Inaccessible boot device: [Solved] Inaccessible Boot Device Issue in Windows 10

1 апреля, 2023

Stop error 7B or Inaccessible_Boot_Device troubleshooting — Windows Client


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  • 8 minutes to read


This article provides steps to troubleshoot «Stop error 7B: Inaccessible_Boot_Device». This error might occur after some changes are made to the computer, or immediately after you deploy Windows on the computer.

Applies to:   Windows 10

Causes of the Inaccessible_Boot_Device stop error

Any one of the following factors might cause the stop error:

  • Missing, corrupted, or misbehaving filter drivers that are related to the storage stack
  • File system corruption
  • Changes to the storage controller mode or settings in the BIOS
  • Using a different storage controller than the one that was used when Windows was installed
  • Moving the hard disk to a different computer that has a different controller
  • A faulty motherboard or storage controller, or faulty hardware
  • In unusual cases, the failure of the TrustedInstaller service to commit newly installed updates is because of component-based store corruptions
  • Corrupted files in the Boot partition (for example, corruption in the volume that’s labeled SYSTEM when you run the diskpart > list vol command)
  • If there’s a blank GPT entry before the entry of the Boot partition

Troubleshoot this error

Start the computer in Windows Recovery Mode (WinRE) by following these steps.

  1. Start the system by using the installation media for the installed version of Windows.
  2. On the Install Windows screen, select Next > Repair your computer.
  3. On the System Recovery Options screen, select Next > Command Prompt.

Verify that the boot disk is connected and accessible

Step 1

At the WinRE Command prompt, run diskpart, and then run list disk.

A list of the physical disks that are attached to the computer should be displayed and resemble the following display:

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online         **size*  GB      0 B        *

If the computer uses a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) startup interface, there will be an asterisk () in the *GPT column.

If the computer uses a basic input/output system (BIOS) interface, there won’t be an asterisk in the Dyn column.

Step 2

If the list disk command lists the OS disks correctly, run the list vol command in diskpart.

list vol generates an output that resembles the following display:

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0         Windows RE   NTFS   Partition    499 MB  Healthy
  Volume 1     C   OSDisk       NTFS   Partition    222 GB  Healthy    Boot
  Volume 2         SYSTEM       FAT32  Partition    499 MB  Healthy    System

Note

If the disk that contains the OS isn’t listed in the output, you’ll have to engage the OEM or virtualization manufacturer.

Verify the integrity of Boot Configuration Database

Check whether the Boot Configuration Database (BCD) has all the correct entries. To do this step, run bcdedit at the WinRE command prompt.

To verify the BCD entries:

  1. Examine the Windows Boot Manager section that has the {bootmgr} identifier. Make sure that the device and path entries point to the correct device and boot loader file.

    If the computer is UEFI-based, here’s example output:

    device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path                    \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi

    If the machine is BIOS-based, here’s example output:

    Device                partition=C:

    Note

    This output might not contain a path.

  2. In the Windows Boot Loader that has the {default} identifier, make sure that device, path, osdevice, and systemroot point to the correct device or partition, winload file, OS partition or device, and OS folder.

    Note

    If the computer is UEFI-based, the file path value that’s specified in the path parameter of {bootmgr} and {default} contains an .efi extension.

If any of the information is wrong or missing, we recommend that you create a backup of the BCD store. To do this, run bcdedit /export C:\temp\bcdbackup. This command creates a backup in C:\temp\ that’s named bcdbackup. To restore the backup, run bcdedit /import C:\temp\bcdbackup. This command overwrites all BCD settings by using the settings in bcdbackup.

After the backup completes, run the following command to make the changes:

bcdedit /set *{identifier}* option value

For example, if the device under {default} is wrong or missing, run this command to set it: bcdedit /set {default} device partition=C:

If you want to completely re-create the BCD, or if you get a message that states that «The boot configuration data store could not be opened. The system could not find the file specified, » run bootrec /rebuildbcd.

If the BCD has the correct entries, check whether the winload and bootmgr entries exist in the correct location, which is in the specified path in the bcdedit command. By default, bootmgr in the BIOS partition is in the root of the SYSTEM partition. To see the file, run Attrib -s -h -r.

