Don’t you despise it when you are trying to boot up your personal computer in Windows 11 and it starts showcasing the error code 0xc000000f? For a few users, the error 0xc000000f also occurs while updating drivers or programs and upgrading Windows 7, 8, 9, or 10 to a new OS.
What is Error Code 0xc000000f?
In simple terms, Error Code 0xc000000f is a common Windows boot error that arises when your computer cannot find or access the files it needs to function. It can occur due to several issues including hardware problems, corrupted system files, or issues with the boot configuration data.
Contents ⤵️
What are the causes of Error code 0xc00000f in Windows 11?
If your Windows has failed to start due to 0xc00000f, it is mainly because of:
- Corrupted files as a result of a power failure
- Missing or damaged Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
- Disk write errors
- Faulty device drivers
- File missing or damaged hard drive due to malware infestation
How to Fix Error Code 0xc000000f in Windows 11?
If you are wondering how to fix error code 0xc000000f, there are a couple of troubleshooting methods you can try to resolve the error at your end.
- Restart your PC
It’s probably one of the most natural instincts to restart an electronic device anytime there is an issue such as when the screen is frozen or unresponsive. As it turns out, you are not mistaken! Restarting a computer can sometimes solve a number of issues as it essentially cleans out the electronics’ cache, enabling a fresh start on everything. Perform a reboot before attempting more complicated fixes to see if that resolves 0xc00000f.
- Initiate Startup Repair
The built-in Windows tool called ‘Startup Repair’ can assist you in identifying and resolving common Windows errors that prevent Windows from functioning properly. You can utilize this tool to eliminate any bugs permanently.
Here’s how to use Startup Repair on your Windows computer to resolve error code 0xc00000f:
- Insert the USB stick for Windows installation into your computer
- Start your computer using the installation disc
- After choosing your language, choose ‘Repair Your Computer’
- Select ‘Troubleshoot’ and go to ‘Advanced’
- Locate and choose ‘Startup Repair’
- Proceed with the on-screen guidance to resolve and identify the problems causing the system booting error
- Use bootrec.exe Utility Tool
Microsoft offers the bootrec.exe utility in the Windows Recovery Environment or Windows RE. One of the reasons for facing Windows error code 0xc000000f could be damaged MBRs, corrupted boot sectors, and invalid BCDs (Boot Configuration Data) stores.
To resolve the issue using the bootrec.exe utility, take the actions listed below:
- Use the installation disc to boot the computer, and hit a key when prompted
- Select ‘Repair Your PC’
- Navigate to ‘Advanced Options’ under ‘Troubleshoot’
- In the text field, type ‘bootrec.exe,’ then hit ‘Enter’
- Finally, restart your computer after shutting down the Command Prompt window.
- Reset Boot Configuration Data
In a nutshell, Boot Configuration Data helps startup your computer by guiding the boot loader to look for critical boot information, boot priority, etc.
It’s normal to encounter the 0xc00000f error code, particularly if there’s been a problem with your BCD. If the above methods didn’t work, you may want to rebuild BCD to fix error 0xc000000f in Windows. Follow these simple steps to reset boot configuration data:
- Insert a Windows installation disc and use it to start your computer
- Click on the ‘Repair Your PC’ option
- Select ‘Advanced Options’ from the ‘Troubleshoot’ menu
- Choose the Command Prompt, type each of the following commands, and press Enter after each one:
- bootrec /fixmbr
- bootrec /fixboot
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
- For the changes to take effect, restart your computer by pressing Y when prompted
- Repair Faulty Hard Drive using the CHKDSK Command
A defective or corrupted hard drive may also be the cause of the error code 0xc000000f. You can use the CHKDSK command to repair drive corruption by following the actions listed below:
- Use the installation media to boot your computer, then launch Command Prompt
- Press the Enter key after typing the ‘chkdsk f: /f’ command
- Shut down the window and restart the computer after the process is finished
- Factory Reset your Computer
One possible solution for the error code 0xc000000f is to factory reset your computer. It will get rid of every app, program, device driver, and other issue that might have led to this error. When you reset your system, you can also decide whether to keep or delete your data files. To reset your computer, follow the instructions below:
- Use the installation media to restart your computer, then select ‘Repair Your Computer’
- Go to ‘Advanced Options’ within ‘Troubleshoot’
- Click on ‘Reset your PC’
- Choose between ‘Keep my files’ and ‘Remove everything’
- Select whichever option best suits your needs. Next, click on ‘Just Remove Your Files’ and then click ‘Next’
- A notification to erase everything from the system shows up on your screen. Select ‘Next’
- Click ‘Reset’ and then ‘Continue’
- Reinstall Windows 11
Reinstalling Windows is your only option if, for whatever reason, none of the aforementioned fixes for error code 0xc000000f resolve the problem. To accomplish Windows 11 reinstallation, you’ll need the USB installer.
Whether you proceed with reinstalling Windows or not, you need to be aware of the consequences. The reinstallation process erases the entire data from drive partitions. Hence, it would be wise to resort to professional data recovery tools to save your computer data irrespective of the choice you make.
Stellar Data Recovery Software is one such tool that can help you recover data from laptops, external hard drives, PCs, USB drives, SSD drives, and more. It allows you to recover data from crashed or unbootable systems and formatted partitions. Whether you are facing the error code 0xc000000f in Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11, the software can help you scan and recover the data of your choice.
Conclusion
Error code 0xc000000f can occur with any computer during OS upgrades and new program or drive installations. The important takeaway is that we troubleshoot and fix 0xc000000f as soon as possible, saving ourselves from data loss. You can 99% repair your Windows using the useful tips mentioned in this article but there are times when fixes don’t work. If that happens to you, don’t fret, rather resort to data recovery tools and get your data restored in a jiffy.