In Windows, BCD or Boot Configuration Data ensures that your PC boots up securely and quickly. However, if the BCD is damaged or corrupted, your PC won’t be able to boot up. As a result, the obvious solution one might consider is reinstalling Windows. However, it’s not the best solution, as it can lead to data loss. Instead, you can rebuild BCD.
So the question is, how to rebuild BCD in Windows 11/10? To help you out, here are complete details and steps to follow to fix bcd.
What Is Boot Configuration Data (BCD)?
Boot Configuration Data, or BCD, is an essential element of your Windows system for managing the boot process. It stores essential configuration parameters and instructs Windows on how to start and load the operating system.
The BCD includes various entries which define the location of the operating system’s files, the type of boot environment, boot menu options, and more.
However, in case BCD gets corrupted in any way, then BCD will not be able to locate the essential boot information. As a result, your computer won’t be able to boot up and get into a restart loop, and you will need to repair Windows boot.
How to Rebuild BCD in Windows 11/10?
Now that you know how vital a BCD file is, and you are receiving the boot configuration data for your pc is missing, you need to follow the below methods to fix Windows Boot Configuration Data.
- Repair BCD store with Startup Repair
- Rebuild BCD with Bootrec.exe tool
You will need an admin account to execute the suggestions. Also, ensure a clear understanding of the BCD repair process and the suggested BCD recovery tool.
1] Repair the BCD store with Startup Repair
You can use the Startup Repair option to repair the BCD. However, for this, you will need a Windows installation media disk which you can easily create using the Media Creation tool.
Once you have created the installation disk, follow the below steps:
- Boot into your BIOS or UEFI when you start the PC using DEL or F2 key
- Change the boot order, and set the first device to USB
- Plugin the bootable USB, and PC will boot using the installation disk.
- Then from the Install Now screen, click on Repair your computer.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup repair.
- Next, select your user account and enter the password.
- Now let your PC repair itself and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Once done, boot your PC normally and check if it can rebuild BCD Windows 11 and if it resolves the issue.
Read: How To Fix an Inaccessible Boot Device in Windows
2] Rebuild BCD with Bootrec.exe tool
You can also use Bootrec.exe to repair BCD on Windows. The option rebuildbcd scans all disks for installations compatible with Windows. You can select the installations you want to add to the BCD store. You should use this option to completely rebuild the BCD store, which is the case here.
This utility tool is for troubleshooting issues in the Windows Recovery Environment. To get started, follow these steps:
- Boot up your PC using the media installation disk.
- Go to Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Over here, click on Command Prompt to launch CMD.
- Now, in CMD, run the following command:
bootrec /rebuildbcd
- Next, it will scan your Windows and try to rebuild BCD.
- Once done, reboot your PC and see if you can boot up normally.
Once done, it will fix the BCD issue and problems where the inaccessible boot device restart loop keeps occurring.
Conclusion
So those were two of the quickest way to rebuild BCD in Windows 11/10. So go ahead and try these methods out and see if they help you. If these steps do not work, you must reinstall Windows, leading to data loss. But you can always use a data recovery tool to recover data.
How to Recreate a Windows Boot Configuration (BCD) from Scratch?
When using this tool, if you get an error saying—Bootmgr Is Missing—you must export and delete the BCD store and rerun this option. This makes sure that the BCD store is completely rebuilt.
To do this, type the following commands at the Windows RE command prompt:
bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup c: cd boot attrib bcd -s -h -r ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old bootrec /RebuildBcd
What is RebuildBCD error? How to perform BCD repair?
The “RebuildBCD” error typically refers to a situation where the BCD store becomes corrupted or misconfigured, leading to boot issues. This can happen for various reasons, such as hardware changes, disk errors, improper shutdowns, or malware infections. When the BCD is corrupted, your computer may fail to boot correctly, and you might encounter error messages like “Bootmgr is missing” or “Windows failed to start.”
To repair the BCD and resolve boot-related issues, you can perform the following steps:
Boot from Windows Installation Media: Insert your Windows installation DVD or create a bootable USB drive with the Windows installation files. Boot your computer from the installation media.
Access Command Prompt: Once the Windows Setup screen appears, choose your language and region settings and click “Next.” Click “Repair your computer” on the next screen instead of “Install now.” This will take you to the System Recovery Options. Select “Troubleshoot” > “Advanced options” > “Command Prompt.”
Run Startup Repair: In the Command Prompt window, you can try running the following command to repair common boot issues automatically:
bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd
After each command, press Enter. These commands will attempt to fix the Master Boot Record (MBR), rebuild the BCD, and scan for Windows installations. Follow any on-screen prompts.
Manually Rebuild BCD: If the automated repair doesn’t work, you might need to manually rebuild the BCD. This involves the following steps:
- First, back up the existing BCD: Run the command
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old. - Then, rebuild the BCD: Run the command
bootrec /rebuildbcd. - Follow the prompts to add any detected Windows installations to the new BCD store.
Exit and Restart: After performing the necessary repair commands, exit the Command Prompt and restart your computer. Hopefully, your system should now boot properly.
If you are uncomfortable performing these steps yourself, or if the issue persists even after trying the steps mentioned above, you should seek assistance from a knowledgeable friend or a professional technician to avoid potential data loss or further complications.