Fix Boot Configuration Data Error 0xc000014c on Windows 10

If you see error 0xc000014c on a blue screen when starting Windows 10, your Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is missing or corrupted. You can fix it by booting from Windows installation media and running the bootrec commands or rebuilding the BCD store manually.

What Causes Error 0xc000014c?

This error appears when the Windows Boot Manager cannot read the BCD store, a small database that tells Windows where to find the system files to start. Common triggers include:

• An interrupted update or power loss during startup configuration
• A failed disk write that corrupted the BCD file
• Accidental deletion or modification of the BCD store by disk tools
• Incorrect drive letter assignment after cloning or partitioning
• Malware or a faulty driver that targets boot files

The BCD store lives at \Boot\BCD on the active system partition (usually the EFI System Partition on UEFI systems or the System Reserved partition on BIOS systems). If that file is missing, unreadable, or contains invalid entries, Windows cannot continue past the boot manager.

Before You Start: What You Need

To repair the BCD, you need a Windows 10 installation USB or DVD. You can create one with the Media Creation Tool on another working PC. The repair process does not delete your personal files, but it is wise to back up important data if you can access the drive from another computer.

Also note: the steps below are for standard Windows 10 installations. If your PC uses BitLocker or a custom boot setup, you may need to disable encryption temporarily or consult your device manufacturer.

Step-by-Step Repair Using Command Prompt

Boot from the installation media and choose Repair your computer on the second screen. Then go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

1. At the command prompt, type bootrec /fixmbr and press Enter. This rewrites the master boot record (BIOS systems) or does nothing harmful on UEFI.
2. Type bootrec /fixboot and press Enter. If you see “Access is denied”, skip to the manual rebuild below.
3. Type bootrec /scanos to let Windows find installed operating systems.
4. Type bootrec /rebuildbcd. It will ask if you want to add the found installation to the boot list. Press Y and Enter.

If all commands run successfully, restart your PC and see if Windows boots. If the error persists, the BCD store may be too corrupted to rebuild automatically, so you will need to recreate it manually.

Manual BCD Rebuild (When bootrec Fails)

When /fixboot gives an access error or /rebuildbcd cannot find Windows, do this:

1. At the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter.
2. Type list disk and note the disk number (usually 0).
3. Type select disk 0 (replace 0 if needed).
4. Type list volume to see all partitions. Look for the EFI partition (usually FAT32, about 100 MB) or the System Reserved partition (NTFS, about 500 MB). Note its drive letter, e.g., D:.
5. Type exit to leave diskpart.
6. If it is an EFI partition, run: format D: /FS:FAT32 (only if you are sure it is the EFI partition). For a System Reserved NTFS partition, use format D: /FS:NTFS. This erases the BCD but nothing else.
7. Type assign letter=S (or any free letter) to give that partition a letter if it does not have one.
8. Now recreate the BCD store: bcdboot C:\Windows /s S: /f ALL (replace C: with the drive letter of your Windows installation). This command copies new boot files and creates a fresh BCD.

After this, restart. If you still get the error, the problem may be a failing hard drive or a corrupted Windows installation itself.

What If the Repair Doesn’t Work?

Sometimes the BCD is fine but the boot files are missing or the partition layout is wrong. Try these in order:

• Run Startup Repair: From the same Advanced options menu, choose Startup Repair and let it run. It can fix boot loader issues automatically.
• Check disk errors: At the command prompt, run chkdsk C: /r (replace C: with your Windows drive). This scans for bad sectors and file system errors.
• Restore from a system image: If you have a backup, use System Image Recovery to restore the entire system.
• Reset this PC: As a last resort, you can reinstall Windows using the Reset this PC option (keep files or remove everything). This will rebuild the BCD automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this fix delete my files?

No. The bootrec commands and manual BCD rebuild only touch boot configuration files, not your personal data. However, if you run format on the wrong partition, you could lose data, so double-check the partition letter before formatting.

Why do I see “Access is denied” when running bootrec /fixboot?

This often happens on UEFI systems where the EFI partition is not mounted or is read-only. Use the manual rebuild method above, which formats the EFI partition and then uses bcdboot to recreate the BCD.

Can I fix this without installation media?

If you have a Windows recovery drive or a system repair disc, you can use that. Otherwise, you need installation media. You can also try pressing F8 or Shift+F8 during boot to access advanced options, but this is unreliable on modern Windows 10.

Is error 0xc000014c the same as 0xc000000f?

No, but they are related. 0xc000000f means the boot configuration data is missing or contains errors, while 0xc000014c specifically indicates the BCD file is missing or corrupt. The repair steps are very similar for both.

How can I prevent this error in the future?

Keep your system healthy by performing regular disk checks, avoiding abrupt power cuts, and creating a system restore point before major updates. Also, consider making a full system image backup periodically so you can restore quickly if boot files get damaged.

Conclusion

Error 0xc000014c is frustrating but usually fixable with the built-in Windows recovery tools. Start with bootrec, then move to the manual BCD rebuild if needed. If nothing works, you may need to reinstall Windows, but that is rare. Always keep a backup of your important files to avoid data loss during such incidents.

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