The Guide to Using BCDEdit to Repair Boot MGR in Windows 10

What is Boot Manager?

Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is an important database that stores key information about your system's boot settings. The Windows Boot Manager (bootmgr) is responsible for loading the operating system and reading the settings saved in the BCD to guide the computer during startup.

If the Boot Manager becomes corrupted or misconfigured, you may experience various errors during starting up, leaving you locked out of your device. But don’t worry! Many tools are available to repair bootmgr. This post provides a full guide on using BCDEdit to repair boot MGR in Windows 10. Keep reading this guide to restore your device now!

Using BCDEdit to Repair Boot MGR in Windows 10

While there are multiple tools available, using BCDEdit to repair boot is among the most recommended methods. This tool allows you to directly access the boot configuration using commands, making it easier to view, modify, and delete boot settings. It is particularly advantageous for users who have a technical background and require more granular control over their system's boot settings. This section will guide you through the whole process of using BCDEdit to repair boot on Windows 10.

Access the Command Prompt

Before using BCDEdit to repair the Windows 10 boot process, it is crucial to access the Command Prompt. Here are several methods to open Command Prompt, regardless of whether your computer can start up properly.

For the computer that can boot:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search bar and press Enter.

Step 2. Right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select Run as administrator.

Step 3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

For the non-booting computer:

► Method 1. Trigger Automatic Repair

Step 1. Restart your computer by holding the power button.

Step 2. Repeat the process 2-3 times to enable the Automatic Repair to diagnose and repair boot issues.

Step 3. If Automatic Repair fails to resolve the boot-related issues, click Advanced options > Command Prompt to open the command-line window.

► Method 2. Use Bootable Media

Step 1. Create a bootable USB on another working computer, then insert it into your faulty PC.

Step 2. Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive. You may need to adjust the boot order in your BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing F12 (or other keys) repeatedly to enter the boot menu.

Step 3. Choose your language and other preferences, then click Next.

Step 4. Choose Repair your computer at the bottom left of the window.

Step 5. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt and allow it to load.

Use BCDEdit to Repair Boot on Windows 10

After accessing the Command Prompt, you can repair various boot issues by typing the BCDEdit commands. Here are some commonly used commands that you can refer to.

Step 1. List current BCD settings by typing bcdedit /enum all and pressing Enter.

Step 2. Type bcdedit /export C:\bcdbackup to back up the current BCD to the C: drive.

Step 3. Here we use Bootrec commands to perform a deeper repair process. Execute bootrec /rebuildbcd to remove the existing BCD. If Windows installations are detected, type Y to add them to the BCD.

Step 4. Type the following commands to repair the boot manager and master boot record.

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

Step 5. If rebuilding the BCD fails, delete the current BCD file and create a new one by typing the following commands.

del C:\boot\bcd

bcdboot C:\Windows /s C:

Step 6. After executing the commands, restart the system to check if the changes have taken effect.

An Alternative Way to Repair Boot Manager

In addition to using BCDEdit to repair boot mgr in Windows 10, you can also use third-party software like AOMEI Partition Assistant. As a powerful and comprehensive disk management tool, it includes rich features to troubleshoot common issues during regular tasks.

Even if your computer fails to start normally, the Boot Repair tool in this software can automatically detect various system boot issues and offer repair service as needed. Download and try the product using the link below.

To repair the Windows 10 boot using AOMEI Partition Assistant, follow these steps:

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

Step 2. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant and select the Boot Repair tool below the Recover section.

Step 3. Click the create a bootable disk option to create a WinPE Boot Repair USB drive.

Step 4. Plug the created drive into the non-booting computer and attempt to boot it by entering the BIOS/UEFI setup. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and perform a scan of boot entries.

If your computer can boot normally, directly click Next to start the system’s boot entry scan on the Boot Repair window.

Step 5. Once the process completes, you will see all scan results, including system paths, system versions, and boot status. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the Repair button.

Step 6. Wait for the repair process to finish, then remove the bootable USB drive and boot the PC from the original system drive.

Tips to Prevent Future Boot Issues

While boot issues can often be resolved, it’s crucial to take steps to prevent them from occurring again. Here are some key tips to consider.

► Keep your operating system and drivers up to date.

► Regularly monitor your hard drive’s health and resolve issues promptly to avoid future booting issues.

► Make it a habit to create backups or system restore points to safeguard against unexpected boot failures.

► Install reliable antivirus software and keep it updated to avoid booting issues caused by malware and viruses.

Bottom Line

The Windows Boot Manager is mainly used to load the operating system and read the settings in the BCD to guide the computer through startup. However, inevitable corruption of it can result in unexpected boot failures. This post provides a guide on using BCDEdit to repair boot MGR in Windows 10. Additionally, you can also use AOMEI Partition Assistant to resolve various boot issues, restoring your computer to full functionality.