Dell XPS Laptop won't boot, error 0xc000014c

zbook said:

Let's see if this is a possible fix.


1) boot to the Windows 10 iso
2) it may take 5 minutes displaying the windows icon
3) Use the default settings for language, time, currency, and keyboard
4) click next
5) In the left lower corner click Repair your computer
6) click troubleshooting
7) click startup repair (it is expected to fail)
8) click system restore (it is expected to fail)
9) click command prompt
You should see a pop up with title bar: Administrator: X:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
This is the registry backup method:
For each step you must see sizeable file sizes for this to work.
If you see zeros the method will fail.
The command: dir
will be used each step to make sure you are in the proper location and check the size of the files
10) type: C:
11) dir
12) type: D:
13) dir
Choose the C: or the D: drive to proceed. It should be the windows drive and not the USB drive.
14) type bcdedit | find "osdevice"
This should display the location of the partition and in most cases is the location of the affected drive.
For this post I will use C: however you should pick the drive letter that you found that has the windows files on your computer.
The proper drive will display: perflogs, program files, program files (x86), users, windows, etc
15) type or copy and paste: cd \windows\system32\config
It should display: C:\windows\system32\config>
16) type: dir
It should display: bbi, bcd-template, components, default, drivers, elam, sam, security, software, system, vsmidk, journal, regback, systemprofile txr, etc.
All of the file sizes should be sizeable. If it displays zeros then abort.
Make a new directory and name it backup or something similar.
17) type: MD backup
Copy all of the files into this new directory.
18) type or copy and paste: copy *.* backup
It should now display: bbi, bcd-template, components, default, drivers, elam, sam, security, software, system, vsmidk indicating the files were copied.
Change the directory to regback
19) type: cd regback
It should now display: c:\windows\system32\config\regback>
20)type: dir
It should display: default, sam, security, software, system etc
All of these files must be sizeable. If it displays zeros then abort.
21) type or copy and paste: copy *.* ..
It should now display:
DEFAULT
Overwrite ..\default? (yes/no/all):
22) type: a
It should now display: sam, security, software, system and that the files were copied.
23) type: exit
24) click turn off your PC
Remove the USB flash drive if you had changed your boot order. Otherwise you can leave it and power on your computer.

I only have a Win10 System Repair Disc, do I need a full Win10 install disc?

No this is all done with the free bootable windows 10 iso.

In order for it to work you must see sizeable files sizes. If you see zeros it will fail and you can abort.
If you are successful you must do these steps immediately as many times the repair can be unstable:
1) create a brand new restore point
2) back up files
3) create a new image using Macrium and place that new image on another drive.
4) check the integrity and repair the operating system with the scannow and restorehealth commands
5) once you complete the above check the drive and fix the file structure on the drive with chkdsk /x /f /r

zbook said:

No this is all done with the free bootable windows 10 iso.

In order for it to work you must see sizeable files sizes. If you see zeros it will fail and you can abort.
If you are successful you must do these steps immediately as many times the repair can be unstable:
1) create a brand new restore point
2) back up files
3) create a new image using Macrium and place that new image on another drive.
4) check the integrity and repair the operating system with the scannow and restorehealth commands
5) once you complete the above check the drive and fix the file structure on the drive with chkdsk /x /f /r

Ok, I will see if I can borrow a friends computer to use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to get the full ISO.

There are multiple videos on youtube on registry repair windows 10

This is a link for the free bootable windows 10 iso: Download Windows 10

This is a list of the F keys by computer manufacturer so that you don't have to change the bios boot order to boot from a USB:
List of PC brands with their corresponding hot-keys
For Dell the F12 key is displayed as the key that you will click repetitively to boot to the windows 10 iso.

This is a youtube video: How to Fix Windows 10 Startup Problem - YouTube