In Windows, BCD or Boot Configuration Data ensures that your PC boots up securely and quickly. However, if the BCD is damaged or corrupted, your PC won’t be able to boot up. As a result, the obvious solution one might consider is reinstalling Windows. However, it’s not the best solution, as it can lead to data loss. Instead, you can rebuild BCD.
So the question is, how to rebuild BCD in Windows? To help you out, here are complete details and steps to follow:
What Is Boot Configuration Data (BCD)?
Boot Configuration Data, or BCD, is an essential element of your Windows system for managing the boot process. It stores essential configuration parameters and instructs Windows on how to start and load the operating system.
The BCD includes various entries which define the location of the operating system’s files, the type of boot environment, boot menu options, and more.
However, in case BCD gets corrupted in any way, then BCD will not be able to locate the essential boot information. As a result, your computer won’t be able to boot up and get into a restart loop.
How to Rebuild BCD in Windows 11/10?
Now that you know how vital a BCD file is. So in case it is corrupted on your system, you can follow these below methods to rebuild it:
- Repair BCD store with Startup Repair
- Rebuild BCD with Bootrec.exe tool
You will need an admin account to execute the suggestions. Also, make sure to have a clear idea about the process.
1] Repair the BCD store with Startup Repair
You can use the Startup Repair option to repair the BCD. However, for this, you will need a Windows installation media disk which you can easily create using the Media Creation tool.
Once you have created the installation disk, follow the below steps:
- Boot into your BIOS or UEFI when you start the PC using DEL or F2 key
- Change the boot order, and set the first device to USB
- Plugin the bootable USB, and PC will boot using the installation disk.
- Then from the Install Now screen, click on Repair your computer.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup repair.
- Next, select your user account and enter the password.
- Now let your PC repair itself and follow the onscreen instructions.
- Once done, boot your PC normally and see if it resolves the issue.
2] Rebuild BCD with Bootrec.exe tool
You can also use Bootrec.exe to repair BCD on Windows. The option rebuildbcd scans all disks for installations compatible with Windows. You can select the installations you want to add to the BCD store. You should use this option to completely rebuild the BCD store, which is the case here.
This utility tool is for troubleshooting issues in the Windows Recovery Environment. To get started, follow these steps:
- Boot up your PC using the media installation disk.
- Go to Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
- Over here, click on Command Prompt to launch CMD.
- Now, in CMD, run the following command:
bootrec /rebuildbcd
- Next, it will scan your Windows and try to rebuild BCD.
- Once done, reboot your PC and see if you can boot up normally.
Conclusion
So those were two of the quickest way to rebuild BCD in Windows 11/10. So go ahead and try these methods out and see if they help you. If these steps do not work, you must reinstall Windows, leading to data loss. But you can always use a data recovery tool to recover data.
How to Recreate a Windows Boot Configuration (BCD) from Scratch?
When using this tool, if you get an error saying—Bootmgr Is Missing—you must export and delete the BCD store and rerun this option. This makes sure that the BCD store is completely rebuilt.
To do this, type the following commands at the Windows RE command prompt:
bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd