bootrec – Guide for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10

This guide explains how to use the Bootrec (bootrec.exe) utility for the following Windows versions: Windows XP (bootcfg, not bootrec), Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 or 10.

Bootrec in Windows

Bootrec or the bootrec.exe utility is a tool provided by Microsoft in Windows Recovery Environment, or the Windows RE.

When your computer fails to start, Windows automatically starts in this Windows RE – a recovery platform based on Windows Preinstallation Environment – where you can find various tools that can potentially fix your computer: Startup Repair, Command Prompt etc.

This is useful to troubleshoot and potentially fix errors that are preventing your computer to start.

Bootrec.exe is used in connection with:

• Master Boot Record (MBR) [related guide: Fix the MBR]
• Boot Sector
• Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
• boot.ini [related guides: Invalid BOOT.INI file; Fatal error reading boot.ini; Rebuilding Boot.ini]

This utility is available for Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 8 and Microsoft Windows 8.1.

Bootrec in Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP doesn’t have a bootrec.exe utility, but a bootcfg.exe utility which is part of the Windows XP Recovery Console.

Windows XP has, instead, the bootcfg utility that can be used to modify the boot.ini file.

To read about bootcfg, follow our guide: Bootcfg – Guide for Windows XP

Bootrec in Windows Vista

You can run the bootrec commands in Windows Vista if you can boot into Windows Vista and access the System Recovery Options (your system may not have this installed) or you have the installation disc available to access Command Prompt.

If you can’t boot into your Windows Vista system or don’t have the original installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt. Download Easy Recovery Essentials and burn it to any CDs, DVDs or USBs.

If you have the installation disc

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe by using the original installation disc in Windows Vista:

1. Insert the CD/DVD of Windows Vista in the optical drive
2. Reboot the computer
3. Press any key to boot from the CD/DVD
4. Select a language, time and keyboard and click Next
5. Click Repair your computer
6. Select the operating system
7. Click Next
8. At the System Recovery Options box, click Command Prompt
9. Once Command Prompt appears, you can type the command:

   bootrec.exe

10. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

If you don’t have the installation disc

If you don’t have the Windows Vista installation disc, you can access System Recovery Options or use Easy Recovery Essentials to launch Command Prompt.

System Recovery Options is installed on your system if the Repair Your Computer option appears at the Advanced Boot Options menu.

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe without the installation disc in Windows Vista:

1. Reboot the computer
2. Press F8 as the Windows Vista logo appears
3. Select Repair Your Computer

   If Repair Your Computer is not available, System Recovery Options is not installed on your system. Access Command Prompt from the installation disc or use Easy Recovery Essentials.

   

4. Select Command Prompt from the System Recovery Options menu
5. When Command Prompt opens, type the commands:

   bootrec /rebuildbcd

6. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

Instructions if you use Easy Recovery Essentials:

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
3. Boot Easy Recovery Essentials from the CD, DVD or USB
4. Select Launch Command Line

Bootrec in Windows 7

You can access bootrec.exe on Windows 7 systems similar to Windows Vista systems: via the System Recovery Options (which is, by default, available in Windows 7) or via the installation disc.

If you can’t boot into your Windows 7 system or don’t have the original installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt. Download Easy Recovery Essentials and burn it to any CDs, DVDs or USBs.

If you have the installation disc

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe by the installation disc in Windows 7:

1. Insert the disc in the drive
2. Reboot the computer
3. Press any key to boot from the CD/DVD
4. Select a language, time and keyboard
5. Click Next
6. Click Repair your computer
7. Select the operating system
8. Click Next
9. At the System Recovery Options box, click Command Prompt
10. At Command Prompt, you can type the commands:

    bootrec.exe

11. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

If you don’t have the installation disc

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe without the installation disc in Windows 7:

1. Reboot the computer
2. Press F8 as the Windows 7 logo appears
3. Select Repair Your Computer

   If Repair Your Computer is not available, System Recovery Options is not installed on your system. Access Command Prompt from the installation disc or use Easy Recovery Essentials.

   

4. Hit Enter
5. Select Command Prompt
6. When it opens, type the necessary commands:

   bootrec /rebuildbcd

7. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

Instructions if you use Easy Recovery Essentials:

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
3. Boot Easy Recovery Essentials from the CD, DVD or USB
4. Select Launch Command Line

Bootrec in Windows 8 and 8.1

In Windows 8, you can access the bootrec.exe utility by using your original installation media: DVD or USB drive.

If you can’t boot into your Windows 8/8.1 system or don’t have the original installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt. Download Easy Recovery Essentials and burn it to any CDs, DVDs or USBs.