If the files are missing, and you want to rebuild the boot files, follow these steps:

  1. Copy all the contents under the SYSTEM partition to another location. Alternatively, you can use the command prompt to navigate to the OS drive, create a new folder, and then copy all the files and folders from the SYSTEM volume, like shown here:

    D:\> Mkdir  BootBackup
R:\> Copy *.* D:\BootBackup

  2. If you’re using Windows 10, or if you’re troubleshooting by using a Windows 10 ISO at the Windows Pre-Installation Environment command prompt, you can use the bcdboot command to re-create the boot files, like shown here:

    Bcdboot <**OSDrive* >:\windows /s <**SYSTEMdrive* >: /f ALL

    For example, if we assign the <System Drive> (WinRE drive) the letter R and the <OSdrive> is the letter D, we would use the following command:

    Bcdboot D:\windows /s R: /f ALL

    Note

    The ALL part of the bcdboot command writes all the boot files (both UEFI and BIOS) to their respective locations.

If you don’t have a Windows 10 ISO, format the partition and copy bootmgr from another working computer that has a similar Windows build. To do the formatting and copying, follow these steps:

  1. Start Notepad.
  2. Press Ctrl+O.
  3. Navigate to the system partition (in this example, it’s R).
  4. Right-click the partition, and then format it.

Troubleshooting if this issue occurs after a Windows Update installation

Run the following command to verify the Windows update installation and dates:

Dism /Image:<Specify the OS drive>: /Get-packages

After you run this command, you’ll see the Install pending and Uninstall Pending packages:

  1. Run the dism /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RevertPendingActions command. Replace C: with the system partition for your computer.

  2. Navigate to OSdriveLetter:\Windows\WinSxS, and then check whether the pending. xml file exists. If it does, rename it to pending.xml.old.

  3. To revert the registry changes, type regedit at the command prompt to open Registry Editor.

  4. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and then go to File > Load Hive.

  5. Navigate to OSdriveLetter:\Windows\System32\config, select the file that’s named COMPONENT (with no extension), and then select Open. When you’re prompted, enter the name OfflineComponentHive for the new hive.

  6. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineComponentHive, and check whether the PendingXmlIdentifier key exists. Create a backup of the OfflineComponentHive key, and then delete the PendingXmlIdentifier key.

  7. Unload the hive. To do this unloading, highlight OfflineComponentHive, and then select File > Unload hive.

  8. Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, go to File > Load Hive, navigate to OSdriveLetter:\Windows\System32\config, select the file that’s named SYSTEM (with no extension), and then select Open. When you’re prompted, enter the name OfflineSystemHive for the new hive.

  9. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineSystemHive, and then select the Select key. Check the data for the Default value.

  10. If the data in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineSystemHive\Select\Default is 1, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineHive\ControlSet001. If it’s 2, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineHive\ControlSet002, and so on.

  11. Expand Control\Session Manager. Check whether the PendingFileRenameOperations key exists. If it does, back up the SessionManager key, and then delete the PendingFileRenameOperations key.

Verifying boot critical drivers and services

Check services

  1. Follow steps 1-10 in the «Troubleshooting if this issue occurs after a Windows Update installation» section. (Step 11 doesn’t apply to this procedure.)

  2. Expand Services.

  3. Make sure that the following registry keys exist under Services:

    • ACPI
    • DISK
    • VOLMGR
    • PARTMGR
    • VOLSNAP
    • VOLUME

    If these keys exist, check each one to make sure that it has a value that’s named Start, and that it’s set to 0. If it’s not, set the value to 0.

    If any of these keys don’t exist, you can try to replace the current registry hive by using the hive from RegBack. To do this step, run the following commands:

    cd OSdrive:\Windows\System32\config
ren SYSTEM SYSTEM. old
copy OSdrive:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM OSdrive:\Windows\System32\config\
Check upper and lower filter drivers

Check whether there are any non-Microsoft upper and lower filter drivers on the computer and that they don’t exist on another, similar working computer. If they do exist, remove the upper and lower filter drivers:

  1. Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\OfflineHive\ControlSet001\Control.

  2. Look for any UpperFilters or LowerFilters entries.

    Note

    These filters are mainly related to storage. After you expand the Control key in the registry, you can search for UpperFilters and LowerFilters.

