AOMEI Partition Assistant
Fixed: The Boot Select Failed Because A Required Device Is Inaccessible
The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e generally caused by corrupted MBR and BCD files. This passage will guide you to fix it and help you recover any lost data.
By Irene / Updated on April 21, 2025
What causes the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e?
The boot selection failed error means your computer can't start up properly. This often happens because something is wrong with the system files, settings, or hardware connections. This error is common in Windows 7, 8, 10, and Windows Server 2008 R2. It may appear with different error codes like error code 0xc000000f, 0xc000000e, 0xc0000225, or 0xc0000185. What will cause such an error? Below is a table to help you better understand this issue.
| Cause | Explanation | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Invalid or Corrupt BCD | BCD (Boot Configuration Data) stores boot settings. If it's damaged or missing, Windows won’t know how to boot. | Rebuild the BCD with a tool or using Command Prompt or boot repair tools. |
| MBR Corruption | The MBR (Master Boot Record) tells your computer where Windows is. If it’s corrupted, boot fails. | Repair the MBR with a tool or using bootrec commands in recovery mode. |
| Loose or Damaged Cables | A faulty cable between the hard drive and motherboard can stop the system from reading the disk. | Check and reconnect the cables or replace them if damaged. |
| Bad Sectors on Hard Disk | Damaged parts of the hard drive may prevent access to important system files. | Run disk check tools chkdsk to scan and repair bad sectors. |
| Wrong Boot Order in BIOS | If the BIOS tries to boot from the wrong device (e.g., USB), it won’t find Windows. | Change the boot drive and set the hard drive as the first boot option in BIOS settings. |
| External Devices Interference | A connected USB or external drive might be prioritized before the main hard drive. | Disconnect unnecessary external devices during startup. |
| Incorrect BIOS Settings | If BIOS settings are wrong or changed, the system might fail to boot properly. | Reset BIOS settings to default or correct misconfigurations. |
Now that we know the common reasons behind the boot selection failed error, let's move on to how to fix a specific and serious version of this issue — “The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible” with error code 0xc000000e. This is covered in the next section.
How to fix error code 0xc000000e on Windows PCs?
There are 4 fixes for solving The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e. But before fixing, you need to make sure to check all the cable connections on your PC. Even a slightly loose cable can prevent the system from being accessed. Ensure that each cable is securely connected to the correct port on both ends. Once everything is properly connected, go ahead and restart your computer and then follow our guide.
Fix 1. Remove hardware or all peripheral devices
Sometimes, external or peripheral devices—like USB drives, external hard disks, or printers—can cause boot problems. This happens when your computer tries to boot from one of these devices instead of the main hard drive. As a result, you may see errors like 0xc000000e, 0xc000000f, 0xc0000225, or 0xc0000185.
To fix this, the first step is simple: Remove all connected hardware and peripheral devices before trying other methods. This includes USB drives, memory card readers, external hard disks, printers, and anything else not essential for booting.
Once everything is unplugged, restart your computer to see if the system boots up normally.
If it does, reconnect the devices one by one to find out which one caused the problem. This way, if the same issue happens again, you’ll know which device might be responsible.
🔥Fix 2. Perform a boot repair
If your computer can’t boot properly, using a third-party tool might be the simplest and most effective solution, especially for users who aren’t familiar with command-line operations. While Windows does offer built-in repair tools, they often require typing commands in the Command Prompt, which can be confusing and error-prone for non-technical users.
A recommended alternative is AOMEI Partition Assistant, a user-friendly program that works with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Its Boot Repair feature can fix problems related to the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) without needing to type any complex commands. Here’s how you can use it to solve the issue where the BIOS detects Windows Boot Manager but fails to load Windows:
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Prepare a blank USB and connect it to a working PC that has installed AOMEI Partition Assistant, click "Recover" >"Boot Repair" and then click the "create a bootable disk" option to create a WinPE "Boot Repair" disk.
Step 2. Boot the PC that cannot boot into WinPE. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed.
Step 3. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the repair.
Step 4. Once the repair is successful, you can remove the bootable disk and boot the PC from the original system drive.
Fix 3. Rebuild corrupted MBR
If you’ve already created a bootable USB with AOMEI Partition Assistant, you can also use it to rebuild a corrupted MBR, which is another possible cause of the “The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible” error with code 0xc000000e.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. Boot from the USB with AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the system disk and choose "Rebuild MBR".
Step 2. Choose a proper MBR type according to your operating system in the pop-up window. And then the program will set the type of MBR for your current OS.
Step 3. Click "Apply" on the toolbar to commit the operation and click "Proceed" to confirm the task.
Fixing Windows boot problems with AOMEI Partition Assistant is far easier and more user-friendly than using Command Prompt commands. In addition to boot repair, it also offers several useful features for Windows startup repair, such as checking partition and formatting partitions, which will help to detect and remove bad sectors that will cause the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e. If you suffer data loss due to the system crash, you can also jump to this part to recover any lost data.
Fix 4. Run startup repair
The Startup Repair tool is a built-in feature in Windows designed to fix a wide range of common and even more complex startup issues. So, if your computer is having trouble booting from the hard drive, it's a good idea to try using this tool. Follow these steps to get started to fix The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e in Windows computers:
Step 1. Force your computer to shut down abruptly on at least 3 occasions to access the "Automatic Repair" screen.
Step 2. Once you've accessed the "Advanced options", navigate to "Troubleshoot" and then choose "Advanced options."
Step 3. In the "Advanced options" menu, opt for "Startup Repair".
Step 4. Windows will initiate the repair process and subsequently reboot your PC.
🌟How to recover lost data due to system crash like 0xc000000e error?
If you have a bootable USB, AOMEI Partition Assistant also can help you recover any lost data due to the system crash like the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e. With its “Recover Data” feature, users can easily retrieve over 1000 types of files from different storage devices—including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards—even after formatting, system crashes, or virus attacks.
AOMEI Partition AssistantThe Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer
Step 1. In AOMEI Partition Assistant, click Recover > Recover Data.
Step 2. Select the source drive where the Word document was saved > Start Scanning.
Step 3. When the scan is over, all deleted files, Recycle Bin, and other lost files will be listed. Please select the data you want to recover and click Recover.
Step 4. Please select a path to save recovered documents.
Step 5. The recovery progress will start and data will be saved to the path if it is successful.
1. If you lose files after scanning and fixing them on a Windows Server PC, you can choose the Server Edition to recover files.
2. If you’re sure that the disk is fine and you want to save all data on the disk, you can connect another disk to your computer, and use the “Clone Disk” function to transfer all data from the dead computer.
Conclusion
The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible with error code 0xc000000e usually means your computer can’t find the device it needs to boot. This can be caused by damaged boot files, incorrect BIOS settings, loose cables, or bad sectors on the hard drive. Thankfully, there are several ways to fix this issue, such as removing external devices, using boot repair tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant, rebuilding the MBR, or running Windows Startup Repair. If you’ve lost data due to this error, data recovery tools can also help. With the right steps, you can get your system running again and avoid future boot problems.
