Error “Inaccessible Boot Device” in Windows 10

Read about the causes of INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE error and how to fix it. Inaccessible Boot Device is a frequent mistake that appears after upgrading from previous versions of Windows. When it affects a computer, it begins to restart and often just freezes, so the user has to restart the system manually. The most annoying thing is that any unsaved data is irretrievably lost.

At the time of writing this article, it is still not possible to solve the Inaccessible Boot Device problem, and this sad fact is also mentioned by representatives of Microsoft. Presently, they do not know exactly what causes it. However, they are working on finding a solution, and we hope that future updates for Windows 10 can help eliminate the problem. While the developers are searching for a cure, I offer you some computer expert advice on reducing the chances of having this problem in your computer.

How To Fix It

First of all, a very good idea will be to clean the system and check its registry. To do it, we recommend using a standard utility for deleting temporary files in Windows 10.

Another good idea would be to check the structure of the file system in the hard disk of your computer or laptop. To do it, go to “Start” menu, find “Command Prompt” there and activate it by clicking the left mouse button on it. In the window that opens enter the command CHKDSK C: /r /f /x and confirm it by pressing the key “Y” on the keyboard.

Restart the PC and wait for the checking process to complete.

Checking File Integrity

To do it, enter as administrator and type in the command prompt “sfc /scannow,” and then press “Enter.”

The scanning usually takes about 10 minutes. If everything is all right, the following message will appear: Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations. If any violations were found, we will see a warning message about corrupt files.

After the process is complete, restart Windows again.

P.S. Running “Defragmentation” will not hurt either, as well as scanning the system with an antivirus.

After you have done all the actions described above, watch your PC performance for several days. If the error Inaccessible Boot Device appears when loading the OS or when working, try system restore or backup.

Restoring Windows 10

In Windows Explorer, right-click the mouse to open a quick menu and go to “Properties.” In the left side of the window, click on the link “System Protection,” then on “System Restore.”

In the window that opens press “Next” below. Choose the necessary date.

Click on “Next” button. The system will show information on the restore point. Press “Finish.”

To confirm our actions, press “Yes.”

Conclusion

If the error Inaccessible Boot Device still annoys you, the final solution will be clean installation of Windows 10.

In case of losing data due to the error Inaccessible Boot Device or forced clean reinstallation of Windows 10, we recommend recovering your data with Hetman Partition Recovery as it corrects any errors in the logical structure of the hard disk and recovers its contents.

Author: , Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Editor: , Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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