Windows – \Boot\ BCD Status: 0xc000000f error

bcdinstallationwindows 7windows-installation

I am getting the following message whenever I start my laptop:

Windows Boot Manager  

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.  
To fix the problem:

  1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer. 
  2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
  3. Click "repair your computer."

If you don't have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer
manufacturer for assistance. 

  File: \Boot\BCD

  Status: 0xc000000f

I have googled about the error, and from the message it looks like I need to boot my laptop from the Windows installation disc.

My laptop has Windows 7 Professional SP1 x86 installed, but when I try to insert Windows 7 Professional x86 I get the same error. Do I require an SP1 disc? I did setup CD/DVD drive as first in the boot order, but I still got the same error.

Also what other options should I try to get to the Windows 7 System Repair Screen, so that I can repair/rebuild the BCD file?

Best Answer

It sounds like your Windows 7 disc is broke and you should try to create a new one.

Creating a bootable USB

If you have good internet connection, then you can download your windows 7 version here (you still need a legit key ofcourse).
Then you can use Microsoft own tool to make a bootable windows 7 USB.

  • Start up Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool when you have downloaded and installed it
  • Select the iso file you downloaded in the Source field and click Next
  • Insert your USB drive which you want to use (4GB is enough)
  • Select USB DEVICE and click Next
  • Select the USB device you want to use and click BEGIN COPYING

When it is done, you should have a working bootable Windows 7 USB

The same steps are used for creating a DVD, just select DVD instead of USB device.

BCD Repair

Windows already have a tool for this purpose, called BCDboot.

If the system partition has been corrupted, you can use BCDboot to replace the system partition files with new copies of these files from the Windows partition.

When you have booted to the Windows disc, then go to the command prompt (see here) and type the following to recreate the BCD on the C drive:

  1. attrib -r -s -h c:\boot\bcd - unhide BCD so it can be deleted
  2. del c:\boot\bcd - delete the current BCD
  3. bcdboot C:\windows - create a new BCD on the C drive

From here you should be able to boot into Windows again.

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