Error code: 0xc000000f - Windows 8.1

Question

I downgraded from Windows 10 to 8.1 earlier and after rebooting I got the error message below.

'Recovery

Your PC needs to be repaired

The boot configuration date for your PC is missing or contains errors

File \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\BCD

Error code: 0xc000000f

I have tried 8.1 installation media via USB as my Vaio doesn't have an optical drive and each time I got in to it I get that blue screen.

What can I do to resolve this? any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi,

Thank you for your update on the issue.

Glad to know that the steps you tried help you to resolve the issue.

For UEFI and Legacy.

In a Windows 8 UEFI computer, the UEFI BIOS can be user configured for the following possible Boot scenarios:

(i) With UEFI Boot = enabled and Legacy Boot = enabled, the firmware will first attempt to boot through UEFI without secure boot, failing which it switches to Legacy BIOS boot. This configuration can be used for assembled computers with Dual OS of which one is UEFI compatible and the other is not.

(ii) With UEFI Boot = enabled and Secure Boot = enabled, the firmware permits only Secure UEFI boot, by validating the signature of all software components executing within UEFI. Booting will get terminated if signature validation fails at any point. This configuration is intended for Windows 8 laptops where the hardware remains permanently sealed.

(iii) With UEFI Boot = disabled and (CSM/Legacy/BIOS) Boot = enabled, the computer will boot into a BIOS environment. Meant for computers using MBR partition, like older PCs upgrading to Windows 8.

You can enable / disable Secure Boot with UEFI Boot. Legacy Boot will automatically get enabled, Either if UEFI Boot Or if Secure Boot is disabled. This is because Legacy Boot must become the default boot without UEFI Boot, and Legacy Boot must act as an alternative to the UEFI Boot without Secure Boot.

Refer the link below for more information:

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825112.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396

Please feel free to reply, in case you face any other issues with Windows in future. We'll be more than happy to assist you again.

Thank you for sharing.

Answer 2

I believe I have found a solution, however i'm not sure it's the right one, I went in to the BIOS went over to 'Boot Configuration' and changed it to 'Legacy' and once I did that I was able to re-install windows, is it safe keeping it like this?

Answer 3

Thanks for the reply, I went on the bios and I was given three options so I chose 'External Device' on the boot options, I followed your instructions and non worked, I got messages saying 'Reset this PC, Unable to reset your PC, A required partition is missing' & 'Refresh your pc, the drive where windows is installed is locked, unlock the drive and try again' and if I try to install windows I get another message saying that the recovery media was already in, please re-start'

Answer 4

Hi,

Did you try booting from Windows 8 Installation media?

This issue may occur due to any third party hardware or software conflicts that might corrupted any system files.

If you are unable to boot from the Windows 8 installation media to perform automatic repair, refresh, system restore, etc, let’s try the following steps to run an offline Check disk scan and check.

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

a. Copy all the files from your downloaded ISO or Windows 8 installation disc to a USB stick.

b. Boot from that USB stick and press Shift+F10 when Windows 8 setup WinPE shell starts.

c. In the command prompt type:

x:>chkdsk /f /v /r /b /offlinescanandfix c:

NOTE: Make sure c: is your boot drive with your Operating System by running.

I hope this helps. Please let us know the results. Feel free to write us back for any further assistance with Windows, we’ll be glad to assist you.

Answer 5

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

I appreciate your time and effort.

I will certainly help you with this.

It could be due to the corrupted files. I would suggest you to follow the steps and check,

You need set the disc as first boot device. This has to be set in the BIOS.

Once you change the settings in the BIOS then follow the steps and check,

Perform an Automatic repair using Windows 8 bootable DVD or USB drive and check if that helps.

Follow these steps to perform Automatic repair

a) Insert the installation DVD or USB and boot Windows 8 from it.

b) In the ‘Windows setup’ page select the ‘Language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and the ‘keyboard or input method’ and click on ‘next’.

c) Click on ‘Repair your computer’ and select ‘Troubleshoot’.

d) Click on ‘Advanced options’ and select ‘Automatic Repair’ and select the operating system.

Also refer,

Repair & recovery

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/windows/repair-recovery-help#repair-recovery-help=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1

I hope this helps. Please let us know the results. Feel free to write us back for any further assistance with Windows, we’ll be glad to assist you.