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Original post : 0xc000014C: Fix for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10.
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Get the fix to "<strong>0xc000014C: error attempting to read the boot configuration data</strong>" boot error for<strong> Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8,</strong><strong> 8.1</strong> or <strong>10</strong> operating systems. <h2>About the "<strong>0xc000014C</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: 0xc000014C error screen on startup</h4> <strong>Alternative Info error messages.</strong> Your PC will probably display "Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data." with File: as "\Boot\BCD", but users reported others, such as: <ul> <li>File: \Windows\system32\config\system Info: Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing or is corrupt</li> <li>Info: The Boot Configuration Data for your PC is missing or contains errors</li> </ul> <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/0xc000014C.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-942 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/0xc000014C.png" alt="0xc000014C error screen" width="980" height="470" /></a> <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: 0xc000014C Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.</pre> The Windows 8/10 info message looks like this: <pre>Windows Recovery Environment Your PC needs to be repaired The Boot configuration data for your PC is missing or contains errors. File: \Boot\BCD Error code: 0x000014c You'll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer.</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 is missing or corrupt</h4> One of the most common causes of this error is the BCD that became missing or corrupt. That could happen because of disk write errors, power outages, boot sector viruses, or errors made while configuring the BCD manually. <h4>Cause 2: File system integrity compromised</h4> For the same reasons, the file system itself may become corrupt or damaged. That happens even more often if one turns off a PC while it is in the middle of writing crucial data to the boot sector. <h4>Cause 3: System files are damaged</h4> The system files may also become corrupt or damaged for the same reasons. <h2>Fixing "0xc000014C" 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 "0xc000000f" error, even in cases where Windows won't boot as a result of the error. The automated boot repair component of EasyRE will address all BCD-related issues, fixing the BCD or recreating it from scratch using the correct encoding and path for the partition that is refusing to load properly. [easyre error="0xc000014C" bootscreen="vista-7-8-10"] <h2>Fix 0xc000014C in Windows Vista</h2> You can fix this error without an installation disc. <p class="info">If you're not able to access Command Prompt, you can download our Windows recovery and repair disk - <a href="http://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows Vista</a> - and access its built-in Command Prompt.</p> <h3>Fix #1: Boot to Last known good configuration</h3> The Last Known Good configuration options will tell your system to use the last good version of system files and the registry. Here are the steps: <ol> <li>Restart your computer</li> <li>Press <kbd>F8</kbd> repeatedly</li> <li>The Startup Options screen will appear</li> <li>Select <strong>Last known good configuration</strong></li> </ol> [caption id="attachment_4605" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/LGC.png"><img class="wp-image-4605 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/LGC-1024x768.png" alt="Last Known Good Configuration screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> Last Known Good Configuration screen[/caption] <h3>Fix #2: Run sfc /scannow</h3> You can run the <code>sfc</code> (System File Checker) command without your installation CD by booting into Safe Mode (with Command Prompt) <ol> <li>Restart your computer</li> <li>Press <kbd>F8</kbd> repeatedly</li> <li>The Startup Options screen will appear</li> <li>Select <strong>Safe Mode with Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>When Command Prompt appears, type the following command: <pre>sfc /scannow</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ol> [caption id="attachment_4618" align="alignnone" width="800"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/safe-mode-sfc.png"><img class="wp-image-4618 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/safe-mode-sfc.png" alt="sfc utility results screen" width="800" height="600" /></a> sfc utility results screen[/caption] <h2>Fix 0xc000014C in Windows 7</h2> [setupcd] <h3>Fix #1: Run the sfc command</h3> <ol> <li>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]</li> </ol> <h2>Fix 0xc000014C in Windows 8, 8.1, 10</h2> [setupcd] <h3>Fix #1: Run the chkdsk command</h3> <ol> <ol> <li>Insert the installation disc</li> <li>Restart your computer</li> <li>Press any key to boot from the disc, at the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD..." message</li> <li>Choose your keyboard layout</li> <li>Select your language, time and a keyboard method</li> <li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong></li> </ol> </ol> <img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" /> <ul> <li>At the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot <img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/02/windows-8-recovery-options-screen-troubleshoot.png" /></li> <li>At the <em>Troubleshoot</em> screen, click <strong>Advanced options</strong></li> <li>At the <em>Advanced options</em> screen, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>When Command Prompt launches, type the command: <pre>chkdsk C: /f /x /r</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> </ul> <p class="info">If Command Prompt will show errors after running the above command, run it until it shows no errors. You can then type <code>exit</code> in Command Prompt to exit after the process is complete.</p> [caption id="attachment_4607" align="alignnone" width="980"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/chkdsk.png"><img class="wp-image-4607 size-large" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/chkdsk-1024x768.png" alt="chkdsk results screen" width="980" height="735" /></a> chkdsk results screen[/caption] <h2>More Information</h2> <h3>Linked Entries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/sfc/">sfc</a></li> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/chkdsk/">chkdsk</a></li> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/advanced-boot-options-menu/">The Advanced Options menu</a></li> </ul> [partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="vista,7,8,10"]