Windows 11 Inaccessible boot device (0x7B)

Question

Hello, laptop is stuck in a repeated boot failure loop involving BitLocker and multiple stop codes. The system cannot boot into Windows under any circumstances.

Hello,

When I try to power on or restart the laptop, I first receive the error:

Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart. We’ll restart for you.
Stop code: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (0x7B)

After the restart attempts fail, I eventually get a blue Recovery screen:**
Your PC couldn’t start properly. After multiple tries, the operating system on your PC failed to start, so it needs to be repaired. Error code: 0xc0000001.**

If I press F8 to access Startup Settings, I receive another blue screen with message:

Your PC/device needs to be repaired. The operating system couldn’t be loaded, because the BitLocker key required to unlock the volume wasn’t loaded correctly.

Selecting F8 again prompts me to enter the BitLocker Recovery Key. After entering the key successfully, I get the list of 9 Startup Settings options.

1. Enable debugging
2. Enable boot logging
3. Enable slow-resolution video
4. Enable Safe mode
5. Enable Safe mode with Networking
6. Enable Safe mode with Command prompt
7. Disable driver signature enforcement
8. Disable early launch anti-malware protection
9. Disable automatic restart after failure

However, no matter which option I choose, the laptop simply restarts and sends me back to the very first error screen. The system never successfully boots.**
Current Situation**

I have the correct BitLocker Recovery Key and can enter it. I can reach the Startup Settings menu, but every option returns me to the same boot loop. The system never reaches Windows, Safe Mode, Command Prompt, or any repair environment. The issue repeats infinitely.

I’m looking for guidance on how to break out of this loop and properly repair the system.

I would like to reinstall Windows using a bootable USB, but I do not want to lose my data. For this reason, I am trying to disable BitLocker first and then proceed with the clean installation of Windows through the BootStick.

Thank You
Samuel

Answer 1

Hi, I'm Bernard, a fellow Windows user. I'm happy to help!

I understand the issue you have, there is nothing to worry I am here to help. Have you noticed any changes before the issue started? Have you installed any hardware or software that may trigger the issue? As per checking the error, we need to use Windows installation media on a USB to repair the issue. To do that, kindly follow the steps below:

 

Note: We need another PC and a USB drive (At least 8GB and make sure there are no files inside, as it will reformat the USB) Once you have that, kindly follow the steps:

 

Step 1: Create Windows 11 installation Media

 

Go to this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

               

Scroll down and under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" click "Download Now" then run the Media Creation Tool (the downloaded file)

If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

 

On What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

 

Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 11.

 

This table will help you decide which edition of Windows 11 you’ll choose:

 

On Select which media, you want to use click USB and save it to your USB drive.

 

Once done, do the repair kindly follow the steps below:

 

Insert the USB into the affected PC

 

Start the PC and if you see “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

 

When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

 

In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

 

Tap or click, advanced options, and then click on Startup repair.

Answer 2

Hi Bernard,

Sorry for the late response.
Prior the error the touchpad was not working so I downloaded the driver and installed it. Which helped but the next day the driver was again not working so I installed the driver again, which again make the touchpad working. However next day when I started the laptop the blue screen appeared saying what I described in the first message.

I created the bootstick but using the rufus.
I followed your steps but the Startup repair option gave me this screen:

Can you please advise me how to proceed further?
Is there any way how to in this state of my laptop open the console? That way I would try to disable the BitLocker and then reinstall my windows so I would not lost any data.

Thanks and Best Regards
Samuel

Answer 3

Hi, thank you for that information. As per checking the error, we need to use Windows installation media on a USB to repair the issue. To do that, kindly follow the steps below:

 

Note: We need another PC and a USB drive (At least 8GB and make sure there are no files inside, as it will reformat the USB) Once you have that, kindly follow the steps:

 

Step 1: Create Windows 11 installation Media

 

Go to this link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

               

Scroll down and under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" click "Download Now" then run the Media Creation Tool (the downloaded file)

If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

 

On What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

 

Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 11.

 

This table will help you decide which edition of Windows 11 you’ll choose:

 

On Select which media you want to use, click USB, and save it to your USB drive.

 

Once done, do the repair kindly follow the steps below:

 

Insert the USB into the affected PC

 

Start the PC, and if you see “Press any key to boot from DVD,” do so. If you don’t see the message, you might need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings so that it first starts from the DVD or USB.

 

When you see the Install Windows page, tap or click Repair your computer to start the Windows Recovery Environment.

 

In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, tap or click Troubleshoot.

 

Tap or click, advanced options, and then click on Startup repair.