Laptop won't boot: BCD Error on Acer Aspire M3-581

Hi,

My son's Acer Aspire M3-581PTG has stopped booting. At start-up, immediately after the Acer logo, it now displays a blue screen with the message:

Recovery

The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information.File: \BCDError code: 0xc000000d

It then refers to using recovery tools and media, but we can't locate any Acer recovery disks and can't recall if the laptop came with any. I've booted using a normal Windows 8.1 installation CD and tried using the various repair options but nothing has worked (perhaps because the Acer has both an SSD and hard disk so needs a specialised repair utility?).

We contacted Acer but just got a generic response about doing a factory reset. Has anyone else encountered this error or is able to suggest a solution?

Thanks.

Accepted answers

IronFly

Try this:

http://itsolutionsblog.net/solution-to-your-pc-needs-to-be-repaired/

if you still have issues booting, i suspect some hardware failure at this point, maybe the HDD or SSD.

Contact your regional Acer support service.

All comments

IronFly

I would suggest you to rebuild the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) from Command prompt and check if that helps.

1. Insert the Windows 8 installation media and boot the computer using the disc.

Note: You need to check the computer manual on how to set CD/DVD drive as the first boot device in the BIOS.

2. Once you boot using the Windows installation disc, on the Windows 8.1 installation window, click on Repair your computer.

3. Click on Troubleshoot and in the Advanced options. First thing you may try is the Automatic Repair. If that does not help, go for System restore. If that works fine, then create a system restore point so that next time you encounter any problems you may always restore the computer to the recent system restore point created.

4. If that does not help, then select Command Prompt. Enter the following four commands into the prompt.

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd

Once the command completes, restart the computer.

If this doesn't work, you may try Acer recovery:

http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2631/kw/recovery/related/1

Kess

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response, but we've already tried all the steps you describe.

Automatic repair fails, while the "bootrec /rebuildbcd" command detects the Windows installation on the C: drive but then halts with the error "The requested system device cannot be found".

The ALT-F10 Acer recovery method simply gives leads to a different blue screen stating that:

A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.

Error code: 0xc0000225

Can you suggest anything else?

IronFly

Try this:

http://itsolutionsblog.net/solution-to-your-pc-needs-to-be-repaired/

if you still have issues booting, i suspect some hardware failure at this point, maybe the HDD or SSD.

Contact your regional Acer support service.

Kess

Wow, I think that might have worked! At least Windows is now booting again and getting as far as the login screen (I can't login as my son is away this weekend and I don't know his password, but it looks very promising).

Many thanks for your help.

IronFly

You welcome, lets hope that it worked. Smiley Very Happy

Kess

Actually I think there may still be an issue.

Although Windows now boots and works, the ALT-F10 keys still lead to the same error screen and error code 0xc0000225 as I described a couple of posts ago. I also noticed that the hidden 400MB Recovery partition seems to be completely empty, even when viewed from the command line in Windows recovery mode.