I was addressed by a recovery error message the other day when I turn on my PC and running Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. The recovery screen revealed that “Your PC/Device needs to be repaired. The Boot Configuration Data file is missing or contains errors. Read here, How to Fix a Boot BCD Error Window 10?
The PC turns off properly the day before and the whole thing was inexplicable. The Recovery screen suggested to use recovery tools or contact a PC administrator or the PC/Device manufacturer for support.
Read on to find out how you can do it as well.
Boot troubles associated to the BCD may come in many different forms. Here is a list of error messages that Windows may show during boot:
- Windows failed to start. A modern hardware or software change might be the cause.
- Your computer needs repair. The boot configuration data file does not contain valid information for the operating system.
- Problem with a equipment or device connected to your PC. An unanticipated I/O error has occurred.
- Your PC needs to be repaired. The BCD for your PC is missing or consists of errors.
Causes of BCD related errors:
- Failing hard drives.
- BCD file corruption or misconfiguration.
- Malicious software.
- An unexpected shutdown.
- Blue screen or other errors that require a restart.
- Data corruption.
What is BCD?
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) was originated in Windows by Microsoft. It substituted the boot.ini file in Windows. The BCD holds essential boot-associated information including the list of the available operating systems.
In short, it stores key boot information which is required to start Windows. If the BCD is missing or corrupt, Windows may not start up properly but it displays the recovery screen at the top.
Fixing BCD issues if you can’t boot
- You cannot use Visual BCD Editor to change the problem on the impacted machine, because you cannot boot into Windows.
- In general, it is necessary that you boot into Advanced Startup (Windows 10) and run many commands at the command prompt.
- If you have a Windows installation media, you can use it from boot and access recovery options.
Steps
Insert the installation media into the PC. Connect a USB flash drive to a computer or insert the DVD into a DVD drive.
Learn how to access the machine BIOS / UEFI. It should be displayed during boot Normal key is F1, F12 or DEL.
Change the boot sequence so that the computer boots from a USB or DVD drive, before it is booted from the internal hard drive.Click next on the first screen of setup. Click the screen to highlight the installation language and keyboard.Select the option Repair your computer on the next screen.
- When the “choose an option” menu opens, select Troubleshoot.
- Choose Advanced options.
- Choose Command Prompt. This opens a command prompt interface.
Run the following commands one after the other:
- bootrec /fixmbr— This option writes an MBR in the system partition, but does not overwrite the system partition in this process, it resolves issues with MBR corruption and non-standard MBR code.
- bootrec /fixboot— This option writes a new boot sector in the system partition. Problems due to fixes due to the installation of damaged boot sectors, non-standard boot sectors and earlier Windows operating systems (pre-Vista) Can overlook any errors that may come up.
- bootrec /rebuildbcd— This option scans all connected hard drives for Windows installation. If it gets an additional installation, it inspires you to add them to the BCD Store. Windows should choose the installed operating system, make sure that you add it to the BCD Store, select (A) for everyone during the prompts, or add the installation individually instead.
Exit command prompt window.
Restart the PC to find out if the repair was successful.