Windows Failed to Start: Error 0xc000000f

Question

That's what my Toshiba laptop says when I try to start it.  Also:

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

I can't find my installation disk, which is the first thing it tells me to try.  Some other internet forums told me to try booting in "safe mode" or finding "advanced boot options", which involved pressing F8, but when I tried I just got the same boot manager screen.  Do I have any other options?

original title: Windows Failed to Start - A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

Answer 1

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistasp/thread/ea0a940d-c28c-4983-8631-fb27d9740de2

Read the above info and read the link in the post by:

Ronnie Vernon

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience

To make a Startup Repair Disk to work with:

Download the ISO file at the supplied link, and make a Bootable Startup Repair Disk from it.

Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the Drive.

At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu.

When you have changed that, insert that Bootable Disk you have made in the Drive, and reboot.

[http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html](http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html)

Above link shows what the process looks like, and a how-to, as it loads to the Repair Options.

Neosmart contains the contents of the Windows Vista DVD's "recovery center," as we've come to refer to it. It cannot be used to install or reinstall Windows Vista, and just serves
 as a Windows PE interface to recovering your PC. Technically, one could re-create this installation media with freely-downloadable media from Microsoft (namely the Microsoft WAIK kit, a multi-gigabyte download); but it's damn-decent of Microsoft to make this
 available to Windows' users who might not be capable of creating such a thing on their own.

Read all info at the website about creating and using it:  

[http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/](http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/)

ISO Burner:[http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html](http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html)

It makes a very good Vista Startup Repair Disk.

You can do a Startup Repair, System Restore, etc from it.

It is **NOT** a reinstall disk.

And the 32bit is what comes normally on a computer, unless 64bits requested.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**How to obtain Vista Recovery Media and/or use the Vista Recovery Partition on your computer to put it back to Factory Settings** **.**

There is no legal free Vista download available.  

Contact your Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Vista Recovery disk/s.

They normally do that for a small $ cost.

Also, ask them if you have a Recovery Partition on your Computer/Laptop to restore it to Factory settings.

See if a Manual came with the computer, or go to the Manufacturer's website, email or phone them for info on how to do a Recovery.

**Normally, you would press F10 or F11 at Startup to commence the Recovery Process..**   

Another way I have seen on some models is to tap F8, and go to a list of Startup options, and start a Factory Standards Recovery from in there, by selecting the Repair
 computer option.  

Also ask them if it is possible to make Recovery Disk/s from the Recovery Partition in case of Hard Drive failure or System Crash.

They will tell you how to do that.

Each Computer Manufacturer has their own way of making Recovery Disk/s.  

Or borrow a proper Microsoft Vista DVD(not Dell, HP, etc).  

A proper Vista DVD contains all Vista versions.  

The Product Key determines which Vista version gets installed.  

There are 2 Vista disks: one for 32bit Operating System, and one for 64bit Operating System.

If a clean install is required with a proper Vista DVD (not HP, Dell Recovery Disks):

Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the Drive.

At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu

[http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918884](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/918884)  

MS advice on doing clean install.  

[http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm](http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_clean_installation.htm)  

A Tutorial on doing a clean install

[http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp](http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp)

Windows Vista Installation Super Guide

After installation >Go to your Laptop/Computer Manufacturer's website > Drivers and Downloads Section > Key in your Model number > Look for latest Vista Drivers for it
 > Download/install them

Cheers. 

* * *

Mick Murphy - Microsoft Partner

Answer 2

I got this exact problem and its actually easy to fix. Have the below sites opened.

1. Make a recovery disk http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-make-a-windows-vista-repair-disk-if-you-dont-have-one

             PS... use a CD instead of a DVD. for some reason, the CD is more detectable than the DVD.

2. After succesfully making the recovery disk, go to http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/bootcddvd.htm to find out how to boot from a bootable cd.
3. When windows starts up with the CD, it would eventually ask for you to go ahead and proceed with installation of windows vista but DO NOT CLICK IT. Instead, click REPAIR below. Windows will then find and fix the problem. It will then give you the option to restart. When restarting, you will see the message you saw when rebooting the computer at first "press any key to boot from CD," DO NOT PRESS ANY KEY. JUST LEAVE THE COMPUTER, AND WINDOWS WILL START NORMALLY. And VOILA!!!! Log on screen.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

In other words, it's fixed for a while, but the next time I try and do Vista updates, or perhaps also in some other circumstances, it fails to boot with the \boot\bcd 0x000000f error.

Hi, just wondered if anyone had any ideas? Am I forced to reinstall Windows to fix this problem?

Is there another group that I should post this message that might be more specific to the problem?

Thanks,

Alex

Answer 4

 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itprovistasp/thread/ea0a940d-c28c-4983-8631-fb27d9740de2

Read the above info and read the link in the post by:

Ronnie Vernon

Microsoft MVP

Windows Desktop Experience

Hi, I followed these directions, restored the boot record information, and after doing Windows updates again, the problem happens again.

In other words, it's fixed for a while, but the next time I try and do Vista updates, or perhaps also in some other circumstances, it fails to boot with the \boot\bcd 0x000000f error.

Toshiba told me to reinstall. That's the last time I'll ever buy something from them. Yes, seriously. I mean, I even bought an extended warranty. Their technicians can't fix this problem? Surely they've seen this error before.

Thanks,

Alex