Let’s face it – any kind of Blue Screen of Death, also known as BSOD, error is always going to be a frustrating experience. Not only does this kind of error prevent you from properly booting your system, but it also hinders you from accessing your desktop and your files. If you encounter a BSOD like the 0xc00000e error during a workday, expect to allot a couple of hours (sometimes even a couple of days depending on the severity of the problem) to be able to properly fix the issue.
However, the most frustrating part is that most BSOD errors do not specify where the problem is stemming from. End-users would then have to determine where the problem is coming from and identify the appropriate fix. Luckily for you, we did the heavy lifting and compiled a couple of methods that can help fix the 0xc00000e BSOD error on Windows without having to reinstall Windows 10.
But first, what exactly is the error code 0xc00000e in Windows 10?
What is the error code 0xc00000e in Windows 10?
Put simply, the error code 0xc00000e in Windows 10 is a type of BSOD error that pertains to hardware failure or incorrect drive configuration. This type of Windows 10 error usually appears during startup and blocks your system from accessing the necessary system files during boot.
Why does the 0xc00000e error happen?
As mentioned above, this type of Windows error pops up when your system detects errors in your hardware devices or improperly configured drives. The 0xc00000e error code could also be caused by problems surrounding your system’s BCD or Boot Configuration Data. For those unfamiliar with the term, BCD is a boot mechanism built by Windows that contains boot configuration parameters to enable your Windows 10 computer to properly start and boot up. As you may have guessed, corruption within your BCD will result in startup errors.
7 proven methods to fix 0xc00000e BSoD error
While certainly tedious, the good news is that the 0xc00000e error code can be fixed. All it takes is a little bit of tech know-how and a lot of patience to get the job done. If you suddenly encounter this Windows error and you’re not sure how to deal with it, check out the possible fixes that we have compiled below.
Method #1: Check Physical Device Connections
Sometimes, a newly installed device or other hardware changes may bring about this kind of Windows system error. The first thing to do is to check your physical device connections. Before doing a deep dive into advanced troubleshooting methods to fix the 0xc00000e error code, make sure to first inspect external devices that you may have recently used and remove them if you think they are causing the issue. While this may be an unlikely cause, it’s still worth checking and would save you from the hassles of applying more tedious fixes.
Method #2: Run Windows Automatic Repair
The great thing about the Windows 10 operating system is that it has built-in tools that help users whenever they encounter a critical system error. One built-in tool that can help users fix issues like the 0xc00000e error is Windows Automatic Repair. Before you begin troubleshooting your system, first download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool using another device, and create a bootable flash disk or USB. Without it, this fix won’t be possible. Once you’ve downloaded Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, and created your bootable USB stick, follow the step-by-step process below:
- When your computer starts, make sure to boot from the Windows installation disc. (Either from a blank disc or a flash drive.)
- Your computer will boot from the disc or flash drive and you’ll see a Windows Setup window.
- From there, click Repair your computer.
- Next, click Troubleshoot.
- From there, click Advanced Options.
- And finally, click Startup Repair.
- After clicking Startup Repair, expect Windows to undergo an automatic repair process that may take a while to finish. It’s also important to wait until the process has been completed before turning off or unplugging your computer. Once the process is done, you may restart your computer and see if the 0xc00000e BSOD error has been fixed.
Method #3: Run CHKDSK
If the problem persists after trying automatic repair, then it might be worth checking if there are lingering disk errors in your system. The best course of action to take is to run check disk (or CHKDSK). Check disk enables users to verify the integrity of system files and fix file system errors that may be causing the 0xc00000e BSOD error. To do this, please follow the steps below:
- Just like Windows Startup Repair, you would have to boot your computer using the Windows installation disc.
- Your computer will boot from the disc or flash drive and you’ll see a Windows Setup window. Click Repair your computer at the bottom.
- Next, click Troubleshoot.
- From there, click Advanced Options.
- From the Advanced Options window, select Command Prompt.
- Once Command Prompt loads, type “chkdsk C: /r /f” and press Enter.
- You may need to restart your computer to run the disk check.
- After CHKDSK is done, expect to reboot your computer once more. Then check if the 0xc00000e error has been resolved.
Method #4: Rebuild Boot Configuration Data (BCD) in Windows 10
Once the CHKDSK process is done, it would be a great idea to rebuild your Boot Configuration Data (BCD) to ensure that the issue has been fixed. As previously mentioned, the Boot Configuration Data file is an important component of the boot process. In essence, it ensures that your computer is able to load and run your existing operating system. If you think the issue stems from a corrupt BCD file, it might be wise to rebuild it. Here’s how:
- Again, make sure to boot your computer using the Windows installation disc.
- Your computer will boot from the disc or flash drive and you’ll see a Windows Setup window – from there, click Repair your computer.
- After inputting the appropriate details, select Troubleshoot from the Choose an option screen.
- Click Advanced Options and then open Command Prompt.
- Once the Command Prompt opens, type “bootrec /rebuildbcd” and press Enter to execute the command.
- When an installation has been found, press “Y” to enable your computer to boot from the list and rebuild your system’s BCD.
Method #5: Reset the BIOS/UEFI Configuration
Together with the BCD, your Windows computer also relies on the correct configuration of your system’s BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface). In essence, these programs are used by your system after you turn on your computer. If you think your BIOS/UEFI is misconfigured, you can resolve these by resetting their settings. Here’s how:
- Restart your computer and wait for the manufacturer’s logo to show up.
- To access BIOS settings, press either F2, F12, ESC, DEL depending on your computer’s manufacturer.
- To navigate through the BIOS menu, use your arrow keys and find the option to reset your settings to its default or factory settings.
- Save and exit BIOS to apply the changes you have made.
- After exiting BIOS, expect your device to automatically restart.
Pro tip: If you’re unsure how to access your BIOS menu, check with your manufacturer. The exact key to press depends on the brand of computer you have.
Method #6: Replace the CMOS Battery
Replacing the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) battery is another troubleshooting method that you can use to fix error code 0xc00000e. CMOS is a battery attached directly to the motherboard and stores information about the BIOS configuration settings during startup. If your BIOS date and time are incorrectly set, then there might be a problem with your CMOS battery. Replacing the CMOS battery can be tricky, but here’s a high level step-by-step guide:
- Turn off your computer and disconnect it from the power source.
- Remove the laptop casing and locate the CMOS battery attached to the motherboard.
- Take note of the proper battery orientation before inserting the new battery.
- Reattach the casing.
- Plug in the power source and expect to set your BIOS time and date settings on the next startup.
Method #7: Reinstall Windows
If all else fails, you can always reinstall Windows 10. But before you try and reinstall your operating system, there are a few things you should consider:
- Backup your data or recover them using a third-party recovery software.
- Try accessing your data by removing your computer’s hard drive and backing it up using another computer. This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about losing your files.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! Those are just some of the methods that we have compiled to fix the 0xc00000e error code. When fixing this type of BSOD error, remember to identify the cause first before applying the appropriate fix. We hope this article helps you troubleshoot this annoying startup error. If you have other suggestions or troubleshooting methods that we forgot to mention, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below!
