Windows 8 has changed many colors, and errors creep in when you do some tweaks or if there is incompatible software. Boot loader errors like 0xc0000034 create trouble if you have no other support to troubleshoot. Either you should have another desktop PC or laptop with an internet connection to resolve your problem, or find a Microsoft engineer to solve your issues.
Recently I was trying to tweak my boot manager using EasyBCD, which is a software tool to make changes to your boot menu. At the same time I was also trying to install Windows 7. The bad thing I did was that I already installed Windows 8.1 32-bit and Windows 8 64-bit as a dual boot system and wanted to install the older OS over it.
Though the procedure was a tricky business that I accomplished earlier, I failed this time. I faced the dreaded boot error code 0xc0000034 when I installed the 32-bit Windows 7 version and failed to boot the Windows 8 boot manager.
The error description goes something like this:
Recovery: Your PC needs to be repaired. The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information. File: BootBCD Error code: 0xc0000034 You’ll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer.
I earlier faced a similar issue with error code 0xc0000098 regarding a booting problem and resolved it using the “b–boot” command. In that case, the boot error was quickly resolved. To resolve the issue this time, I searched Google for answers. Many times, I resolve to search forums, which I recommend to my young readers as a good troubleshooting habit.
Solution
The fix that I applied was entirely different compared to the earlier solutions. I thank “NeoSmart Technologies” for providing the command line editor commands in an easily digestible manner. This solution is especially for Windows 8 or 8.1 users. For Windows 7 or Vista, you may need to try slightly different commands. Note: Since your Windows will not boot, you need a Windows 8 installation DVD to boot into and enter the Command Prompt tool, which is available under the “Repair your computer” option. The process involved applying commands in the command prompt window over five stages. Stage 1: We should first make sure that the MBR and boot sector contain the right references to the Windows 8 bootloader.
bootrec.exe /fixmbr bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force
Stage 2: Then we need to get rid of the old BCD registry and create a new one. Note: The important thing is that C: refers to the boot drive and also the Windows installation drive. If you have a dual-boot system, find out which partition is the active one.
attrib -h -s C:WindowsbootBCD
del C:bootBCD
b--edit /createstore c: temp
b--edit.exe /store c:Windowsbootb--. temp /create {bootmgr} /d "Windows Boot Manager"
b--edit.exe /import c:Windowsbootb--.temp
b--edit.exe /set {bootmgr} device partition=C:
b--edit.exe /timeout 10
attrib -h -s C:\Windows\boot temp
del c:\Windows\boot\b--. temp
Stage 3: The Windows 8 bootloader is clean now, and you need to add your Windows 8 installation entry to it.
b--edit.exe /create /d "Microsoft Windows" /application osloaderThe entry{c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008}was successfully created.
Stage 4: Then we need to assign the device partition and set some path changes.
b--edit.exe /set {c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008} device partition=C:
b--edit.exe /set {c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008} osdevice partition=C:
b--edit.exe /set {c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008} path Windowssystem32winload.exe
b--edit.exe /set {c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008} systemroot Windows
Stage 5: Finally, we need to tell the bootmgr bootloader to list the entry.
b--edit.exe /displayorder {c0dfc4fa-cb21-11dc-81bf-005056c00008}
Conclusion
Though there are various solutions for this booting problem and error code, this is like altogether creating a new boot manager and wiping out the old data. So if you had a Windows 8 Boot Manager, after applying these commands, you will see a Windows 7- or Vista-styled boot menu. I don’t recommend this solution for a simple problem. Usually entering the Windows installation DVD and repairing your PC most of the time resolves the problem. But in hard cases like these, you can apply this solution. I applied this solution myself and was successful in installing Windows 7 after Windows 8 (which you should avoid), despite encountering this boot error code.
Hi Palla.
Thank you so much for taking time to post this article. It helped me a lot, since I broke the BCD with an application called EasyBCD and couldn’t load into the OS by trying many different manipulations with the Installation DVDs, Windows Live CDs, Linux Live CDs, and lots of other utilities. So glad I’ve come across this site. Will surely check it for other solutions too. Thank you again.
P.s. I had the error 0xc0000098, but used the 5 stages you posted, my bad, I didn’t notice the part about “b–boot” when reading this from phone, but now, from my recovered PC I just read it haha… still glad I fixed it.
P.p.s Is there a way I can backup the BCD stuff to another place so I could later, if needed, just copy it back using a Live CD file manager?
@ Ilo. Thanks for your comments. To my knowledge, BCD backup is available in the same EasyBCD tool. Its on the main interface. BTW, were you able to solve the above problem? Please give your experience on how you did it?
Yes I definitely solved the problem.
The sequence was as follows:
1) Randomly by accident applied “Install BCD” option to my C: partition from the “BCD Deployment” section of EasyBCD application. Since that option was only meant for external USB drives, it seems to broke the BCD and gave the error 0xc0000098.