    You might find these filter drivers in some of the following registry entries. These entries are under ControlSet and are designated as Default:

    • \Control\Class\{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
    • \Control\Class\{4D36E967-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
    • \Control\Class\{4D36E97B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
    • \Control\Class\{71A27CDD-812A-11D0-BEC7-08002BE2092F}

    If an UpperFilters or LowerFilters entry is non-standard (for example, it’s not a Windows default filter driver, such as PartMgr), remove the entry. To remove it, double-click it in the right pane, and then delete only that value.

    Note

    There could be multiple entries.

    These entries might affect us because there might be an entry in the Services branch that has a START type set to 0 or 1, which means that it’s loaded at the Boot or Automatic part of the boot process. Also, either the file that’s referred to is missing or corrupted, or it might be named differently than what’s listed in the entry.

    Note

    If there’s a service that’s set to 0 or 1 that corresponds to an UpperFilters or LowerFilters entry, setting the service to disabled in the Services registry (as discussed in steps 2 and 3 of the Check services section) without removing the Filter Driver entry causes the computer to crash and generate a 0x7b Stop error.

Running SFC and Chkdsk

If the computer still doesn’t start, you can try to run a chkdisk process on the system drive, and then also run System File Checker. Do these steps by running the following commands at a WinRE command prompt:

How To Fix an Inaccessible Boot Device on Windows 10/11

Inaccessible Boot Device error on Windows 10 or 11 is a “blue screen of death” (BSOD) error that stops Windows from booting properly. Sometimes, it won’t let you boot into Windows at all, which can be a little bit unnerving. 

However, fixing an Inaccessible Boot Device error isn’t all that difficult once you know what caused it. It’s typically, though not always, the result of changing something in your system. But what exactly does Windows mean when it says the boot device isn’t accessible?

Table of Contents

    What Does the Inaccessible Boot Device Error (Code 0x0000007b) Mean?

    The Inaccessible Boot Device error means that Windows failed to access the system partition (i.e., your hard disk) while starting the system. These errors are more common on PCs that have an SSD, and can be caused by several things. 

    For instance, tinkering with your BIOS settings, outdated or corrupt drivers, a faulty hard disk, or simply updating Windows can cause the error, among other things.  

    You can try a couple of easy fixes. This is even easier if you remember changing some (software or hardware) settings. If you don’t recollect changing anything, we’ll give you the fixes in the order you should try them. 

    However, before you start, you should know that you need to access Windows for some of these fixes. If you can’t access Windows at all, try to boot into Safe Mode. In fact, sometimes just booting into Safe Mode and then restarting the PC again sometimes fixes the issue. So give that a try first.

    Switch to AHCI in BIOS

    If you’ve been spending some time playing around with the BIOS or if you’ve updated your BIOS recently, this is the fix you’d want to try first. The BIOS allows you to choose a mode for SATA drives. If you’ve chosen a mode other than AHCI, you’ll need to fix this.

    Start by going into your BIOS. The interface of the BIOS will differ based on your manufacturer. So, you’ll need to look around a little. The general steps, though, are more or less the same.  

    Look for Storage Configuration > SATA Configuration/SATA Emulation or something similar in the BIOS. If you can’t find these on your BIOS, you’ll need to do some digging and look for the term “AHCI.” Enable ACHI for your SATA controller (or change SATA mode to AHCI), which should fix the problem.

    Remove Recently Installed Update Packages

    If you encountered the error after an update, just uninstalling the update packages might resolve the issue. 

    You’ll need to use Command Prompt for uninstalling the packages. To use the Command Prompt when you’re unable to boot, restart the PC from the blue screen two times. After two consecutive failed boot attempts, the system will enter the Automatic Repair mode. 

    1. From the Automatic Repair mode, navigate to Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt. 
    1. Run the following commands one-by-one (i. e., press Enter after each one):

    dir C:

    Dism /Image:C:\ /Get-Packages

    Here, C has been assumed as the drive in which Windows is installed. If you’ve installed Windows on another drive, use the relevant drive letter.

    Running the second command will return a list of update packages installed on your PC. 

    Use this information to find the update package you believe is causing the problem and note its name. Then, execute the following command:

    Dism.exe /Image:C:\ /remove-package /[name of the package]

    Replace the words “name of the package” with the actual name (package identity). Note that if you’re using the Command Prompt from inside Windows, you’ll need to use the /Online parameter for all commands where /Image:C has been used. 

