[Solved] REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data

The error "REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" can arise from various reasons. This post will explore more details about it and provide a full guide to fix it up.

Posted by @Gia December 17, 2024 Updated By @Gia October 25, 2024

REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data

REAGENTC.EXE is a built-in utility in Windows mainly used to configure WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). With this tool, you can effortlessly manage and set recovery options, especially when your system crashes or fails to start.

BCD (Boot Configuration Data), a firmware-independent database, contains information necessary for the operating system to boot, similar to the boot.ini file used by earlier versions of Windows.

However, you may encounter the error "REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" while using this tool. Why does it happen?

Being unable to update Boot Configuration Data can stem from various causes. Here are several common reasons for it:

► Run commands without administrative privileges.

► The BCD file gets corrupted or lost.

► The partition BCD stored is inaccessible or damaged.

► Some errors may occur in the file system or on the disks.

How to resolve the failure to update BCD?

How can we resolve this painful issue? This section outlines four effective solutions to fix the "REAGENTC: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" error. By following these steps, you can easily restore REAGENTC.EXE to normal functionality and ensure the BCD file is updated correctly.

Fix 1. Perform a BCD Rebuild via Command

The BCD file is essential to manage and load the boot options on your computer. If it becomes corrupted or gets lost, your computer will refuse to boot correctly. Fortunately, you can rebuild it by executing the right commands. Follow these steps to repair BCD in the Command Prompt.

Step 1. To access the Command Prompt, you have to create a bootable USB drive or other media for recovery.

Step 2. Connect that USB drive to your failed PC and press Enter to boot the system.

Step 3. Customize language, time and currency format, and keyboard/input method according to your needs.

Step 4. Select Repair your computer to proceed further.

Step 5. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt in turn.

Step 6. Type the following commands, then press Enter to repair any boot issues and rebuild BCD.

  • bootrec /fixmbr
  • bootrec /fixboot
  • bootrec /rebuildbcd

Fix 2. Repair the System Partition

The system partition (System Reserved Partition or EFI partition) can store essential files to ensure the system boots correctly, including BCD. If it becomes corrupt or inaccessible, you may encounter the "REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" error. Don’t worry. You can easily repair the system partition by following the steps below.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as mentioned earlier.

Step 2. Execute the following commands to check the system partition.

  • diskpart (Launches DiskPart to manage disks, partitions, and volumes.)
  • list disk (Displays a list of all physical disks attached to the computer.)
  • select disk 0 (In most cases, disk 0 is the primary disk where Windows is installed. You can replace 0 with the appropriate disk number if needed. )
  • list partition (Lists all the partitions on the selected disk.)
  • select partition X (You can replace X with the number of the system partition.)
  • assign letter=Y (You can assign an available drive letter to the selected partition, making it accessible in the file system.)
  • exit (Exits DiskPart)

Step 3. Then type chkdsk Y: /f /r and press Enter to repair the file system on the system partition.

Step 4. Exit the CMD window and restart your system.

Fix 3. Reset Windows Recovery Environment

Sometimes, resetting the WinRE can fix the issue with updating the Boot Configuration Data. Here are the detailed steps to disable and re-enable it.

Step 1. Open Command Prompt as mentioned earlier.

Step 2. Type reagentc /disable and press Enter to disable WinRE.

Step 3. Then type reagentc /enable and press Enter to enable it again.

Step 4. Restart your computer.

Fix 4. Repair Issues Using Third-Party Software

In addition to the methods above, you can also repair various boot issues using third-party software. In most cases, "REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" is caused by corrupted BCD files or problems with the system partition.

AOMEI Partition Assistant can help you easily and effectively repair various system boot issues. Its "Boot Repair" feature supports creating bootable disks and automatically scanning boot entries, providing you with a reliable solution to restore the faulty computer to normal boot functionality. Please feel free to download it and give it a try.

Here’s how to repair boot issues using AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant on a functional PC, then connect a USB drive to it.

Step 2. Select Recover Boot Repair from the main interface.

Step 3. Choose the create a bootable disk option to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 4. Connect the newly created drive to the faulty computer 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.

Step 5. Once the boot entries scanning is complete, all boot entries will be displayed. Select the entries that you want to repair and click the Repair button.

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

Summary

Have you ever encountered the "REAGENTC.EXE: Unable to Update Boot Configuration Data" error? This post provides four effective solutions to address this issue. We highly recommend AOMEI Partition Assistant for an enhanced and effective repair experience. Besides that, it includes a wide range of features to manage partitions and resolve common issues related to disks, such as resizing partitions, cloning disks, or recovering data.