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
    2018-01-29T14:50:14+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

    Showster,

    It worked.  Thank you, Thank you. This repaired the Inaccessible Boot Device error on my Dell XPS8500 PC.  I have Windows 10 Professional operating system. 

    <moderator Susan note:  I'm going to flag this as the answer just to let folks know of a workaround.  The true answer to this is to find the root cause of the problem and ensure it never happens again>

    Everyone.... 

    I can say, the fix that Showster provided above seemed to work on 2 of my PCs but then I am showing updates that are being received on the 26th and 27th and removing these with the steps above have not worked.  I have now had 2 pcs that I have had to take their hard drives out and copy their user folder data, office files, etc documents, desktop, links,. etc.  their entire user profile and tell it to restore windows (keeping user files), makes it alot easier, then you just have to reinstall office and other programs they made have had.

    I agree, this all is absolutely rediculous.  I am guessing that this all has to do with the Intel issue and Microsoft came out with a fix in the roll-up?  What is the cause, Microsoft Tech Support needs to get this fixed.  I have over 70pcs that are probably going to be affacted.  It seems that Windows 10 v1709 is the issue, or not that the version is, but the fixes that were released after the Fall Update.  All the fixes (Roll-Ups) after the 1st of the year is when this all started.

    Does anyone have any other insight into this issue ...  January 3, 2018 seems to be the first time I seen that there was a problem or around this time.  Then after the 15th pcs here started really being affected.  Now after the 26th, again, more and more, but it seems like its getting harder to correct.

    doing the DISM again fixed 2 of 8 PCs the others I was able to recover backing up their hard drive in a dock that I have and restoring windows to default (keeping user files) and reinstalling some programs, but this is crazy.  Again, with a company that has 50+ pcs...  Not looking forward to this at all...   Suggestions are quite welcome....

    Thanks everyone.

    Techie@KF

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-29T15:25:12+00:00

    Crysta,

    What are you saying? I don't understand almost any of your post.

    From what I read the kb is to fix random reboots and unexpected behavior in specific processors by turning off the fix that broke them. Doesn't this seem to suggest this registry edit could rollback the changes that are causing the bsod?

    Like I said, if someone has the bsod and can test the kb or the registry edit before testing their PC, I think it could be very helpful.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-29T16:38:39+00:00

    Crysta,

    What are you saying? I don't understand almost any of your post.

    From what I read the kb is to fix random reboots and unexpected behavior in specific processors by turning off the fix that broke them. Doesn't this seem to suggest this registry edit could rollback the changes that are causing the bsod?

    Like I said, if someone has the bsod and can test the kb or the registry edit before testing their PC, I think it could be very helpful.

    I was hopeful but I do understand Bobby, that is why I was as Simplistic as I can be/know how to be.

    If this your first exposure to Boolean Algebra(it is very minimal here) and Bit Maps, it needs rereading. This is a very minimal foyer into how computers work, Bobby. 

    Have you been following the evolution of the Registry adjustment that I show there. It has been across 3 or 4 KB's over about 10 days 2 weeks(time has run together a bit for me) if I remember correctly?

    Simply put, the "KB4078130 in my experience, does very little. For those Folks who would just as soon not go into the Registry, it turns off  "Spectre Variant 2" or in official speak: "disable Variant 2: CVE 2017-5715"Branch Target Injection", by setting bit 1........." from the previous post.

    "Spectre Variant 2" requires "fully patched with MICROCODE" installed via a BIOS update. Microcode is 'Firmware on bare metal, ie Chips in the Chipset, CPU Cores, and other chips installed on controllers/Drives/Network Cards/GPU's, etc. The Kernel accesses the Microcode through the BIOS for the Windows OS usage. Turning off "Spectre Variant 2" in the Registry, STOPS the Kernel/OS from accessing the Microcode that MIGHT, MIGHT be causing BSoD. However the BIOS and other Chips in the Chipset still have access to the BIOS and potentially the Microcode.

    That is why Intel has recommend reFLASHing the BIOS to an earlier STABLE version, which, "should, should" remove the unstable Microcode.

    Therefore if one HAS NOT FLASHED the BIOS for Meltdown and/or Spectre DO NOT. Wait until things have thoroughly stabilized, especially on Production PC's. It is possible for the Kernel software from earlier, January, Patches to cause BSoD without the Microcode but less likely. That patch should turn off the new code for "Spectre Variant 2". 

    Keep in mind that the same Registry Keys are used for Meltdown(Bit 2) as well. If both Keys are set to 3, Meltdown and Spectre 2 will be turned off BUT there is Kernel Code in the Patches for "Spectre Variant 1" which does not require Microcode(like Meltdown DOES NOT) that will still be running merrily away, as I understand it. The only way to turn that off, again, as I understand it, is to turn off AU for WU/MU and remove all January Patches. The ONLY REASON, I would go that far is if I was convinced they were still causing my BSoD's and other instabilities.

    I hope that helps, Bobby, your head is not the only one that is drowning in this morass and crap filled Sea. Intel started conceiving of this, starting in 1992.

    Best Regards,

    Crysta

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-29T16:43:40+00:00

    Given that the inaccessible boot device means you have an unbootable device, there's no way to "roll back the impact" with a patch that merely is installing registry keys.

    Let me go see if I can get any sort of unofficial official guidance here.  All we have right now is get a bootable ISO, boot from that, go into the troubleshooting section and do a refresh (does not remove applications, only refreshes the OS) as a "solution"

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