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
    2018-02-16T17:56:20+00:00

    This works, for the most part, I have fixed 7 PCs with this, however, I have found 2 that this method only partially works. I have removed all packages and still no windows 10 boot.  removing the packages works about 70% of the time.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-16T14:59:43+00:00

    After doing removing packages through DSIM and then doing an in-place upgrade the machine was at build 125 and functioning normally. Problem is... this is a Windows Home edition machine (yes, I know!!!) and so I can't pause updates and so it started downloading the Feb update to build 248. I disconnected from the network and used the full Stand Alone installer for the Feb update to 248 which I had previously downloaded. I have had great luck doing it this way on several other machines. But not this machine... this caused the Inaccessible Boot Volume issue again. So, it appears, 248 is causing the issue also... Agree? Other thoughts? The only restore point available did work to make the machine bootable again - back at 125.  Now, how to I stop updates on a Windows Home machine? Upgrade to Pro - I know.... haha!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-16T02:13:24+00:00

    I am getting the same error after the DSIM get packages fix.  Gets to around 82% and then kicks out with Error:  0x800f0922

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-16T02:03:46+00:00

    Hi,

    I just finished repairing another one!  I've been using the Wizard's step-by-step process (thanks again to the Wizard) and want to post a couple of observations.  I made more detailed checks and observations during today's repair and uncovered a surprising fact.  Maybe someone can explain.  

    System is a Dell Optiplex with Intel core i5, Windows 10 Pro 64 bit, no domain.

    User reported sudden unexpected restart resulting in "inaccessible boot device" loop.

    I tried system restore, which did not bring back the ability to boot.  There were no restore points before 2/6/18 so I did not expect restore to be successful.  THERE WAS NO NETWORK CONNECTION at this time.

    I ran the DISM commands from the WinRE.  It identified that current version was 16299.192 (installed) and .125 superceded.

    I successfully removed the .192 package and was able to achieve the "one-time" boot.  NETWORK STILL DISCONNECTED. 

    I disabled AV (norton) and made sure System Protection was enabled.  I checked Winver and found that it was running at version .125 which is what I expected based on the DISM commands.  I created a restore point (I know, probably useless).

    I plugged in the USB Win 10 media from the Media Creation Tool.  I made this USB drive YESTERDAY  so I was confident that the next step (in-place upgrade) would result in a current version of Win 10.  I ran setup (note: network still disconnected).  I chose to NOT get updates and to retain files and apps.

    The in-place upgrade took 1hour, 20 minutes and the system booted successfully.  I set advanced update options to PAUSE for 35 days.  I connected the LAN, turned on System Protection (it was off after the in-place upgrade), and created a restore point.

    HERE'S THE SURPRISE:  WINVER SHOWED 16299.125, same as before the in-place upgrade.  I then manually downloaded and ran KB4058258 1/31/18 for version 16299.214 which we all seem to believe is a "GOOD" level.  

    Because of today's reports about KB4074588 2/14/18 version 16299.248 saying that systems are again failing to boot with this update, I chose the 16299.214 level.  Updates are paused.  I created a couple more restore points.  The machine seems to run fine and is restartable/rebootable.  It is at ver .214.

    Can anyone explain why runnig the latest media creation USB left the system at version .125 after the in-place upgrade?  Is it possibly because the option to "get updates" was not enabled when running the in-place upgrade?  This is why I asked in an earlier post if there is a way to tell what version is being created when making a new USB bootable device.  I know the in-place upgrade does a lot of cleanup of pending or faulty packages and it produces a system that can be rebooted.  Just wondering if there is a way to know in advance what version an in-place upgrade will produce on the machine it is being executed on.

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