If you have the installation disc (DVD, USB)

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe with the installation disc (DVD or USB media) in Windows 8 or 8.1:

1. Insert the Windows 8 or 8.1 DVD or USB
2. Reboot the system
3. Press any key at the “Press any key to boot” message
4. Click Repair your computerOr press R.
5. Select Troubleshoot, then select Command Prompt
6. When Command Prompt appears, simply type the necessary commands:

   bootrec /FixMbr

7. Press Enter after each command
8. When you are finished with Command Prompt, type exit, press Enter and remove the DVD/USB from the drive

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

If you don’t have the installation disc (DVD, USB)

If you don’t have the original disc, you can either boot to System Recovery Options and select Command Prompt or use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt (you can burn EasyRE to any CDs, DVDs or USBs).

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe without the installation disc in Windows 8 or 8.1:

1. Reboot the system
2. Press Shift and F8 quickly

   Shift + F8 doesn’t always work, as reported by some users. If this is the case for your system, consider using Easy Recovery Essentials to run Command Prompt – details below this section of steps.

3. At the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot
4. Select Command Prompt
5. When Command Prompt opens, type the commands:

   bootrec /FixMbr

6. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

Instructions if you use Easy Recovery Essentials:

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
3. Boot Easy Recovery Essentials from the CD, DVD or USB
4. Select Launch Command Line

Bootrec in Windows 10

In Windows 10 you can access the bootrec.exe utility by using your original installation media: DVD or USB drive.

If you can’t boot into your Windows 10 system or don’t have the original installation disc, use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt. Download Easy Recovery Essentials and burn it to any CDs, DVDs or USBs.

If you have the installation disc (DVD, USB)

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe with the installation disc (DVD or USB media) in Windows 10:

1. Insert the Windows 10 DVD or USB
2. Reboot the system
3. Press any key at the “Press any key to boot” message
4. Click Repair your computerOr press R.
5. Select Troubleshoot, then select Command Prompt
6. When Command Prompt appears, simply type the necessary commands:

   bootrec /FixMbr

7. Press Enter after each command
8. When you are finished with Command Prompt, type exit, press Enter and remove the DVD/USB from the drive

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

If you don’t have the installation disc (DVD, USB)

If you don’t have the original disc, you can either boot to System Recovery Options and select Command Prompt or use Easy Recovery Essentials and run Command Prompt (you can burn EasyRE to any CDs, DVDs or USBs).

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe without the installation disc in Windows 10:

1. Reboot the system
2. Press Shift and F8 quickly

   Shift + F8 doesn’t always work, as reported by some users. If this is the case for your system, consider using Easy Recovery Essentials to run Command Prompt – details below this section of steps.

3. At the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot
4. Select Command Prompt
5. When Command Prompt opens, type the commands:

   bootrec /FixMbr

6. Hit Enter

For more commands and parameters you can run, go to Commands and parameters. If common commands don’t work for your system, go to Troubleshooting for tips.

Instructions if you use Easy Recovery Essentials:

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
3. Boot Easy Recovery Essentials from the CD, DVD or USB
4. Select Launch Command Line

Commands and parameters

The commands and parameters below are for the bootrec.exe utility in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.

Windows XP uses the bootcfg utility. For commands and parameters for bootcfg, go to Parameters at Windows XP section.

Parameters for bootrec.exe are:

bootrec /FixMbr will write a Windows Vista and Windows 7 compatible MBR to the system partition.

bootrec /FixBoot will write a new boot sector to the system partition. If your system is Windows 7, FixBoot will write a Windows 7-compatible boot sector and so on.

bootrec /ScanOs will scan the hard drives for any installations. ScanOs will also print installations that are not currently in the BCD.

bootrec /RebuildBcd will scan for installations on your hard drive and allows you to select which to add to the BCD.

Download Bootrec.exe

You cannot download bootrec.exe as it’s a command line utility part of Windows.