    For instance: Dism /Online /Get-Packages.

    1. While you’re at it, run the following commands to remove pending updates that are stuck, if any. If you aren’t sure about the presence of any stuck pending updates, just run these commands one-by-one anyway:

    reg load hklm\temp c:\windows\system32\config\software

    reg delete “HKLM\temp\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\SessionsPending”/v Exclusive

    reg unload HKLM\temp

    When you’re done, restart the PC and see if everything’s back to normal. 

    Update IDE ATA/SATA Controller Drivers

    If the previous fixes didn’t work for you, it’s worth spending a minute updating the drivers. If an outdated or corrupt driver is the reason for the Inaccessible Boot Device error, updating or reinstalling it should fix it.

    To update the driver, you’ll need to boot into Safe Mode. Once you’re in Safe Mode:

    1. Right-click on Computer and select Manage to launch the Computer Management console.
    1. Select Device Manager from the right pane, switch to the left pane, and select the small arrow beside IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.
    1. Right-click on the Standard SATA AHCI Controller and select Update driver.
    1. At this point, you’ll need to select if you want Windows to automatically search for a newer version of the driver and install it, or if you’d like to use driver installation files that you’ve already downloaded. 

    Your best bet is to find and download the appropriate drivers from the manufacturer’s website and then use the second option, because you’ll know you have the correct driver that you need.

    Next, just follow the wizard’s prompts and restart the PC normally. 

    No luck? At this point, you may want to see if your hard drive has some corrupt files.

    Fix Errors on Hard Drive

    Errors on your hard drive could also result in an Inaccessible Boot Device. Windows 10 (and all Windows versions) provides users a simple way to check for and fix filesystem errors and bad sectors automatically. The tool will mark hard bad sectors, so they aren’t used in the future.

    You can do this with CHKDSK, a command-line tool. To run CHKDSK, you’ll need to either:

    • Go back to the Automatic Repair mode (i.e., with two consecutive failed boot attempts) like you did previously and run the Command Prompt (i.e., Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt), or
    • Boot into Safe Mode and launch Command Prompt as an administrator.

    Once the Command Prompt is running:

    1. Execute the following command if you launched the Command Prompt from the automatic repair mode:

    chkdsk /r C:

    1. Execute the following command if you’ve launched the Command Prompt from within Windows:

    chkdsk /f /r

    Once the scan completes, restart the PC and see if the Inaccessible Boot Device error has resolved.

    More Fixes to Try

    If you’re still encountering the Inaccessible Boot Device error, Windows has one more radical option you can try.  

    You could reset your PC so that Windows will revert to mint condition, just like it was when you first installed it. A reset will wipe your data, so try and boot into the PC and create a backup first.

    If you’re comfortable working with computer hardware, you may also want to check for loose cables or see if any of your hardware components have been physically damaged.

    Up and Running Again

    The Inaccessible Boot Device error can be a scary thing to see for someone not familiar with the Windows BSOD. However, it doesn’t take a lot of work to fix this error in most cases. When you do get into serious trouble with a Windows error, keep a Windows system image backup handy, so you don’t have to waste a lot of time recreating your Windows environment from scratch.

    Arjun is a freelance writer based in India. After working as an equity research analyst, Arjun decided to do something that he has been passionate about – tech. He gets excited talking about and explaining how to solve everyday tech problems. His area of expertise is Windows and is a go-to for all things Excel. Read Arjun’s Full Bio

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    Inaccessible boot device error in Windows 10 [STEP GUIDE]

    Author Oleg Belov Reading 14 min. Views 786
    Blue Screen of Death errors can be caused by problematic software or faulty hardware. It is common for all BSoD errors to crash Windows 10 and restart the computer to prevent damage.

    Since these types of errors can be quite serious, today we are going to show you how to fix the “Inaccessible Boot Machine” error.

