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If the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store is missing, becomes corrupted, or isn't
properly configured, Windows won't be able to start and you'll see BOOTMGR is
Missing or similar error messages early on in the boot process.
The easiest solution to a BCD issue is to simply rebuild it, which you can do
automatically with the bootrec command.
Note: If you've already scrolled down through this tutorial and it looks like too
much, don't worry.
Yes, there are several commands to run and lots of output on the screen, but
rebuilding the BCD is a very straightforward process. Just follow the instructions
exactly and you'll be fine.
Important: The following instructions apply to Windows 8, Windows 7, and
Windows Vista. Similar problems can exist in Windows XP but since boot
configuration information is stored in the boot.ini file, and not the BCD, correcting
issues with boot data involves a completely different process. See How To Repair
or Replace Boot . ini in Windows XP for more information.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: It'll take around 15 minutes to rebuild the BCD in Windows.
How To Rebuild the BCD in Windows
1. Start Advanced Startup Options if you're using Windows 8. See How to Access
Advanced Startup Options if you're not sure how to do that.
Start System Recovery Options if you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista. See
the How To Access the System Recovery Options Menu section in that link I just
gave you for help if this is your first time using the menu.
1. Open Command Prompt from Advanced Startup Options or System Recovery
Options menu.
Note: The Command Prompt available from these diagnostic menus is very
similar to the one you may be familiar with within Windows. Also, the following
procedure should work identically in Windows 8, 7, and Vista.
2. At the prompt, type the bootrec command as shown below and then press
Enter :
bootrec /rebuildbcd
The bootrec command will search for Windows installations not included in the
Boot Configuration Data and then ask you if you'd like to add one or more to it.
3. You should see one of the following messages at the command line.
Option 1
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait, since this may take a while...
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 0
The operation completed successfully.
Option 2
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait, since this may take a while...
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 1
[1] D:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? Yes/No/All:
If you see:
Option 1: Move on to Step 5. This result most likely means that Windows
installation data in the BCD store exists but bootrec couldn't find any additional
installations of Windows on your computer to add to the BCD. That's fine, you'll
just need to take a few extra steps to rebuild the BCD.
Option 2: Enter Y or Yes to the Add installation to boot list? question, after
which you should see a The operation completed successfully message, followed
by a blinking cursor at the prompt. Finish up with Step 10 toward the bottom of
the page.
4. Since the BCD store exists and lists a Windows installation, you'll first have to
"remove" it manually and then try to rebuild it again.
At the prompt, execute the bcdedit command as shown and then press Enter :
bcdedit /export c:\bcdbackup
The bcdedit command is used here to export the BCD store as a file: bcdbackup .
There's no need to specify a file extension .
The command should return the following on screen:
The operation completed successfully.
meaning the BCD export worked as expected.
5. At this point, you need to adjust several file attributes for the BCD store so you
can manipulate it.
At the prompt, execute the attrib command exactly like this:
attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s
What you just did with the attrib command was remove the hidden , read- only ,
and system attributes from the file bcd. Those attributes restricted the actions
properly configured, Windows won't be able to start and you'll see BOOTMGR is
Missing or similar error messages early on in the boot process.
The easiest solution to a BCD issue is to simply rebuild it, which you can do
automatically with the bootrec command.
Note: If you've already scrolled down through this tutorial and it looks like too
much, don't worry.
Yes, there are several commands to run and lots of output on the screen, but
rebuilding the BCD is a very straightforward process. Just follow the instructions
exactly and you'll be fine.
Important: The following instructions apply to Windows 8, Windows 7, and
Windows Vista. Similar problems can exist in Windows XP but since boot
configuration information is stored in the boot.ini file, and not the BCD, correcting
issues with boot data involves a completely different process. See How To Repair
or Replace Boot . ini in Windows XP for more information.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: It'll take around 15 minutes to rebuild the BCD in Windows.
How To Rebuild the BCD in Windows
1. Start Advanced Startup Options if you're using Windows 8. See How to Access
Advanced Startup Options if you're not sure how to do that.
Start System Recovery Options if you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista. See
the How To Access the System Recovery Options Menu section in that link I just
gave you for help if this is your first time using the menu.
1. Open Command Prompt from Advanced Startup Options or System Recovery
Options menu.
Note: The Command Prompt available from these diagnostic menus is very
similar to the one you may be familiar with within Windows. Also, the following
procedure should work identically in Windows 8, 7, and Vista.
2. At the prompt, type the bootrec command as shown below and then press
Enter :
bootrec /rebuildbcd
The bootrec command will search for Windows installations not included in the
Boot Configuration Data and then ask you if you'd like to add one or more to it.
3. You should see one of the following messages at the command line.
Option 1
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait, since this may take a while...
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 0
The operation completed successfully.
Option 2
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait, since this may take a while...
Successfully scanned Windows installations.
Total identified Windows installations: 1
[1] D:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? Yes
If you see:
Option 1: Move on to Step 5. This result most likely means that Windows
installation data in the BCD store exists but bootrec couldn't find any additional
installations of Windows on your computer to add to the BCD. That's fine, you'll
just need to take a few extra steps to rebuild the BCD.
Option 2: Enter Y or Yes to the Add installation to boot list? question, after
which you should see a The operation completed successfully message, followed
by a blinking cursor at the prompt. Finish up with Step 10 toward the bottom of
the page.
4. Since the BCD store exists and lists a Windows installation, you'll first have to
"remove" it manually and then try to rebuild it again.
At the prompt, execute the bcdedit command as shown and then press Enter :
bcdedit /export c:\bcdbackup
The bcdedit command is used here to export the BCD store as a file: bcdbackup .
There's no need to specify a file extension .
The command should return the following on screen:
The operation completed successfully.
meaning the BCD export worked as expected.
5. At this point, you need to adjust several file attributes for the BCD store so you
can manipulate it.
At the prompt, execute the attrib command exactly like this:
attrib c:\boot\bcd -h -r -s
What you just did with the attrib command was remove the hidden , read- only ,
and system attributes from the file bcd. Those attributes restricted the actions