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Get the fix to the <strong>0xc0000098: The Windows Boot Configuration Data file does not contain a valid OS entry</strong> boot error message affecting <strong>Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1</strong> and <strong>Windows 10</strong>.
<h2>About the "<strong>0xc0000098</strong>" error</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h4>Symptom 1: 0xc0000098 error screen on startup</h4>
As a part of <a href="http://neosmart.net/wiki/mbr-boot-process/">the system startup procedure</a>, the BOOTMGR bootloader introduced in Windows Vista and subsequently used in Windows 7, Windows 8(.1), and Windows 10 uses a database of entries and configuration options known as the BCD ((BCD is an abbreviation of Boot Configuration Database.)), which acts as a global store for all boot-related options and settings on newer Windows PCs. However, if the BCD file has no operating system entries, then the following error message will appear:

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2987" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/01/0xC0000098.jpg" alt="The 0xc0000098 Error Screen" width="980" height="500" />
<pre>Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the
cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
  2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
  3. Click "Repair your computer."
  
If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer
manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD
  
  Status: 0xc0000098
  
  Info: The Windows Boot Configuration Data file does not contain a valid
        OS entry.</pre>
On newer Windows systems, the error screen looks a little different:

<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/01/VirtualBox_W10_new_15_07_2016_12_54_38.png"><img class="alignnone size-large wp-image-4427" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/01/VirtualBox_W10_new_15_07_2016_12_54_38-1024x768.png" alt="VirtualBox_W10_new_15_07_2016_12_54_38" width="980" height="735" /></a>
<pre>Recovery

Your PC/Device needs to be repaired

The Boot Configuration Data file doesn't contain valid information for an operating system.

File: \Boot\BCD
Error code: 0xc0000098

You'll need to use recovery tools. If you don't have any installation media(like a disc or USB device), contact your PC administrator or PC/Device manufacturer.</pre>
A device driver that's incompatible with your Windows system can cause this error too. In this kind of example, the error text can mention a specific file at the File row:
<pre>Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the
cause. To fix the problem:

File: \Windows\System32\Drivers\aswVmm.sys
  
  Status: 0xc0000098
  
  Info: Windows failed to load because a critical system driver
        is missing, or corrupt.</pre>
<h3>Causes of this Error</h3>
This error has been known to occur as a result of one or more of the following:
<h4>Cause 1: BCD has no OS entries</h4>
One of the most common causes of this error is the BCD that has no entries in it. That could happen because of disk write errors, power outages, boot sector viruses, or errors made while configuring the BCD manually.
<h4>Cause 2: An incompatible hard drive driver is installed</h4>
Another possible cause of this error is a device driver that is incompatible with the current hard drive. That could occur after a system update, or a service pack installation.
<h2>Fixing "0xc0000098" on Windows</h2>
[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Rebuild BCD via Easy Recovery Essentials</h3>
Easy Recovery Essentials' one-click automated system repair feature incorporates full repair and reconstruction of the BCD to resolve the "0xc0000098" error, even in cases where Windows won't boot as a result of the error.

[easyre error="0xc0000098" bootscreen="vista-7-8-10" guaranteed="true"]
<h3>Fix #2: Run Startup Repair</h3>
On Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, Startup Repair can be used to scan the system for damaged or missing system files to replace the BCD file if it has no entries.

[setupcd]

[partial name="partial_startup_repair"]

Here is an example of what the PC’s startup repair should look like once the BCD file is properly restored:

[caption id="attachment_4409" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Win7-0xc000000f-startup-repair.png"><img class="wp-image-4409 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Win7-0xc000000f-startup-repair.png" alt="Missing BCD file restored by Startup Repair" width="800" height="600" /></a> Empty BCD file restored by Startup Repair[/caption]
<h3>Fix #3: Rebuild the BCD manually</h3>
Since the boot error is often caused by an empty BCD file, rebuilding it is often a good solution.

Here are the steps to rebuild the BCD:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot from the Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.</li>
 	<li>Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually <code>C:\</code>, and click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>bootrec /rebuildbcd</pre>
</li>
 	<li>If the program finds a Windows installation and asks whether it should add it to the boot list, press <kbd>Y</kbd></li>
</ol>
Here is an example screenshot of what the PC's console output should look like once Bootrec is done rebuilding the BCD.

[caption id="attachment_3693" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/VirtualBox_Win7_clean_21_04_2016_03_58_48.png"><img class="wp-image-3693 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/bootrec.png" alt="Bootrec utility results screen" width="800" height="600" /></a> Bootrec utility results screen[/caption]
<h3>Fix #4: Run sfc utility</h3>
On Windows Vista and Windows 7, it is possible to use the built-in Windows SFC(system file checker) tool to automatically scan a computer's system files and repair them if necessary.

Here are the steps to run SFC:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot from your Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your co</strong><strong>mputer</strong> after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.</li>
 	<li>Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually <code>C:\</code>, and click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>sfc /scannow /offbootdir=D:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows\</pre>
Replace D: with the letter of the driver where Windows is installed, and D:\Windows with the Windows folder location.</li>
</ol>
Here is an example of what the PC's console output should look like once the sfc.exe scan is complete and missing files are successfully restored:

[caption id="attachment_4233" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/sfc_result.png"><img class="wp-image-4233 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/sfc_result.png" alt="System files restored by the SFC utility" width="800" height="600" /></a> System files restored by the SFC utility[/caption]
<h3>Fix #5: Check your disk with CHKDSK utility</h3>
If the hard drive has its file integrity compromised, it is possible to use built-in Windows CHKDSK utility to scan the disk and fix the file system errors.

Here are the steps to run CHKDSK:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot from your Windows install disc</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your co</strong><strong>mputer</strong> after selecting proper language, time and keyboard input.</li>
 	<li>Select the Windows installation drive, which is usually <code>C:\</code>, and click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Choose Command Prompt when the System Recovery Options box appears</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>chkdsk C: /f</pre>
Replace C: with the letter of the driver where Windows is installed.</li>
</ol>
Here is an example of what the PC's console output should look like once the chkdsk.exe is complete:

[caption id="attachment_3697" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/VirtualBox_Win7_clean_21_04_2016_03_58_48.png"><img class="wp-image-3697 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2016/04/VirtualBox_Win7_clean_21_04_2016_03_58_48.png" alt="Chkdsk utility results screen" width="800" height="600" /></a> Chkdsk utility results screen[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootcfg/">bootcfg</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">sfc</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/">Fix MBR</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="vista,7,8,10"]