    • Inaccessible boot device after BIOS reset, BIOS update . According to users, this error usually appears after a BIOS restart or BIOS update. This issue is caused by your configuration but can be easily resolved.
    • External hard drive inaccessible boot device . Several users have reported this issue while using an external hard drive. This is an unusual issue, but you might be able to fix it with one of our solutions.
    • Inaccessible boot device restart loop . According to users, sometimes you can get stuck in a restart loop due to this problem. This can be a big problem as you won’t be able to access Windows at all.
    • Windows Go Go inaccessible boot device . Some users have reported this issue while using Windows to Go. If this error occurs, you will not be able to start your OS from a USB storage device.
    • Inaccessible boot device AHCI, RAID, IDE . Sometimes your hardware settings can cause this issue. To fix this, you need to check your hard drive settings in the BIOS.
    • Inaccessible boot device for installing Windows 10 . According to users, sometimes this issue can occur while installing Windows 10. Several users reported that they are unable to start Windows at all due to this error.
    • Boot device overclocking unavailable . In some cases, this error can occur due to overclocking. If you have recently overclocked your device, be sure to remove the overclock settings and check if the problem still appears.
    • Inaccessible SSD boot device . According to users, sometimes this problem can occur with SSDs. This can be a big problem, but you should be able to fix it using our solutions.

    Table of contents

    1. How can I fix the BSoD error «Inaccessible bootable device» in Windows 10?
    2. Solution 1: Update the drivers
    3. Solution 2: Run the BSOD troubleshooter
    4. Solution 3 – Run an SFC scan
    5. Solution 4 – Run DISM
    6. Solution 5 – Check the hard drive
    7. Solution 6: Reinstall the video card driver

      8. 9011 Solution 7 – Enter Safe Mode

    8. Solution 8 – Enable AHCI Mode in BIOS
    9. Solution 9 – Check for loose cables
    10. Solution 10 – Reset Windows 10
    11. Solution 11 – Check for bad hardware
    12. Solution 12 – Check your hard drive
    13. Solution 13 – Flash BIOS

    Contents .

    1. Update your drivers
    2. Run the BSOD troubleshooter
    3. Run an SFC Scan
    4. Run DISM
    5. Check your hard drive
    6. Reinstall the video card driver
    7. Enter Safe Mode
    8. Enable AHCI mode in BIOS
    9. Check for loose cables
    10. Reset Windows 10
    11. Check for faulty hardware
    12. Check your hard drive
    13. flash bios

    Solution 1 – Update

    drivers
    Drivers are quite important as they allow Windows 10 to use your hardware, but if your drivers are outdated and therefore incompatible with Windows 10, this can create all sorts of problems, one of which is a BOOT DEVICE INACCESSIBLE BSoD error.

    To fix these types of errors, updating your drivers is highly recommended. To do this, simply visit the hardware manufacturer’s website, find the latest drivers, and download them.

    Some users claim that this error is caused by the IDE ATA/SATA controller driver and according to them, the BSoD error was fixed after downloading and installing the latest version of this driver.

    Did you know that most Windows 10 users have outdated drivers? Stay one step ahead with this guide.

    Update drivers automatically

    Finding drivers on your own can take a long time. Therefore, we advise you to use a tool that will do this automatically.

    Using the Automatic Driver Update Tool will certainly save you the hassle of manually searching for drivers and will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.

    Tweakbit Driver Updater (approved by Microsoft and Norton Antivirus) will help you update your drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions. After several tests, our team concluded that this is the most automated solution.

    Here is a quick guide on how to use it:

    1. Download and install TweakBit Driver Update Tool
    2. Once installed, the program will start scanning your computer for outdated drivers automatically. Driver Updater will check the driver versions you have installed against its cloud-based database of the latest versions and recommend the correct updates. All you have to do is wait for the scan to complete.
    3. Once the scan is complete, you will receive a report of all the problematic drivers found on your PC. Review the list and see if you want to update each driver individually or all at once. To update one driver at a time, click the Update Driver link next to the driver name. Or simply click the Update All button at the bottom to automatically install all recommended updates.

      Some drivers need to be installed in several steps, so you will have to click the Update button several times until all of its components are installed.

    Solution 2 – Run the BSOD

    troubleshooter
    If updating your drivers didn’t fix the problem, try the built-in Windows 10 troubleshooter. You can use this tool to fix all sorts of issues, including BSOD issues like INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE error.

    Here’s how to run the Windows 10 troubleshooter:

    1. Open the app Settings and go to section Update and security .
    2. Select «Troubleshoot» from the menu on the left.
    3. Select BSOD in the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
    4. Follow the instructions on the screen to troubleshoot.

    If you’re having trouble opening the Settings app, please refer to this article to resolve the issue.

