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
    2018-04-30T15:52:54+00:00

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

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

    Some packages can't be removed as they become fundamentally integrated into Windows but from my understanding as long as you get the right packages during that sliver of time when you have one chance to do it, you'll fix the problem when it's this problem.

    Our IT company has come across inaccessible boot device aplenty over the past few months caused by Microsoft updates and I'd say that half the time we were able to back out the offending updates (thanks Microsoft, for bricking computers), while the other half we simply couldn't fix the issue through the long list of things to try which are mostly listed in this thread.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-07-23T00:57:52+00:00

    what if pc doesn't open. blue screen shows repeatedly and restart

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-07-23T01:03:13+00:00

    what if pc doesn't open. blue screen shows repeatedly and restart

    You need to boot from windows 10 or 7 cd

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-07-23T09:25:11+00:00

    if your pc randomly restart than try to reset bios settings, at the start try to touch F2 or DEL key, if bios setup will start than try to set defaults ... if not than remove RAM module if there is ability and than try, if not still than some motherboards have bios battery, this battery remove, wait few seconds and try again, still there is rule for bios update or if you have new device don´t forget to use UEFI option at startup uefi with legacy support, because of windows DVD and than from repair menu try to fix boot section... set the boot section start.

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