Using a Bootable Windows Installation DVD or USB

A bootable Windows installation USB or DVD lets you install Windows. Moreover, it also lets you reinstall and repair your Windows. Learn how to create a Windows 10 and 11 bootable USB. After creating the bootable USB, follow these steps to access the Advanced Recovery menu.

1. Insert the Windows bootable USB and turn on your computer.
2. Press F12 or the boot menu option key your computer’s manufacturer has designated.
3. Select ‘Removable Devices’ or ‘Bootable USB’ from the boot menu for USB. Select DVD-ROM if you’re using a DVD.
4. On the Windows setup screen, select your language and click ‘Next’.
5. Now click ‘Repair your computer’. It will take you to the Windows Advanced Recovery menu.

Perform Startup Repair To Fix ‘Repairing Disk Error’ Problem

Now that you know how to reach the Advanced Recovery menu, we will perform Automatic Repair.

1. On the ‘Choose an Option’ menu, click ‘Troubleshoot’.
2. Go to ‘Advanced Options’.
3. Click ‘Startup Repair’.
4. Select your administrator account and then enter your password if asked.
5. Wait as Windows repairs startup problems.
6. Restart when the repair is done.

Solution 4: Boot in Safe Mode to Fix Repairing Disk Errors This Might Take an Hour Black Screen

Safe Mode is Windows diagnostic mode that lets you log on to Windows with only essential programs. It’s used for troubleshooting problems. Logging in from Safe Mode can sometimes solve the disk problem. So, we will boot with Safe Mode once, after successful booting, we will turn off the PC and boot normally.

Apart from that, we need Safe Mode to boot into Windows and perform checks and repairs to fix the ‘repairing disk errors this might take over an hour’ message. This knowledge will be helpful in the later solutions mentioned in this guide.

How To Boot in Safe Mode on Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11?

There are simpler ways to boot in safe mode for users who can login. But as your Windows is stuck on Repairing disk errors this might take an hour Windows 10. This might take an hour to complete’ error, we have two methods to boot in safe that don’t require you to sign in to Windows.

1. Boot in Safe Mode with the Power Button

1. Turn on your PC. When you see the Windows logo, turn it off.
2. Do the above step again.
3. Turn on the computer and it will take you to the Advanced Recovery menu
4. Now select ‘Troubleshoot’.
5. Click ‘Advanced Options’.
6. Select ‘Startup Settings’.
7. You will see boot settings and a restart option. Click ‘Restart’.
8. After restart, there will be a boot menu. Pressing F4, F5, or F6 will take you to Safe Mode. Press F5.

2. Boot in Safe Mode with Windows Installation Media

1. Insert your Windows bootable USB and press any key to boot with it.
2. Click ‘Next’ and on the install menu, click ‘Repair your computer’ at the bottom.
3. Now click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
4. After restart, press F4, F5, or F6 to boot in Safe Mode. We recommend F5.

Solution 5: Fix Disk Errors with the Check Disk Command Using Command Prompt

Running the Check Disk (CHKDSK) command using your computer’s command prompt can solve the problem if the hard drive is causing the repairing disk error, for example; bad sectors in the hard drive. CHKDSK command scans and repairs bad sectors and logical file systems on your hard disk (HDD or SSD).

As you can’t login to your Windows, access the Advanced Recovery options using the method in Solution 3. Once in the Advanced recovery menu, follow these steps:

1. Click ‘Troubleshoot’.
2. Then click ‘Advanced Options’.
3. Select ‘Command Prompt’. It will prompt for your account password. Enter it.
4. Type Chkdsk C: /f /r /x. Here C is the system disk where your Windows is installed. If it’s any other drive, replace C with that drive’s letter.
5. It will ask to run the command on the next boot. Type ‘Y’ and hit enter.
6. Restart your PC.

Upon restart, the PC will check for disk errors and will fix them.

Solution 6: Try the Rebuild BCD command Using Command Prompt

In case the check disk command couldn’t repair the issue, try the Rebuild BCD command. BCD means Boot Configuration Data and Windows can’t boot if this data is corrupted. Access command prompt without booting your computer with Solution 5, and then type these commands:

1. Type or copy-paste bootrec /FixMbr and hit enter.
2. Type bootrec /FixBoot and press enter.
3. Type bootrec /ScanOs and hit enter.
4. Type bootrec /RebuildBcd and press enter.

Restart your computer and check if it fixed the problem.

Solution 7: Repair PC Registry/SFC Scan Using Command Prompt

If the issue is with your Windows Registry files, run an SFC Scan. It scans and repairs corrupted PC registry files.

1. Go to the Advanced Recovery options using the methods in Solution 3.
2. When you see the blue screen, click ‘Troubleshoot.
3. Select ‘Advanced Options’.
4. Click ‘Command Prompt’. Type your password if prompted.
5. On the command prompt, type sfc /scannow and enter.
6. Wait for it to repair corrupted files and restart your PC.

Solution 8: Set Hard Drive at the Top of the Computer’s Boot Order

The issue ‘repairing disk errors this might take over an hour’ could be due to the boot order of your computer’s devices. Set the system disk at the top of the boot order.