    If the troubleshooter stops before the process is complete, fix it with this complete guide.

    Solution 3 – Run an SFC

    scan
    Another troubleshooter that can be helpful here is the SFC scan. It is a command line tool that scans your system for potential flaws and fixes them if possible.

    So this can also resolve the «Inaccessible Boot Device» error. Here’s how to run an SFC scan on Windows 10:

    1. Right click the start button and open Command line (Admin).
    2. Type the following line and press Enter: SFC/SCANNOW
    3. Wait until the process is complete (this may take a while).
    4. If a solution is found, it will be applied automatically.
    5. Now close Command Prompt and restart your computer.

    If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an administrator, then you’d better check out this guide.

    Is the scan command now stopped before the process completes? Don’t worry, we have an easy solution for you.

    Solution 4 – Run DISM

    The third troubleshooting tool we are going to use here is DISM. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM), as its name suggests, redeploys a system image and fixes potential problems along the way.

    So it’s also possible that this will resolve the «Inaccessible boot device» error. We will cover both standard and procedures that use the installation media below:

    • Standard way
    1. Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
    2. Paste the following command and press Enter:

        • DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth
    3. Wait until the scan is finished.
    4. Restart your computer and try updating again.
    • From Windows installation media
    1. Insert your Windows installation media.
    2. Right-click the Start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
    3. At the command prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each:

      • dism/online/cleanup-image/scanhealth
      • dism/online/cleanup-image/restorehealth
    4. Now type the following command and press Enter:

      • DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1/LimitAccess
    5. Be sure to change the X value with the mapped drive letter when installing Windows 10.
    6. After completing the procedure, restart your computer.

    If you don’t have Windows installation media, you can create a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 on it in just a couple of steps. Take a look at this amazing guide to help you do just that.

    Everything seems to be lost when DISM fails on Windows? Check out this quick guide and get rid of the worries.

    Solution 5 – Check hard drive

    1. Type Advanced Startup (restart your computer while holding down the Shift key).
    2. Select Troubleshoot > advanced options.
    3. Select Command line from the list of options.
    4. When the command prompt appears, type the following lines and press Enter after each line to run it:

      • bootrec.exe/rebuildbcd
      • bootrec.exe /fixmbr
      • bootrec.exe /fixboot
    5. Some users also recommend running additional commands chkdsk . To run these commands, you need to know the drive letters for all the hard drive partitions. At the command line, you must enter the following (but don’t forget to use the letters that correspond to your hard drive partitions on your PC):

      • chkdsk /r c:
      • c hkdsk/r d:

      This is just our example, so keep in mind that you must run the chkdsk command for every hard disk partition you have.

    6. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

    Do you want to automatically check the status of your hard drive? Check out these amazing tools to help you save your hard drive.

    Solution 6 – Reinstall the video card driver

    Some users are claiming that after updating their graphics card drivers, they started getting an error about an inaccessible boot device. To fix this issue, you need to uninstall your current graphics card drivers and reinstall them.

    To uninstall your video card driver, you need to do the following:

    1. Download Display Driver Uninstaller.
    2. After downloading the tool, launch it and follow the instructions.

    Your computer should restart after removing the video card driver. Once rebooted, go to the video card manufacturer’s website and download the new driver for your video card.

    Be aware that Nvidia users have reported this issue, but even if you don’t have an Nvidia graphics card, you can still try this solution.

    If you want alternatives, you can check out this list with the best uninstallers you can use right now.

    Want the latest GPU drivers? Bookmark this page and always stay up to date with the latest and greatest.

    Solution 7 – Enter Safe Mode

    Safe Mode is designed to run with only the necessary drivers and only the most basic software, so if the INCORRECT BOOT DEVICE error is caused by certain third party software, you should use Safe Mode without any problems.

    To enter Safe Mode, do the following:

    1. Restart your computer while downloading. Do this until you start automatic repair.
    2. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Launch Options. Press button Reload .
    3. When your computer restarts, you will see a list of options. Press 5 or F5 to enter Safe Mode with Networking .

    Check if your computer works properly in safe mode. If there are no problems, you can use Safe Mode to update or remove certain drivers or applications that may be causing this error.

    Users claim that to fix the “Inaccessible Boot Device” error, you only need to enter Safe Mode and this error should be automatically fixed when you restart your PC.

