Clean Install: Can't boot- error 0xc000000f

Hi,

Last night i got a blue screen on my computer (custom build) and after searching for some solutions to the error code it spat out, I decided to upgrade to win10 (from 7) as suggestions pointed to a clean windows install.

I downloaded win10 and put it on a USB stick, got my computer to boot from it and it went ahead with the installation. I reformatted my SSD which my previous OS was on, and installed win10 on there.

I've changed the BIOS back to boot from HDD with my SSD being top of the priority list and I'm met with the error:

0xc000000f
Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

I've unplugged all other external storage, and any other unnecessary hardware connections (no chargers for example). I do have one internal storage disk which is mostly programmes and music.

My next thought is that my SSD is physically broken, although the win10 install did say that it had completed successfully. It's a Kingston 240GB SSD and I've had it roughly 3 years (got it early 2014).

Please let me know if there is anything anyone could suggest- usually I;m able to surf forums and get to the bottom of these things, but I'm completely out of ideas now.

Thanks

Same thing as here:
Windows 10 still available in boot option after being deleted - - Windows 10 Forums

Connect only the SSD (and DVD drive if you need it). Leave all other drives disconnected. Boot the computer from a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive or DVD. When the very first screen comes up, press Shift + F10. In the command Window that opens, run the following commands to completely erase the SSD:

diskpart
select disk 0
clean
exit

Then proceed with the install, when asked, select the custom install option. You should see nothing but unallocated space on the SSD. Highlight that, click next to let Windows set it up. After you get Windows 10 installed and booting from the SSD, then reconnect the HDD and do what you want with it.

Thanks for the response, I'll try that when I get home. A couple of things though:

1. I dont have any other OS installed on anything connected to my PC, only windows 10 on the SSD.

2. My SSD was previously (maybe still, I dont know if reformat removes this) partitioned with about 100MB separate to the rest. In not sure what this was for though.

I'll still try your answer later but thoight it would be worth mentioning now.

I tried disconnecting some of my internal storage, and also did the disk clean as you suggested. My friend also played around with some of the BIOS settings, but that's a bit of redundant information since I can't tell you exactly what he changed. I do know that AHCI is enabled.

Either way, I'm currently writing this from my PC on a functional Windows 10 OS :)

New problem: if I plug in my internal storage, my computer seems to read the internal storage before my SSD and I get the following error-

System32 winload.exe is either corrupt or missing. Error code 0xc000000e.

AHCI tells me that my internal HD is in port-02 and SSD is in port-04 so I think it's because of this ordering that I can't start the OS if it's plugged in? If I plug in whilst windows is already running then it's fine and I can move files around. I would enter the BIOS but quickboot has been enabled which I think is what's stopping me from getting to the BIOS settings.

In a command prompt window, run:

shutdown /r /fw /t 00

Your computer will shutdown and then enter UEFI setup, if your computer is UEFI.

Errors 0xc000021a and 0xc0000001 without installing updates for Windows. If your computer has a separate partition/volume or a (micro) SSD for Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT), it might have become corrupted. Enter your device's BIOS/UEFI and change your disk controller mode from Intel SRT to SATA or AHCI. Intel Smart Response Technology might also be a separate setting in BIOS/UEFI setup, please consult your device manual on how to disable this feature. Most manuals are also available online at the manufacturer's support site.

Bit of a long shot but tried booting with the USB stick plugged in? Just a thought that you somehow ended up with the efi partition on the USB stick.

Thanks all for the suggestions. Read order looks at my internal storage HD first which used to be what my OS was on before getting my SSD. I hadn't reformatted it, but just shoved all of my music on there anyway; so I believe there are remains of windows 7 which were being read before the full and functioning OS was, when I had multiple disks connected to my MOBO, which would explain why it boots when only the SSD is connected.

I'm going to reformat the HD which should then solve all my problems bar not being able to get in to BIOS. @NavyLCDR is there a similar command to access BIOS on restart instead of UEFI? I downloaded my MOBO's manual and can't find any reference to UEFI- I think it's possible that it's too old to have it?

Calmlife said:

I'm going to reformat the HD which should then solve all my problems bar not being able to get in to BIOS. @NavyLCDR is there a similar command to access BIOS on restart instead of UEFI? I downloaded my MOBO's manual and can't find any reference to UEFI- I think it's possible that it's too old to have it?

Unfortunately there is no similar command to reboot into a legacy BIOS setup. But - if you have Windows fast startup enabled that will keep you from getting into BIOS if you shut down your computer normally. When you press the power key to turn on your computer, there should be a key that you can immediately and repeated press to enter BIOS setup. It could be DEL, INSERT, ESC, or any of the F-keys. The manual for your motherboard/computer should tell you what it is.

In order to make sure Windows fast startup is not interfering with that key at power on, you can either hold down the shift key when you click on shutdown from the power button menu, or you can click on restart and catch it when the computer "shuts off" momentarily before it restarts.

Calmlife said:

Hi,

Last night i got a blue screen on my computer (custom build) and after searching for some solutions to the error code it spat out, I decided to upgrade to win10 (from 7) as suggestions pointed to a clean windows install.

I downloaded win10 and put it on a USB stick, got my computer to boot from it and it went ahead with the installation. I reformatted my SSD which my previous OS was on, and installed win10 on there.

I've changed the BIOS back to boot from HDD with my SSD being top of the priority list and I'm met with the error:

0xc000000f
Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

I've unplugged all other external storage, and any other unnecessary hardware connections (no chargers for example). I do have one internal storage disk which is mostly programmes and music.

My next thought is that my SSD is physically broken, although the win10 install did say that it had completed successfully. It's a Kingston 240GB SSD and I've had it roughly 3 years (got it early 2014).

Please let me know if there is anything anyone could suggest- usually I;m able to surf forums and get to the bottom of these things, but I'm completely out of ideas now.

Thanks

I had the same problem today. The motherboard tried to do an auto repair of the BIOS. Nothing happened. So, the Windows 10 (from the 7) tried to repair too. No success.I found a solution through the boot option. When the PC starts, press DEL to boot options and reselect your SSD or HD. My problem was SSD. The motherboard changed the BOOT priority and deleted my SSD from the boot list.