To access the utility, you have these options available:

• boot into the recovery mode of your Windows to access Command Prompt
• get the original installation disc of your Windows version to access System Recovery
• use Easy Recovery Essentials, our recovery and repair disk, and access Command Line from there

Instructions if you use Easy Recovery Essentials:

1. Download Easy Recovery Essentials
2. Burn the ISO Image. Follow our instructions on how to burn a bootable ISO image. If you’d like to have a recovery USB instead, follow our instructions on how to make a recovery USB.
3. Boot Easy Recovery Essentials from the CD, DVD or USB
4. Select Launch Command Line

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe without the installation disc:

• For Windows Vista
• For Windows 7
• For Windows 8
• For Windows 10

Instructions on how to access bootrec.exe with the installation disc:

• For Windows Vista
• For Windows 7
• For Windows 8
• For Windows 10

Troubleshooting

bootrec /RebuildBcd doesn’t work

If bootrec /RebuildBcd does not fix the error, you can also try to completely rebuild the BCD. TO do so, you need to run these steps:

1. Type this command:

   bcdedit /export C:\BCDBackup

2. Type c:, where c: is where your Windows is installed
3. Type cd boot
4. Type this command:

   attrib bcd -s -h -r

5. Type this command:

   ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old

6. Type this command:

   bootrec /RebuildBcd

The requested system device cannot be found

If Bootrec shows the “The requested system device cannot be found” error, follow the steps from bootrec /RebuildBcd doesn’t work.

bootrec /ScanOs doesn’t find Windows

It’s possible that the bootrec /ScanOs command can find 0 Windows installations:

Total identified Windows installations: 0

In this case you can try the steps from bootrec /RebuildBcd doesn’t work or try:

1. ren c:\bootmgr bootmgrbackup, where c: is where your Windows is installed
2. bootrec /RebuildBcd
3. bootrec /FixBoot

bootrec prints Element not found

Various bootrec commands, like bootrec /RebuildBcd or bootrec /FixBoot, can print this error:

Element not found

In this case, try any of the following tips:

• Run the steps from bootrec /RebuildBcd doesn’t work
• If you have a SATA cable, move it to another port
• Make sure the partition is active. To do that, run these commands:
  1. diskpart
  2. list disk
  3. select disk 0, where 0 is the number of your disk
  4. list partition
  5. select partition 0, where 0 is the number of your partition number
  6. active
  7. exit

bootrec in Windows 7 doesn’t work

If the bootrec /FixMbr or bootrec /FixBoot commands don’t work in Windows 7, try the following steps to restore the boot sector code for your system:

This solution works only if you have the original Windows 7 installation disc. Otherwise, use Easy Recovery Essentials to access Command Prompt or run Automated Repair for automatic repairs.

1. Type these commands and press Enter after each:

   diskpart
   select disk 0
   list volume

2. Remember the letter of your media drive that has the installation disc, e.g. CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
3. Type the following commands, press Enter after each and replace D: below with the letter of your media drive:

   exit
   D:
   cd boot
   dir

4. Type this command:

   bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr

5. Press Enter
6. Remove the CD or DVD from the media drive
7. Type exit
8. Press Enter
9. Reboot the computer

bootrec in Windows 8/10 doesn’t work

If the bootrec utility doesn’t fix your Windows 8 system, you can also try to fix the EFI bootloader of your system:

1. Boot from the install disc (DVD or USB)
2. Click Repair your computer
3. Choose Troubleshoot, then Command Prompt
4. Type these commands in the exact order shown below and press Enter after each command:

   diskpart
   sel disk 0
   list vol

5. Select the volume number that has the FAT32 under the Fs column:

   sel vol 2

   where 2 is the number of the FAT32 partition printed by Command Prompt above.

6. Assign a unique letter to this partition. The letter must not be already available on your computer, e.g. C: or D: or E:

   assign letter=x:

7. The confirmation message should appear:

   DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.

8. Type exit to quit the diskpart utility (step 4):

   exit

9. Type the following command, but replace x: with the letter of the partition you chose earlier:

   cd /d x:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\

10. Type the bootrec command:

    bootrec /fixboot

11. Backup your old BCD configuration to create a new one:

    ren BCD BCD.Backup

12. Type this command to replace the BCD, but remember to replace x: with the letter of the FAT32 partition mentioned earlier:

    bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-us /s x: /f ALL

13. Remove the media from the drive: DVD or USB
14. Type exit
15. Hit Enter
16. Reboot the computer

More Information

Support Links

• Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows – our repair and recovery disk.
  
  It’s an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. It’s available for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It’s also available for Windows XP and Windows Server.

  Read more at Windows Recovery Disks.

• The NeoSmart Support Forums, member-to-member technical support and troubleshooting.
• Get a discounted price on replacement setup and installation discs: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10.

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

• Windows XP (all editions)
• Windows Vista (all editions)
• Windows 7 (all editions)
• Windows 8 (all editions)
• Windows 8.1 (all editions)
• Windows 10 (all editions)
• Windows Server 2003 (all editions)
• Windows Server 2008 (all editions)
• Windows Server 2012 (all editions)

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