    Safe mode not working? Don’t panic, this guide will help you overcome download issues.

    Solution 8 – Enable AHCI mode in BIOS

    According to users, you can easily fix the Inaccessible Boot Device error simply by enabling AHCI mode in BIOS. To do this, you need to do the following:

    1. While your computer is booting, press F2 or Del to enter the BIOS.
    2. After entering the BIOS, go to Advanced and set Set AHCI Mode to Enabled .
    3. Optional . Set AHCI Control Mode to Auto .
    4. Save your changes and restart your computer.

    It’s worth noting that your BIOS may differ, and to learn how to enter the BIOS and change AHCI mode, be sure to check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

    Accessing the BIOS seems like a daunting task? Let’s help you with this amazing guide!

    Solution 9 – Check for loose cables

    Few users reported that loose cables can be the reason for not being able to access the Inaccessible Boot Device, so you need to turn off the computer, unplug it from the network, open the computer case and check if everything is connected correctly.

    It is worth noting that few users have managed to fix this problem by connecting their hard drive to a different port on the motherboard, so be sure to try that.

    Solution 10 – Reset Windows 10

    If the Inaccessible Boot Device error is caused by certain software, you can easily fix this error by resetting Windows 10. Keep in mind that this process will delete all files from your C partition, so be sure to create a backup.

    Back up your data like a pro in just a couple of steps. Everything you need to know is right here!

    After creating a backup, you may need Windows 10 installation media to complete this process. You can easily create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10 on it using the Media Creation Tool.

    If you’re having problems with the Media Creation Tool and you can’t run it properly on Windows 10, check out this article which provides great solutions to fix the problem.

    To reset Windows 10, follow these steps:

    1. Restart your computer while downloading. This should start automatic recovery mode.
    2. Select Troubleshoot > Restart this PC > Remove all .
    3. If you are asked to insert your Windows 10 installation media, do so.
    4. Select Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just delete my files and press the button Reset .
    5. Follow the instructions and wait for the reset process to complete.

    If the issue persists even after resetting Windows 10, check your PC for faulty hardware.

    Need more information on how to factory reset your PC? Read this article and find out everything you need to know.

    A disaster has occurred and you cannot restart your computer! Luckily, we have the right solutions for you.

    Solution 11 — Check for defective hardware

    BSoD errors can sometimes be caused by certain hardware, most commonly RAM, so if you’re getting an Unavailable Boot Device error, be sure to check your RAM.

    If your RAM is working fine, check other major components such as your hard drive or motherboard. Finding a failed component can be tricky, and you’ll have to do a detailed scan of your hardware to find it.

    We should also mention that newly installed hardware can also cause these types of errors, so if you have recently installed new hardware, be sure to remove or replace it and check if your computer works without it.

    Solution 12 – Check your hard drive

    In some cases, you may get this error due to file corruption. However, you can fix this problem simply by running chkdsk. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. Press Windows Key + X to open the Win + X menu. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) .
    2. When Command Prompt opens, type chkdsk /r C: and press Enter .
    3. You will be prompted to restart your computer and schedule a scan. Type Y and press Enter .

    As soon as your computer restarts, a chkdsk scan will automatically begin. If you are unable to access Windows due to this error, you can go to Advanced Boot Menu and use the command prompt from there.

    Is chkdsk giving you a headache? Check out this quick guide to fix any issues with it.

    Solution 13 – Flash BIOS

    In some cases, the INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE error can appear due to a corrupted BIOS. If you are having this problem, you can try updating your BIOS and check if that solves the problem.

    Keep in mind that flashing the BIOS is a complicated procedure and you can cause permanent damage if you don’t do it right.

    Updating the BIOS seems intimidating? Make it easy with this handy guide.

    The Inaccessible Boot Device error can be frustrating, but users report that it can be easily fixed by entering Safe Mode or updating your drivers. If these solutions don’t work, feel free to try a few other solutions from this article.

    If you have any other suggestions or questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to look into them.

