How to Fix 0xc0000225 Boot Error in Windows 8.1

0xc0000225 is a boot error that noticeably came forward in Windows 7, and has been troubling PC users ever since. Resulting from a poorly configured Boot Configuration Data (BCD) or missing crucial system files, this terminal fault appears at Windows startup and denies any OS attempts to advance further.

Fortunately, the cure to this mishap is not as daunting as the message itself. This article delves deeper into the problem and provides an easy workaround to recover from this bizarre situation in Windows 8.1.

Solutions

Note: All solutions listed below will require you to have Windows 8.1 Installation disc/drive prepared. Please see how to create Windows 8 (8.1) recovery disc/drive.

Upon encountering this fault, the system asks for a Windows Repair to resolve the issue. While you may recede to the instructions and proceed as stated, most times, the error remains undiagnosed. In that case, it should be pointed out that performing automatic troubleshoot is not the ONLY solution. Instead, other reliable fixes certainly do exist. Three solutions that guarantee a repair to your matter include:

• Rebuilding BCD from the command prompt
• Configuring System Partition using bcdboot command
• Configuring Active partition

Rebuild Boot Configuration Data

As formerly stated, 0xc0000225 may result from a damaged Boot Configuration Data (BCD), which consists of startup files required to load the OS. To recuperate from this mess, rebuild this component from the command prompt described below:

• Insert Windows 8.1 installation media and Restart your system
• When prompted, press any key to boot from CD/DVD
• From the Windows Setup screen, click Next
• Look for the Repair your computer option and click on it
• Access Troubleshoot
• Choose Advanced options and click Command Prompt
• In the command prompt, type BOOTREC /REBUILDBCD and press Enter

Configure System Partition

One of the most common reasons of 0xc000025 error is an improperly configured system partition that misguides the OS to look for BCD files in a wrong volume and/or directory. To fix this issue, you can use BCD boot tool to copy a small set of boot-environment files from the installed Windows image to the system partition. In addition, this important utility can create a Boot Configuration Data store on the system partition that instructs the computer to boot to the Windows partition. Following is a step-by-step guide to perform this procedure successfully:

• Reach Command Prompt screen as described in the previous method
• Type diskpart and hit Enter
• Enter the command list volume to see details of your system volumes
• Under Label column, look for the “ESP” label and note the volume number associated with it from Volume ### column
• Once identified, select the volume using: select volume=2
  Note: Replace “2” with the number corresponding to the “ESP” label
• Assign it a letter by entering assign letter=Z into the command line
• Type exit and hit Enter to leave diskpart
• Finally, use the bcdboot command i.e. bcdboot C:\windows /s Z:/f UEFI
  Note: Replace C with the drive that contains your OS
  

Configure Active Partition

Windows may also generate the aforementioned error if a wrong active partition is selected. In this case, the BIOS again traps itself in a situation where it looks for system files in an incorrect place. To rectify the problem, configure the active partition shown below:

• Access Command Prompt screen using the Windows 8.1 Installation disk formerly demonstrated
• Type diskpart and press Enter
• View installed disks by typing list disk
• Select desired disk by entering the command select disk 0 (assuming 0 is the primary disk)
• With the disk selected, view partitions using the command list partition
• Identify the desired one to be active (typically the system partition)
• Select this partition using the command: select partition 1 (assuming 1 is the desired active partition)
• Once selected, activate it by typing active, and hit Enter
• Quit by entering exit in the command line and press Enter

At the completion of each of these methods, reboot your system. Now you should not have any issues reaching your Windows any more.