The winload.exe error 0xc000000f can be fixed by following these steps: 1. Run Startup Repair using Windows installation media to fix boot issues automatically. 2. Rebuild the BCD using Command Prompt with bootrec commands; if unsuccessful, manually assign drive letters and run bcdboot C:\Windows /s B: /f UEFI for UEFI systems or bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /m for BIOS. 3. Run chkdsk C: /f /r in Command Prompt to repair file system errors and bad sectors. 4. Check BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure the boot drive is detected and set as first boot device, confirming correct boot mode (UEFI or Legacy). 5. Restore from a system image backup via System Image Recovery if available, which reverts the system to a functional state, resolving deep corruption without requiring a full Windows reinstallation.
The winload.exe error code 0xc000000f is a common Windows startup issue that typically occurs during the boot process. It means the system can't load the operating system because it can't find or properly read the winload.exe file — a critical bootloader component. This error often shows up with a message like:
"Status: 0xc000000f"
"Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible."
Here’s how to fix it step by step.
1. Run Startup Repair
This is the first and easiest step. Windows has built-in tools to fix boot problems.
Steps:
- Insert your Windows installation USB/DVD and boot from it.
- Choose your language preferences and click Next.
- Click "Repair your computer" (not Install).
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.
- Let the tool run. It may take several minutes and might restart the PC.
? Tip: If you have multiple operating systems, try running Startup Repair for each.
This often resolves corrupted boot configuration data (BCD) or missing references.
2. Rebuild the BCD (Boot Configuration Data)
If Startup Repair doesn’t work, the BCD might be damaged or misconfigured. You can fix this manually using Command Prompt.
Steps:
- Boot from the Windows installation media.
- Go to Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.
- Run these commands in order:
bootrec /scanos bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd
?? If
rebuildbcdsays "The requested system device cannot be found," proceed to step 4.
- If the above doesn’t work, manually recreate the BCD:
# First, identify the system and Windows drives diskpart list volume exit
Look for:
- A small (~100MB–500MB) System Reserved or EFI partition (usually FAT32).
- Your Windows partition (usually NTFS, larger, labeled with your OS).
Assuming:
- Windows is on
C: - EFI/boot partition is assigned
S:(if not, assign it)
# Assign a drive letter to the EFI partition if needed diskpart select volume S (replace S with your EFI partition) assign letter=B exit # Now rebuild BCD manually bcdboot C:\Windows /s B: /f UEFI
For legacy BIOS systems (not UEFI), use:
bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /m
Then reboot.
3. Check and Repair Disk Errors
Corrupted file systems or bad sectors can prevent winload.exe from loading.
In Command Prompt (from recovery media), run:
chkdsk C: /f /r
-
/ffixes errors. -
/rlocates bad sectors and recovers readable info.
? This may take a long time — be patient.
After it finishes, restart and see if the issue is resolved.
4. Ensure Correct Boot Order and Drive Detection
Sometimes the BIOS/UEFI doesn’t detect the correct boot drive.
Check:
- Enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup).
- Make sure your SSD/HDD with Windows is detected.
- Set the correct drive as the first boot device.
- Confirm boot mode matches your system: UEFI (recommended) or Legacy/CSM.
? If the drive isn’t showing up in BIOS, it could be a hardware failure.
5. Restore from a System Image (If Available)
If you have a recent system image backup:
- Boot from recovery media.
- Choose "Repair your computer" > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery.
- Follow the prompts to restore your system to a working state.
This is a last resort if file corruption is deep.
Summary
Most 0xc000000f errors come from:
- Corrupted BCD
- Missing or damaged
winload.exe - Drive not detected at boot
- File system errors
Quick Fix Flow:
- Try Startup Repair.
- Rebuild BCD using
bootrecandbcdboot. - Run
chkdskto fix disk errors. - Check BIOS and drive connections.
- Restore from backup if all else fails.
Fixing this error doesn’t require reinstalling Windows in most cases — just proper boot configuration.
Basically, get to the recovery environment and use the right commands.
The above is the detailed content of how to fix winload.exe error code 0xc000000f. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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