Do you see error code 0xc0000225 on Microsoft Windows 10 when you try to start your PC? This common error is a huge pain as it prevents your PC from starting.
Fortunately, you can usually fix this error with a little work. We are going to show you how to fix error code 0xc0000225 on Windows 10.
What is error code 0xC0000225?
You will see this error code when you try to start your PC. Windows displays it with a message saying Your PC needs to be repaired and the vague Unexpected error has occurred . Sometimes it also says A required device is not connected or cannot be accessed .
Microsoft Windows returns this error when it cannot find the correct system files for startup. This vital information is called Boot Configuration Data or BCD. When you turn on your PC, it tells Windows how to boot properly.
This error is more common on disks that use the newer UEFI specification with GPT partition scheme than older configurations.
Windows post about this is a bit vague, so we need to put our Windows troubleshooting caps on to fix it
Similar Post: errorslab.com/windows-10-error-code-0x8007007e/
What causes the error code 0xC0000225?
Since this error is about corrupted system files, it often appears after an operating system upgrade (such as upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10).
It can also happen if your PC shuts down during an important update, from malware attacking system files, or even from faulty hardware.
Follow the steps below to hopefully fix your problem, whatever the cause.
Step 1: Create a Windows 10 installation disc
As with other startup errors, you cannot resolve this issue from within Windows. So, you’ll need a Windows 10 installation disc handy so you can run repair tools from there. Follow our guide to create Windows 10 installation media to get the necessary disc.
You will need a flash drive with at least 8 GB of space or a DVD. Note that creating the Windows 10 disc will erase everything on the drive, so we recommend using a blank flash drive or DVD.
Once you have created your installation media, insert it into your computer. Press the appropriate key to open the boot menu and load Windows 10 disc from your external device.
Step 2: Automatic Windows Repair
First, you’ll want to try Windows 10’s built-in troubleshooter. The system automatically checks for problems and tries to fix them on its own. Hope this will fix your corrupted BCD so you can get back to work.
After booting from your Windows 10 installation disc, wait until you see the Windows installation screen. Confirm your language options, then click Next . When you see the Install Now screen, click the Fix your computer link at the bottom left instead.
You will see a menu of options; select Troubleshoot then Advanced options . From the Advanced options menu here, select Automatic repair . Allow the process to continue, then restart your computer when finished.
Try to restart normally. If the error code 0xc0000225 is not displayed, you have fixed the problem!
Step 3: Run Manual SFC and Check Disk Scans
If Windows Automatic Repair didn’t work, there are a few important system scans you can try yourself. To do this, repeat the above process to open the Advanced options menu, but do not select Automatic repair . Instead, choose Command Prompt to open a command line interface.
First, run System File Checker (SFC) , which searches for corrupt or missing Windows system files and tries to repair them:
Once you have run these two scans, restart and try to load your PC normally again. Hopefully the error will not happen again.
Step 4: Rebuild the BCD
If you are still having problems, the next step you can try is a command to rebuild the BCD. Since this is often the cause of the error, this could be the trick for you.
The first command scans your disk (s) for compatible installations, which may help it find your “missing” Windows installation. Commands two and three write a new MBR and boot sector to your disk. The final command looks again for Windows installations after the fixes.
Restart your computer once more and hopefully this will clear the error message 0xc0000225.
Step 5: Define your active partition
Windows allows you to change the active partition so that you can tell the system to boot from. If this becomes incorrect, you can change it to point Windows to the correct partition.
Go through the above to open a Command Prompt from your Windows repair disc. Type the following commands one at a time to open the Disk Partition tool and list your available disks:
You will see a series of entries labeled Disk 0 , Disk 1 , etc. Your internal hard drive is most likely Disk 0 – you can see it Size which is which. Type the next one at a time, replacing the X with or whatever the number of your hard drive:
This second command will display all partitions on your internal drive. Your main partition can be; it was 4 (marked as Primary ) for me.
Then enter these commands replacing X with your partition number:
Exit the command prompt, restart, and see if your problem is resolved.
This marks the partition that Windows is installed on as the one that Windows uses to boot. If that has changed and resulted in the error code 0xc0000225, it may reset everything.
Step 6: Check for faulty hardware
At this point, you have done a good deal of software troubleshooting to correct this error. If you are still unable to boot, you should consider checking your hard drive for physical issues.
Follow our guide to diagnosing a bad hard drive for some tips. Once you have confirmed that your hard drive is healthy, you will need to resort to …
Step 7: Try System Restore or Reinstall Windows
If this problem started recently, you can try a system restore from the recovery disk to go back in time. Reboot from your installation media, go to the Advanced options menu and select System Restore . Choose a recent restore point and Windows will revert to that point without affecting your personal files.
If you don’t have any restore points or if restoring doesn’t fix the problem, it’s best to reinstall Windows to replace the broken system files and get everything else up to date. It takes time, but it’s your best bet if you’ve made it this far.
You’ll find a Reset this PC option under Advanced options> System Restore on your recovery disc. Follow our guide to reset Windows 10 for more information.
Error code 0xC0000225 corrected!
Hopefully one of these methods will clear the error code 0xc0000225 on Windows 10 for you. Whether it’s due to a botched upgrade or a hardware error, luckily you have options to combat it. If the errors are related specifically to a Windows update, Microsoft’s free SetupDiag tool can help you troubleshoot them. For more troubleshooting, learn how to fix error code 0xC0000225.
Similar Post: errorslab.com/error-code-0xc000007b/