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Error when booting - "an unexpected I/O error has occurred" - "Error code: 0xc00000e9"

Anonymous
2020-12-29T18:44:10+00:00

I turned on my computer and the following error message appears after the "preparing automatic repair" message comes up for a second:

The only working option from here is Esc - both F8 and enter just cause the screen to flash black once, briefly. F1 attempts to open, but returns to the error screen after a few seconds.

My first worry was that my main SSD was gone, so I booted ubuntu from USB to check - I was able to mount it fine and all the files seemed intact, including the winload.efi file mentioned in the error message (although I had nothing to check it to make sure it wasn't corrupted or anything like that).

After looking around for solutions, I used a different laptop and used the windows 10 installation media creation tool to make a bootable USB. When asked if I wanted it for a 32-bit or a 64-bit system, I selected both because I forgot which one my system was.

The USB boots as normal, but all 3 options (32-bit installation, 64-bit installation, Memory Diagnostic) all return an error - 64-bit returns the same error as the first screen, and memory diagnostic returns the same message, but with the file changed to memtest.efi. 32-bit returns a separate message - "The application or OS couldn't be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors - error code: 0xc0000359".

However, strangely, this changes if I return to the main menu of the USB, and press escape to return to BIOS - I am able to select whether I want to boot the USB or the SSD. If I select USB from there, I am able to boot the 64-bit installation as normal, and can open the repair menu from there.

The repair menu has a variety of options - selecting start-up repair begins the process, but it exits, leaving the following log file:

======================================================================================

Startup Repair diagnosis and repair log


Number of repair attempts: 1

Session details


System Disk = 

Windows directory = C:\WINDOWS

AutoChk Run = 0

Number of root causes = 1

Test Performed: 


Name: Check for updates

Result: Completed successfully. Error code =  0x0

Time taken = 0 ms

Test Performed: 


Name: System disk test

Result: Completed successfully. Error code =  0x0

Time taken = 984 ms

Root cause found: 


A hard disk could not be found. If a hard disk is installed, it is not responding.



======================================================================================

The system restore/system image recovery options seem to work fine, but I have no points from which to restore from.

Uninstalling the last quality update allowed me to boot normally once, but after restarting, no longer works.

The command prompt opens as normal.

From the command prompt, I ran chkdsk C: /f /x, which executed normally, seeming to fix a few files. I tried to run sfc /scannow, which verifies but throws an error afterwards.I also tried using bootrec (/scanos, /rebuildbcd, /fixmbr, /fixboot), but none of these seemed to work - scanos and rebuildbcd cannot recognise any windows installations, and fixboot returns "access denied". 

However, going back to the BIOS menu after booting, if I select the regular boot mode from my SSD, I boot as normal, and nothing seems to be amiss. I ran sfc /scannow from an admin command prompt from here, which "found corrupt files and repaired them". 

Any time I restart, the error screen returns - I have to boot from the usb, exit to bios and boot normally from there - this is hardly a permanent solution, and I worry it could lead to bigger problems down the line.

I have a few options left to try - resetting the installation from the settings menu, installing a new version of windows from the USB, or uninstalling the latest feature update (I doubt this will work if the latest quality update is unable to be uninstalled). I would prefer, however, to avoid these, as, even though I can easily copy everything on my SSD to an external drive to prevent any data loss, the time consumption and hassle of copying everything back and forth would be extremely inconvenient. Is there anything left to try, or do I just have to bite the bullet here?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Virginia M 40,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-29T19:46:00+00:00

    Hello, I’m Virginia an independent advisor with 20 years of expertise in fixing my own & friends’ PC problems.

    Which Windows 10 build are you running - 1903, 1909, 2004 or 20H2 (Oct 2020)?

    Did you clean install Windows on the SSD or clone to it from a HDD?

    It’s as though Windows believes the boot files are on another (removed) drive.

    I would create a system image using Macrium to backup your files etc:

    https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree you should also create their boot drive, boot from this & use their fix boot problems option.

    If you cannot do this on the problem PC then you can create the drive on another.

    How old is the CMOS battery? This too can cause the error.

    Replace this if old & reset the BIOS to defaults.

    The problem can be caused by a virus:

    Try running these programs:

    MBAM free: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/

    Eset online scanner: http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/

    Adwcleaner: https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/

    If these find one or more infections but do not fully remove them it will be wise to register with a malware removal site to receive dedicated malware removal instructions, an expert will remain with you throughout the process until confirmation that your PC is 100% clean.

    Malwarebytes virus/malware removal forum:

    https://forums.malwarebytes.com/forum/7-windows...

    Bleeping computer malware/virus removal forum:

    https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22...

    Other suggestions here:

    https://www.partitionwizard.com/disk-recovery/0...

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  2. Virginia M 40,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-29T21:27:56+00:00

    No problem. I hope that works.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T21:20:38+00:00

    Yeah, thanks for the links, but they all seem to be stuff I've already tried. Thanks for the help, but I think I'll just transfer the drive over and reset.

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  4. Virginia M 40,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-12-29T20:21:29+00:00

    Did you try the suggestions from the link I mentioned?

    https://www.partitionwizard.com/disk-recovery/0...

    Have you removed any USB drives & SD Cards & checked to see if the error appears?

    More here:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

    https://www.pcerror-fix.com/resolved-5-working-...

    Most likely these sites will repeat what the others say. If you’ve tried everything then there’s a possibility the drive is failing.

    Programs would need to be reinstalled & cannot just be transferred over, hence why I mentioned Macrium, if the drive does require replacing then you can just restore the image to the new drive via their boot USB.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-12-29T20:07:51+00:00

    The windows build is 20H2, and I assume it is a clean install - it came preinstalled with the laptop.

    I've already copied any important files/programs that can't be redownloaded to a separate drive so there's no risk of losing anything like that.

    It would be odd if the CMOS battery was the problem - the laptop itself is only 2 1/2 years old at the moment. I would also prefer not to have to tinker with the hardware if possible - the screws holding the back on require some weird special screwdriver I would need to order, and I don't have enough experience to not be at risk of breaking something inside.

    I ran a few different malware scans and nothing has turned up.

    Any other suggestions?

    Thanks for the help

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