2) Tried many utilities about fixing MBR, fixing bootloader, and managing the partition table, nothing helped.
3) Came across your site and applied the steps you described for fixing 0xc0000034, but it actually fixed my problem with 0xc0000098.
Right now I’m on my way to discover how grub works with EasyBCD to load GNU/Debian 🙂 still didn’t get how it should work though
Ok cool. Regarding grub, I don’t remember much about it. Better using gParted the Unix partitioning tool. I’m assuming you are planning to install Debian on a Windows system. 🙂
gParted can be used to startup Debian?
My plan is to use tripple boot, remain the Windows 8.1 as my main OS, have Windows XP for gaming, and have Debian for curiosity. But I’m confused now of how to startup Debian, since it requires grub to start, EasyBCD can’t start it directly
Yes, gParted can be used. It’s a Unix tool actually. For more info, you can Google it..Also follow me on Google+ so that we can talk in future there…
Thank you. Followed 🙂
Thank you so much!!!!! It helped me a lot
Will this method keep all of my files or will it format my drive and lose all my work :/
Thanks!
@Duncan: This will keep your files and the OS.
Thanks for the help! 🙂
my laptop is hp envy 15-j110tx with new windows 8.1 …. i mistakenly formatted my hard drive and lost my windows… but when using recovery disk i tried to recover my windows every thing was going fine till last disc.. it also ejected out and final software installation was going onn that also completed to 90% but sudddenly it restared and showed a error that windows recovery unsussesfull…. and show boot/BCD file missing…
i dont understand this thing how it can miss a file… at the time of recovery disk formation every step i followed and rcovery drive was made suucessfully without any error but how come now its not working ….i want to know how to get my windows back… my laptop is useless now…please help me asap.
@dheeraj.. Probably your boot loader got corrupted during the recovery phase.. Try some basic troubleshooting steps for your error on Google. If you find a related problem, then you can apply that.. If nothing works out, then you apply the command lines that I mentioned in my post for /boot/BCD error…Most of the times it should work!!!
Thankyou Palla…. I need this tutorial for my Laptop
This is work
Hi. Thanks for the tutorial but when I get to stage 2 – import command. I get a “The requested system device cannot be found. ” error. Can’t wrap my head around this error. If you can help further, it’s much appreciated.
@Marc : Are you sure that you are creating those commands on the Windows installation drive and also the boot drive. This is the drive from where your computer will boot. Generally it’ll be C:. But in some cases it can be different like D:, E: etc.
Hi, I have gone through the proses but every time I get to set it just says.
File not found – C:\Windows\boot\BCD
Can any one help me?
Thank you
I have had this b– error for a week now, and i have been trying other cmd entries from other sites but still got d same error until i saw this site and tried your method. pls i need help, i did all d 5 stages correctly, exited cmd, removed my flash and restarted my computer but this time i got a different error about something not being signed, so i used auto-repair option to try and fix this but then my screen went blank, i shut it down after waiting for almost 2 hrs and when i started again all i got was a black screen and my pc was making noise, i cant get to anywhere from d black screen pls i need help on how to solve this. Thank you in advance.
@Elliot ; Please email me with your email address at the contact form available at the top. If you have Google+ or Twitter it’d be great..:)
Thanks for replying but i already found a way to leave d blackscreen by tapping F8 then pressing esc on boot up,i got to hp recobery manage, backed up my files and formatted my laptop cuz i was left with no other option, d problem is fixed now but i lost some files.
Thanks Sir
Exceptional.
Thank you very much.
One question please, if I may, is this method/commands applicable on Win 10?
If not, would you be so kind to note differences, or make a set of instructions for Win 10, please.
Much Obliged, thanks again.
@Dusan. I still need to research on that. But Windows 10 boot loader should be no different from 8. So try these commands, as it’ll only change the boot registry and assign the new installation. If time permits, I’ll write a new post on it.
how the correct way when b–edit.exe / set {bootmgr} device partition = C: error please love me just the solution
I’m having the 0xc0000034 problem. i can get to command prompt, but is this repair still possible without a setup DVD/ installation media? problem is I am presently offshore thus not able to contact PC manufacturer or repair shop for another 3 weeks 🙁
@Paul: There can be several causes for the 0xc0000034 error. The solution I gave is only when all others fail. So you can try other solutions which may work for you. But generally you need to have a repair disk or Windows Installation media, to solve such type of boot errors.
Okay. I hope people still watch this. I am having a MAJOR issue. I got this error on my windows 8.1 partition on my Macbook, where all of my very important files are, and have been trying every trouble shooting option available….with no avail. The issue is, whenever I try to use the command prompts available, they all work until i reach a prompt that requires the use of C: Whenever i try and use these, it says cannot specify file path. And yes, i have checked, C: IS my windows volume. I just cant figure out why command prompt WON’T identify my volume. Any idea’s? I am completely broken down and desperate at this point…..
Thanks in advance for your time.