1. Turn on your computer and press F2 or any key specified by your PC’s brand to enter setup.
2. When in setup, go to the ‘Boot’ menu.
3. Select ‘Boot Order’.
4. Move up your Hard drive to the top.
5. Save and exit from setup and restart your PC.

Solution 9: Try the Repair-Volume Command Using PowerShell

Another method of fixing hard disk volume is by using the repair-volume command on PowerShell. For this, you need to sign in to your Windows. You may not be able to do this due to the ‘Repairing disk errors this might take an hour’ problem. So, the other option is to boot in Safe Mode and use PowerShell. 

See Solution 4 to learn how to boot in Safe Mode. If you can’t, move to another solution. If you can, follow these steps when you’re in Safe Mode.

1. Press CTRL + S key and then type PowerShell.
2. Click ‘Run as Administrator’ below the PowerShell app.
3. Now we will scan the hard drive for errors. Enter this command: Repair-Volume C –Scan and press enter (C is the drive where your Windows is installed).
4. After this, type this command: Repair-Volume C –OfflineScanAndFix and hit enter.

It will scan and repair hard drive problems. Restart your PC when it’s completed.

Solution 10: Perform System Restore to Fix Repairing Disk Errors This Might Take an Hour Loop

System Restore saves the state of your computer at regular intervals. It is useful to reverse changes and bring your PC back to a previous state if a problem occurs. So, if System Restore is set up on your Windows, you can set your PC to a state when the ‘repairing disk error’ problem didn’t occur.

To check if you have a system restore point(s) set and restore your computer to it, perform these steps: (This won’t affect your personal files and data. Only recently installed apps and drivers will be uninstalled.)

1. Access Advanced Recovery options by using the methods in Solution 3:
2. Click ‘Troubleshoot’.
3. Select ‘Advanced Options’.
4. Click ‘System Restore’.
5. Enter your account password.
6. System Restore window will appear. Click ‘Next’
7. Select a system restore point and click ‘Next’.
8. Select ‘Finish’ and then click ‘Yes’.
9. When it’s done restart your computer

If it doesn’t solve the problem. Go to System Restore again and choose an earlier system restore point.

Solution 11: Roll Back to Windows 10/8.1/7

This option may not be available for everybody. If you can change boot mode to Safe Mode, try these steps:

1. Go to Settings by pressing Windows Key + I.
2. Select ‘Updates & Security’.
3. Click ‘Recovery’ from the sidebar.
4. Select ‘Reset this PC’.

This option usually resets the PC, but if you see a rollback option, use it.

Solution 12: Use Microsoft Troubleshooter for Dell Repairing Disk Errors This Might Take an Hour

In Older days, Microsoft encouraged users to use a Hotfix tool to solve Windows problems. Now it recommends using the Microsoft Troubleshooter. It works if you can boot in Safe Mode. See Solution 4 for how to boot in Safe Mode.

1. Once in Safe Mode, make sure you’re connected to the internet.
2. Press Windows Key + I.
3. Select ‘Updates & Security’.
4. Click ‘Troubleshoot’ and follow the instructions.

Solution 13: Reset Your PC 

You can reset your PC and fix the disk error at the boot screen. It will reset the settings and configuration to their default. There are two options for resetting your PC:

1. The ‘Keep My Files’ Option

This option resets Windows system programs but keeps all of your personal files and data like your apps and settings.

1. Access the Advanced Recovery menu by following the instructions in Solution 3.
2. Then click ‘Troubleshoot’.
3. Select ‘Reset this PC’.
4. Enter admin password.
5. Select the option ‘Keep my files’.

It’s recommended to use this option. If this doesn’t fix the repairing disk error, then move to the below option.

2. The ‘Remove Everything’ Option

This option not only resets Windows apps and settings but also deletes all of your installed apps and settings. It’s similar to a factory data reset.

To perform this, do the same steps as above except in the step 5, select the option ‘Remove everything’.

Solution 14: Refresh Your PC

Some Windows versions show the ‘Refresh this PC’ option alongside ‘Reset this PC’. This option is identical to the ‘Keep My Files’ option in ‘Reset this PC’. It will reset Windows system apps but keep your personal files.

Solution 15: Install Fresh Windows

If all the above fixes have failed, consider installing fresh Windows. You will lose your installed apps and data on the drive where Windows is installed.

1. Insert Windows installation media and press any key when prompted.
2. Select your language and click ‘Next’.
3. Click ‘Install Now’.
4. Enter the Activation Key if prompted.
5. Click ‘Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)’.
6. Select the disk to install Windows and click ‘Next’.

Your PC will reboot multiple times during Windows installation.

Solution 16: Replace the Hard Disk

If you installed a new Windows and the problem persists or if the CHKDSK command in solution 5 couldn’t repair errors, the hard disk needs to be repaired or replaced. Take it to a computer repair shop.

Conclusion

When you see that Windows is stuck on ‘Repairing disk errors, this might take an hour to complete’, let it run overnight. If that doesn’t solve the issue, apply the solutions explained above.

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