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Blue Screen: INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE (Windows 10)

Anonymous
2017-12-25T12:38:06+00:00

My parent's work laptop is giving me this error on boot. It worked fine until a couple of hours ago at their workplace, they brought it home (like they often do, with the same charger and whatnot) and this error started popping up. I can't access the desktop, it automatically loads W10's diagnostic tools like command prompt, the many kinds of system restore, etc

Things I've tried:

  • running a chkdsk /f /r /x . It analyzes the HDD fine, says there are no bad sectors and correctly calculates how much space is taken, so it doesn't seem dead
  • restoring Windows to an earlier date. The process itself goes without a hitch, but it's still stuck in the BSOD > Reboot > BSOD > reboot > diagnostic tools cycle
  • startup repair. Like above, it doesn't give me any errors but it's still stuck in the loop
  • googling around I've found some users had issues after a certain update. The step to fix it are seen in multiple sites like this one https://www.windowscentral.com/how-fix-update-causing-i... . However it doesn't find the HKLM\temp registry key I'm supposed to interact with because it doesn't exist. 

Any ideas?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. DaveM121 884.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2017-12-25T14:23:45+00:00

    OK cloudropis, if you are getting Inaccessible Boot Device, this might work for you:

    Go into the WinRE - Troubleshoot - Advanced Options - Command Prompt

    Run these commands one at a time, hit enter after each one:

    bootrec /FixMbr

    bootrec /FixBoot

    bootrec /ScanOs

    bootrec /RebuildBcd

    If you get an error after any one, just carry on . . .

    Then reboot your System to see if Windows will boot!

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-12-25T13:50:27+00:00

    Go to a working computer, download, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.

    	Step 1: How to download official Windows 10 ISO files 

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-windows_install/how-to-download-official-windows-10-iso-files/35cde7ec-5b6f-481c-a02d-dadf465df326)



	Step 2: How to: Perform a clean install of Windows 10

	[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-10/aef0ae63-2117-41ee-a8ea-4a3181625b08)



If there are files on the drive you want to recover, see -  How to: Perform a Custom install of Windows 10

[http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki...](http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/wiki/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-to-do-a-custom-installation-of-windows/38adfa8c-32f8-4354-8c53-13b5f2cf7e44)

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-25T13:48:18+00:00

    It's actually a loop of BSOD (with the frowny face, the QR code and the INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE message) > reboot > BSOD > Reboot > WRE.

    Unfortunately the Restore Point I've used was the only one available, it's from three days ago when the PC was working like normal.

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  4. DaveM121 884.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2017-12-25T12:46:52+00:00

    Hi cloudropis, from your description, your system is booting into the Windows Recovery Environment, rather than Blue Screening . . .

    From the WinRE, go to System Restore, if you have multiple Restore Points, choose a Restore Point that is 3 or 4 restore points back rather than the most recent!

    If that does not work, please let us know what happens after you try . . .

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-12-25T12:48:31+00:00

    If its a desktop unit, open the system unit then check if all components are seated properly such as RAM, Hard Disk, Video Card.

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