Inaccessible Boot Device error in Windows 10

Anonymous
2018-01-09T16:46:16+00:00

I manage multiple computers running Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with the latest Current Branch and recently had multiple computers randomly startup with this BSOD: Inaccessible Boot Device.

I have tried everything:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-fix-update-causing-inaccessible-boot-device-error-windows-10

Which recommends deleting registry keys and install packages, though no pending installs could be found

SFC /SCANNOW - No corruption found

CHKDSK /R - Some minor issues corrected

BOOTREC - Scan OS shows 0 windows installations

FIXBOOT - Successful, but this tool finally made the entire process fail without being able to get to the recovery environment, just boots to the legacy screen and shows options for safe mode, but those fail too.

I am at my wits end, because I find thousands of websites and desperate users and admins, but the only fix that works is to clean install. I can't clean install the whole company. This is insane, there has to be a better known cause / fix out there...

*Modified title for accuracy*

*Original title: Inaccessible Boot Device error - cause? fix?*

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2018-01-17T17:16:49+00:00

WIN 10 BSOD FIX - Inaccessible Boot Device - THIS WORKS!  I Just Repaired 2 computers that went down at the same time last night on 1/16/18

Good Afternoon Bobby,

Here is the fix I came across from another kind IT tech, please see below.  Credits go to them, I'm just forwarding so everyone can finally get their computers back up and running.

Boot Windows 10

Go to Repair

Go to Tools/Options to get a command prompt.

Confirm the drive letter for the Windows image. Usually D: –> dir d:

Run the following to view the installed packages which will also show a date of install.

Dism /Image:D:\ /Get-Packages

Find the package(s) that were just installed by date. Run the following command on the last installed package:

example: dism.exe /image:d:\ /remove-package /packagename:Package_for_KB4014329~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.1.0

Reboot.

The patch that caused my issue was from 1/6/18 or 1/10/18     Remove the latest windows update entry with Rollup Fix in it's name.  Once complete, close command prompt, turn off computer.  Power back up.  You should be back into WIN10.

If you still receive BSOD, rinse and repeat with the next latest update, try it again.  You'll eventually boot right back into WIN10.

I hope this helps.

Have a great day.

Showster

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T18:31:37+00:00

    It's possible your hard drive has mechanically died.  Is this an SSD?

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T18:27:53+00:00

    Hello,

    Nothing has worked for me. I booted from the Windows installation disk and tried to format my HDD so I can try installing windows again, but It just gives me an error saying that the hard drive is not writable. Also when my system was trying to boot, I noticed that there was no HDD activity. What do I do?

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T06:42:56+00:00

    I think my issue might be different than the didn't repair it in time scenario that you describe above.

    My last packages installed (that can't be uninstalled) are:

    Package_for_RollupFix~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~15063.483.1.13  

    I also have 

    Package_for_KB4088825~... 10.0.1.0

    and

    Package for KB4088785~ ... 10.0.1.0

    Which sounds like it might be ok?  Or is one of these the bad package?

    If those packages are ok, it seems like my issue is the mbr got hosed at some point - is there a way to fix the mbr given the commands I outlined 2 posts ago aren't working?

    What's weird is my bios shows three entries (paritions) for my SSD: Two WIndows Boot Managers, and then the actual large windows drive

    One of them shows this error: Windows Failed To Start Screen with 3 numbered items: it looks similar to this: https://www.tonymacx86.com/attachments/2013-05-23-05-18-33-jpg.56959/

    It lets me choose select an OS to boot, where I can see Windows 10, but then it just does the spinner indefinitely.

    If I select the other boot manager or Windows partition it says: An operating system wasn't found.  Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system.

    bootrec /scanos finds windows on C:\

    bottrec /rebuildmbr prompts to add windows on c:, then errors out with: A requested system device was not found

    BTW, it seems like your fix (thank you for your work finding that) that requires critical timing should be pinned as part of the solution on the first page, not buried on page 30 where no one is going to find it.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-04-04T01:43:44+00:00

    The problem is. that you didnt follow the 3 post posting I made somewhere around page 30. Your mistake was fooling areond trying to fix the boot record.  After DISM gets you booted, you cannot shut down until you have done an in-place upgrade to fix your boot files and undo the second part of the offending upgrade. 

    If you can no longer DISM your way into bootin, the only thing left is a system reset.  this will get you booted permanently.  Your data will be safe but you will need to re- install the programs. If you go back to page 30 through 37 and read the post there is a way that another user developed to recover the programs I haven't tried it. But it's worth a shot. don't use the fix MBR. That's not the problem.

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