BCD Not Found in Windows 10? Fix It Now!

Many users may encounter BCD not found on Windows 10. Take it easy! In this post, you will learn four effective solutions to resolve this issue.

Gia

By Gia / Updated on October 30, 2024

Share this: instagram reddit

BCD Not Found on Windows 10? Help!

 

I'm getting a 'BCD Not Found' error every time I try to boot my Windows 10 PC. It started after a recent update, and now I'm stuck at a black screen with no way to access my files or desktop. I’ve tried restarting, but nothing works. How can I fix this and get my computer running again?

- Question from User

Have you ever encountered the error "The Boot Configuration Data file is missing..."? This painful issue usually occurs when the system fails to locate the Boot Configuration Data file, leaving the system stuck at the startup.

Is it possible to fix this error? Sure! This post provides four practical solutions to fix BCD Not Found on Windows 10. By following these instructions, you can easily resolve various boot issues and restore your failed computer to normal functionality. 

Four Ways to Fix BCD Not Found on Windows 10

This section outlines four practical methods to resolve the "BCD File Not Found" issue and provides detailed instructions for each. Feel free to choose the one that best suits your needs.

Method 1. Repair BCD Errors Using Software

The "BCD file not found" error can stem from various causes, with BCD file corruption or loss being one of the most common. Fortunately, AOMEI Partition Assistant, an all-in-one tool, offers an effective solution for diagnosing and repairing boot issues, helping to restore your computer to normal operation.

With its powerful Boot Repair tool, you can quickly create a bootable USB drive in just a few clicks. This drive enables your failed computer to start and automatically execute the repairing task.

Key Features:
Features a user-friendly interface to guide you through a smooth repair process.
Supports the repair of various boot issues on Windows 11, 10, 8.1/8, 7 (32/64-bit).
Includes a wide range of features to address common disks and partition-related issues.

Here’s how to fix "BCD Not Found on Windows 10" using AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC, and connect a USB drive to it.

Step 2. Click RecoverBoot Repair on the main interface.

Boot Repair

Step 3. Select the create a bootable disk option to create a WinPE bootable media.

Create Bootable Disk

Step 4. Connect the newly created drive to the computer that cannot function normally and set the USB drive as the primary boot device. This will enable your computer to boot and automatically load the Boot Repair tool to detect all boot issues.

Boot Entries in WinPE

Step 5. Once the process is completed, you can see all boot entries on the interface. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the Repair button.

Repair in WinPE

Step 6. After a successful repair, remove the bootable USB drive and boot the PC from the original system drive.

Repair Successfully in WinPE

Method 2. Enable Startup Repair

In addition to using third-party software, Windows provides a series of recovery options. You can easily access them by entering the Windows Recovery Environment. Startup Repair is one of the options to detect and fix frequent boot problems, such as corrupted system files, disk errors, or hardware issues. Here’s how to fix the BCD error on Windows 10 using Start Repair:

Step 1. Restart your computer by pressing and holding the power button for several seconds. Repeat the process three times to enter the WinRE. If you fail to do that, consider booting your computer with a bootable drive as mentioned in Method 1.

Step 2. Click Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Step 3. Select the Startup Repair tool to automatically detect and repair boot issues.

Startup Repair

Method 3. Rebuild BCD

BCD is an important system file in Windows that stores essential information for the boot process. If it becomes corrupted or is lost, the system can fail to load correctly or encounter other server errors, including "BCD not found on Windows 10". Fortunately, these errors can be fixed by using the correct commands in Common Prompt. Follow these steps to open CMD and rebuild BCD files:

Step 1. After accessing Advanced options, select Common Prompt and allow it to load.

Step 2. Type the following commands and press Enter one by one:

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /rebuildbcd

Step 3. Quit CMD and restart your computer to check whether it has been repaired.

Method 4. Perform System Restore

If the methods discussed above cannot resolve this issue, consider reverting your system to an earlier state. Windows provides the System Restore tool, allowing you to undo recent changes, provided that you have created a restore point. Here’s how to perform System Restore in Windows 10:

Step 1. Select the System Restore tool in the Advanced options.

Step 2. Choose a restore point created recently, and then click Next

Step 3. Confirm the restore point in the next window and click Finish to restore your computer to that state.

Confirm Your Restore Point

Tips: While System Restore can fix boot issues by reverting the failed system to a previous state, any changes that you recently made may get lost. Please ensure that all essential data has been backed up.

FAQ

Q1: Why is the BCD file missing?

This issue often arises due to BCD file corruption, accidental deletion, disk errors, or sudden shutdowns. Additionally, hardware changes, such as a new hard drive or altered partitions, can also disrupt the BCD configuration, resulting in the BCD file missing.

Q2: Where is the BCD file on Windows 10?

The BCD file is stored in the hidden system partition labeled System Reserved, usually located at \Boot\BCD. If the System Reserved partition is absent, the BCD file is located in the root of the active partition, typically the C:\Boot folder.

Q3: How do I prevent future BCD-related issues in Windows 10?

To minimize the risk of BCD-related issues, it is advised to keep Windows and drivers updated, avoid forced shutdowns, and install only trusted software. Besides, creating regular system backups can protect you against data loss caused by boot failures.

Conclusion

Many users have been troubled by the "BCD not found on Windows 10" error for a long time. No need to worry—this post offers four effective ways to fix this painful issue. Compared to the other methods, using AOMEI Partition Assistant to execute Windows boot repair stands out for its ease and efficiency, providing you with an excellent user experience.

Gia
Gia · Staff Editor
Gia is an editor of AOMEI Technology. She possesses comprehensive expertise in resolving common computer challenges. Her methodical training equips her to craft articles that have provided indispensable guidance to countless users grappling with technical issues.