    SEE ALSO

    • Fix: CONFIG_INITIALIZATION_FAILED error on Windows 10
    • Fixed: BSOD caused by «kernel lock auto-elevation hijack with elevated IRQL»
    • Fixed: BSOD appears due to f CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION
    • Fixed: UNEXPECTED_STORE_EXCEPTION BSoD on Windows 10
    • Fixed: BSOD on Windows 10

    Fix Windows 10 Inaccessible Boot Device BSOD (5 Work Solutions)

    A number of users have reported that after a recent Windows 10 update, the system won’t start due to the blue screen error « Inaccessible boot device «. Typically, an Inaccessible_Boot_Device BSOD ( Error Check 0x0000007b ) means that the OS has lost access to system data or boot partitions during startup. This may be due to system file corruption, missing MBR (Master Boot Record) or BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file during Windows 10 update process. Again driver conflict between hardware devices or disk failure also cause Windows 10 inaccessible boot device BSOD error.

    Message content: —

    Whatever the reason, here are some applicable solutions you can apply to fix the Windows 10 Inaccessible_Boot_Device blue screen error.

    Start with the basic. Remove all external devices (except keyboard and mouse) such as printer, scanner, external hard drive, etc. to check and make sure driver conflict between hardware devices is not causing this BSOD error.

    Sometimes users report that Windows 10 suddenly displays Inaccessible_Boot_Device Blue screen error, but after one reboot the system starts normally. But for some others report Windows 10 often reboots with this Inaccessible boot device BSOD error. and did not allow any troubleshooting steps to be taken to resolve the issue. For this reason, you need to access Windows 10 Advanced Startup Options, where you’ll find various tools to fix these startup issues.

    Perform Startup Repair

    Because this BSOD often causes windows to reboot, we need to boot from the installation media to access advanced options. (if you don’t have it, create an installation media / Bootable USB from this link)

    When you’re ready with a bootable USB / DVD, insert it and change the BIOS settings to Boot from installation media. Skip the first screen and in the next window, click «Repair your computer».

    restore link to your computer

    In the next window, click Troubleshoot -> Advanced. The advanced options screen appears.

    Windows 10 Advanced Boot Options

    Here, click Startup Repair and let Windows check and fix issues that prevent Windows from starting normally and cause the BSOD error «Inaccessible Boot Device». Startup Repair will scan your system and analyze various settings, configuration options, and system files looking for corrupted files or erroneous configuration settings. If Startup Repair detects any of these types of problems, it automatically tries to fix them. Then after that windows will automatically reload and start normally.

    Fix MBR and repair BCD file

    As mentioned, corrupted or missing system files also cause the Inaccessible Boot Device Blue Screen error. Also, most of the users on the Microsoft forum, Reddit flagged Repair MBR (Master Boot Record) and Repair BCD (Boot Configuration data) file, solving the problem for them. If Startup Repair did not resolve the issue, open Advanced Options again and click Command Prompt. And run below command.

    Boot in safe mode using networking

    Also, sometimes a corrupted, outdated, or incompatible display driver causes this Windows 10 boot device inaccessible BSOD error. Some third-party applications, corrupted system files, disk drive errors also cause this blue screen error in Windows 10, 8.1 and 7. This causes the need to boot into safe mode when Windows starts with minimal system requirements and allows you to perform troubleshooting. Steps. Read like boot into safe mode on Windows 10, 8.1 .

    Check for corrupted system files

    When Windows boots into safe mode, run the System File Checker utility, which scans for and repairs missing corrupted system files. To do this open command prompt as administrator , then type sfc /scannow and press enter. This will start the process of scanning for missing corrupted system files. If it detects any damage, missing system files, the SFC utility automatically restores them from a compressed folder located on %WinDir%System32dllcache . wait until the scanning process is 100% complete. After that, restart Windows and check if there is an Inaccessible Boot Device Blue Screen error.

    Run the System File Checker

    Also, if the Windows Resource Protection found corrupted files as a result of the System File Checker scan, but was unable to fix some of them, you need to run the DISM tool which repairs the system image and allows sfc to do its job.

    Check disk drive errors

    Sometimes a hard drive failure also causes the boot device to become unavailable or the OS to lose access to system data or boot partitions during startup. We recommend check drive for errors, use the CHKDSK command. Also, add an additional option to have chkdsk fix drive errors.

    To check for drive errors open command prompt as administrator and type command chkdsk c:/r/f and press enter. Then press and to confirm to run check disk on next restart, close command prompt and restart windows.

    Run Check Disk on Windows 10

    This will run a disk scan for errors if chkdsk is found to fix them automatically.