Error Code: 0xc0000034 in Windows 8 - Boot Configuration Data file missing required information

Anonymous
2013-08-09T13:40:04+00:00

I have Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook and recently received this error message after having no previous problems with the laptop.  Dell tech support ran me through hard drive tests and no problems were found.  I was told the only way to fix this issue is to reinstall the Operating System, which will cause me to lose all my files and applications I have installed.

Is there any other way to fix this problem so that I will not lose everything?  And how do I prevent this issue from happening again?

Very disappointed!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Recovery and backup

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Anonymous
2013-08-10T02:23:21+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for posting the query in Microsoft Community and we are glad to help you.

As per the issue, you get an error message “boot configuration data file is missing some required information” along with the error code “0xc0000034” when you boot to the computer.

I would like to gather some information on this issue to get a clear picture:

Did you make any hardware or software changes to the computer prior to this issue?

Perhaps, Windows boot files might be missing which are important to boot into the computer.

Let’s try Automatic Repair for Windows 8 on the computer and check if it can resolve the issue.

You may follow the methods:

Method 1: Booting to Recovery Environment with Windows 8 installation media.

Please follow the steps given below. Insert the Windows 8 installation DVD in the DVD ROM and restart your computer.

a) After you boot your computer using Windows 8 DVD or System Repair Disc, a black screen appears with gray text "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key.

b) Select the correct time and Keyboard type.

c) Click Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

d) Select Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen.

e) Click Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen.

f) Click Automatic Repair from Advanced Options screen.

g) Next, choose the operating system by clicking on its button.

h) Windows 8 will look for problems on hard drive(s) and verify that all required files are intact.

Method 2: If automatic repair doesn’t help to repair the startup files, you may try to repair them using these commands through Command Prompt under Advance Options.

Refer to the steps:

a) After you boot your computer using Windows 8 DVDor System Repair Disc, a black screen appears with gray text "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key.

b) Select the correct time and Keyboard type.

c) Click Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

d) Select Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen.

e) Click Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen.

f) Click on command Prompt.

g) Type these following commands and hit enter after each line of command:

Bootrec /fixmbr

Bootrec /fixboot

Bootrec /scanos

Bootrec /rebuildbcd

Please reply us if the issue still persists.

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-08-09T05:14:17+00:00

    Hi! Thanks your post has gotten me closest yet to solving my problem. However, after the bcdboot command I get the: Failure when attempting to copy boot files. Any ideas? Thank you so much!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-08-08T02:44:31+00:00

    I'm receiving the same error message but my computer doesn't have a CD rom. I'm wondering if in this state it would be possible to use an external drive to do the steps with the install materials. Sometimes you need to put drivers and stuff on the computer for it to work. What do you suggest I try in this situation? Thanks for your help so far. 

    Leisha

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-07-22T10:31:46+00:00

    Jessen - some feedback for you.

    I tried the above commands but had issued at the bootrec /rebuildbcd

    tried the windows startup repair to no avail

    Same issue on my machine, however issue was not resolved with the bootrec /rebuild bcd failed with an error message of

    "a device attached to the system is not functioning"

    tried to backup the bcd and got an error message along the lines of  the drive was externally altered.

    couldn't work out how or why - virus scans post working detected no viruses or malware.

    (drive tests from Toshiba on the Z930 SSD showed no issues)

    found a series of commands when the bootrec /rebuild fails

    diskpart (Opens Diskpart manager)

    list disk (list active disks - note the one of yours needed - mine was 0)

    select disk 0 (selects my main drive)

    list vol (checks the volumes - we are looking for the one with a fat32 partition - mine was 2 - windows was ntfs and volume 0 - already assigned c:)

    select vol 2

    act

    assign letter z: (note that z was not used and will only be used in the following bcdboot repair command)

    exit ( exits the diskpart back to command prompt)

    from here we need to edit the bcd on the z:

    bcdboot c:\windows /s z:

    (command worked successfully - finally) pc restarts and was " installing updates"

    couldn't work out which one, but assume there was something not quite right with one but im not sure which one....

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