How to Fix Error Code 0xc00000e?

  

Written By Amit Patra

Approved By Anuraag Singh  

Modified On February 19th, 2026

Reading Time 9 Minutes Reading

If your system suddenly stops booting and shows you error code 0xc00000e well it can be an alarming situation as many users think their hard drive is completely damaged or Windows is gone forever. But in reality this error is common in Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems and it is usually related to boot configuration or drive detection issues.

So if this is your case, well the good news is in most of the cases your data is still safe and this problem can be fixed easily with proper steps.

In this guide you will understand what this error actually means, why it happens and how to fix error code 0xc00000e using proven methods and without losing your data.

What to Do Based on Your Error Situation

Understanding Error Code 0xc00000e

This error code 0xc00000e is simply a Windows boot error that appears when your system cannot access the boot drive or boot configuration data (BCD). Simply put – Windows cannot find the files needed to start your system.

This problem is most commonly seen in:-

• Windows 10 systems
• Windows 11 devices
• SSD upgraded computers
• Systems after Windows updates
• Systems with corrupted boot files

The Windows error code 0xc00000e usually appears before Windows starts and which means you cannot access your desktop normally.

Common Error Messages Users See

When boot error 0xc00000e occurs users typically see messages like:-

• “Your PC needs to be repaired. Error code: 0xc00000e”
• “A required device isn’t connected or can’t be accessed”
• “The Boot Configuration Data file is missing”
• “Windows failed to start”

And these messages simply indicate to you that Windows cannot read boot information from the hard drive or SSD.

Main Causes of Error Code 0xc00000e

Understanding the main cause behind this error is important before we move to applying any fix.

1. Corrupted Boot Configuration Data (BCD): The BCD stores boot information that needed to start Windows and if this file becomes corrupted or deleted in such case Windows cannot boot.
2. Hard Drive Connection Issue: Sometimes a loose SATA cable, a faulty port or a problem with the external drive can also trigger this boot error. You can check some Common Hard Drive Error Messages that can ruin your files.
3. SSD or Cloning Problem: If you recently cloned your OS to a new SSD and if there is an incorrect boot partition or GPT/MBR mismatch well Windows error code 0xc00000e will occur.
4. BIOS or UEFI Misconfiguration: Wrong boot order or a disabled drive in BIOS can prevent the system detection.
5. Windows Update Failure: Sometimes incomplete updates corrupt boot files and cause boot configuration data error 0xc00000e.
6. Sudden Power Loss or System Crash: Well if there is an unexpected shutdown while system files were updating can damage your boot records.

Methods to Fix Error Code 0xc00000e Successfully

You can easily fix this error by following these 5 steps and you just need to implement each step correctly.

Step 1: Check Hardware and BIOS

You should start with basic fixes first as sometimes the issue is not software related however it is hardware related.

You Need to Check Physical Connections

• Remove all external USB drives
• Reconnect internal HDD/SSD
• Try different SATA port or cable

Now Enter BIOS/UEFI

You need to restart your system and press:

• F2
• F12
• DEL
• ESC

(Check which key works for your system it depends or brand your are using)

Now In BIOS:

• Ensure hard drive is detected
• Set correct boot drive
• Move OS drive to first boot priority

My Recent Observation and Findings

As an experienced professional i noticed many modern systems face:-

• NVMe SSD detection errors
• USB-C dock conflicts
• External boot interference

You can disconnect extra devices and restart your system again.

Step 2: Use Startup Repair

Startup Repair is one of the best and secured automatic methods to fix this error code 0xc00000e. Just check the following steps to see how you can fix this.

1. Insert Windows installation USB/DVD
2. Boot from installation media
3. Click Repair your computer
4. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options
5. Select Startup Repair

This tool will scan and fix all missing boot files automatically. That is why this is one of the safest ways to fix boot error Windows not starting without technical commands.

Step 3: Rebuild BCD Using Command Prompt

If you find that your startup repair completely fails now it’s time for you to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) manually. And for this you just need to open Command Prompt from recovery screen and run these commands one by one and press enter after each:-

A. Follow Standard Repair Commands

1. bootrec /fixmbr (Fixes the Master Boot Record)
2. bootrec /fixboot (Writes a new boot sector)
3. bootrec /scanos (Scans all disks for Windows installations)
4. bootrec /rebuildbcd (Rebuilds the boot configuration)

B. Fix the “Access is Denied” Error

If bootrec /fixboot fails with an Access Denied error it simply means your EFI (boot) partition is locked or may be corrupted you can use the BCDBoot tool instead as it is often more effective for Windows 10 and 11:

1. In the same Command Prompt and type: bcdedit /export c:\bcdbackup
2. Then, run this “force” command:

bcdboot\ C:\Windows\ /s\ S:\ /f\ ALL

Note:You need to replace C: with your Windows drive letter andS: with your boot partition letter if you have assigned one via Diskpart.

C. If the System Still Doesn’t See Windows

If you find that bootrec /rebuildbcd returns “Total identified Windows installations: 0” well this means your BCD store is missing its attributes. You need to run these three commands to “reset” the file so it can be rebuilt:

1. attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s
2. ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
3. bootrec /rebuildbcd

Once it is finished you can press exit and do you know what will happen after you run all these commands? Well this will:-

• Fix MBR (Master Boot Record)
• Repair boot sector
• Scan for Windows installations
• Rebuild boot configuration

This is the most effective method to rebuild BCD Windows and fix this boot configuration data error 0xc00000e successfully.

Step 4: Check Disk Errors

If your hard drive has bad sectors or corruption this method will work for you – you can open Command Prompt and run the following:

chkdsk C: /f /r

You need to replace C: with system actual drive.

Step 5: If Error Happened After SSD Upgrade or Cloning

Many users as I said face this error code 0xc00000e when they have recently installed a new SSD in their system. You can check below all common reasons:-

• GPT vs MBR mismatch
• Boot partition missing
• SSD not set as primary boot
• NVMe disabled in BIOS

You can fix this following these steps:-

• Set correct boot mode (UEFI/Legacy)
• Rebuild BCD
• Check EFI partition

This is very common in SSD not detected boot error scenarios.

What to Do When Manual Fixes Fail?

If above all fixes fail and Windows still won’t start in this situation the possible issues could be:-

• Hard drive corruption
• Partition damage
• Deleted system partition
• Failing SSD

In such a scenario you need to take a moment and focus first to recover important files instead of repeatedly attempting repairs. Many users attempt OS reinstallation without backup and as a result they lose valuable files permanently.

Recommended Professional Solution

So if your system contains important files and Windows won’t boot using SysTools professional solution for Data Recovery from Unbootable PC is highly recommended as using this tool you can easily:-

• Access unbootable systems
• Recover files from crashed Windows
• Extract data from HDD/SSD
• Recover from formatted or corrupte d partitions

And also this approach is very useful when:

• Error persists after fixes
• System shows blank screen
• Drive becomes inaccessible

So recovering data first ensures zero risk before you plan to reinstall Windows.

Final Verdict

Let me explain to you this error code 0xc00000e looks serious but it is usually fixable. In most situations as I explain how I handle the recent case where the problem is related to boot configuration not permanent data loss. With the right steps as suggested in this article you can fix the error and keep your data completely safe.