Current Status
Dave bought a custom or gaming-style PC that appears to have multiple BIOS profiles configured by the prior builder. His original concern was that the case fans and CPU liquid cooler fans were running too slowly, and he wanted help simplifying the BIOS setup down to one usable configuration.
After going into the BIOS to adjust CPU fan speed, Dave reported that the PC would no longer boot normally. It became stuck for hours on a Windows screen that says “Preparing Automatic Repair.”
Timeline So Far
Dave posted that the PC had “like 4 profiles in the BIOS,” each doing something different. He also said the case fans and CPU liquid cooler fans were running slow.
Emilio gave technically solid BIOS advice for the original problem: load optimized defaults, overwrite old BIOS profile slots if direct deletion is not supported, and use CMOS reset as a deeper factory-reset method if needed.
Dave later clarified that he went into BIOS, clicked something wrong while trying to increase CPU fan speed, and the PC became stuck on the Windows “Preparing Automatic Repair” screen.
The focus shifted from cleaning up BIOS profiles to recovering a non-booting Windows system that may have been affected by an accidental BIOS setting change.
What the Screen Suggests
The screen is encouraging in one important way: the machine appears to be getting past the motherboard startup process and reaching Windows Boot Manager. That means this does not immediately look like a dead motherboard.
However, Windows is not completing startup. It is attempting Automatic Repair and hanging there. Given the timing, the likely cause is a BIOS setting that was changed accidentally.
Most Likely Explanation
Fan settings alone usually do not prevent Windows from booting. That suggests Dave may have changed something near or related to fan controls, such as:
- A motherboard performance profile
- A CPU tuning or overclocking setting
- A memory/XMP/EXPO profile
- A boot mode setting such as UEFI/CSM
- A storage/controller setting
The working theory is: the hardware is probably OK, but the BIOS configuration may now be inconsistent with how Windows was installed or how the PC hardware is stable.
Recommended First Recovery Step
The safest first step is to try to get back into BIOS and load the motherboard’s default settings.
- Hold the power button for about 10 seconds until the PC turns completely off.
- Turn it back on and immediately start tapping the Delete key repeatedly. On some systems, use F2.
- If BIOS opens, look for Load Optimized Defaults or Load Setup Defaults.
- Save changes and reboot.
The purpose of these steps is to interrupt the failed boot process, get into BIOS, reset the motherboard to factory/default configuration, save, and reboot.
What Not to Do Yet
It is probably too soon to reinstall Windows. Reinstalling the OS should be a later step, not the first step, because the problem appeared immediately after a BIOS change.
It is also best not to have Dave start editing BIOS profile slots or making more custom fan changes until the PC is booting normally again.
Next Information Needed From Dave
The next useful response from Dave would be one of these:
- “I got into BIOS.”
- “I got into BIOS but don’t know what to choose.”
- “I cannot get into BIOS.”
- A photo of the BIOS screen.
- The motherboard brand/model: ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, ASRock, etc.
- The exact setting he changed before the problem started.
If He Cannot Get Into BIOS
The next escalation would be a CMOS reset, which resets the motherboard settings at the hardware level. That can be done with a motherboard button, jumper pins, or by removing the coin-cell battery, depending on the motherboard.
This should be done carefully, preferably with someone who knows gaming PCs or with the motherboard manual in hand.