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
    2018-02-15T02:41:56+00:00

    I'm going to be painfully honest.  At this point in time your safest bet for a healthy system is to download Windows 10 media to a flash drive and rebuild the pc.

    As a Microsoft shareholder I want to apologize, no operating system should be unable to be repaired like this but unfortunately these Spectre/Meltdown updates have done a number on systems.

    Do you have the ability to download Windows 10 media from here:  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and build a bootable flash drive?  Do you have another working system or a friend's computer you can borrow?

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-15T02:20:23+00:00

    Hi,

    I tried the Dism.exe remove package and I was able to successfully enter Windows10. But after updating the AVG virus file, the Inaccessible Boot Device error appeared again. I followed the instruction and removed the 2 latest updates again but now it won't work anymore. I am stuck with the same error.

    Please help.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T20:47:34+00:00

    Don't use commands to move the files to a 'scratch' drive, just uninstall/dism off the update.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-14T20:22:57+00:00

    Are you seeing 16299.192.x.x as "State:Uninstall Pending" before you try to dism remove-package it?  My command always returns it is not present in the image.   16299.125 shows a State of Superseded.

    JasonMorales1,  this is what it says

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