What is boot configuration data?

What is a boot configuration data file?

Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is a firmware-independent database for boot-time configuration data. It is used by Microsoft’s new Windows Boot Manager and replaces the boot. ini that was used by NTLDR.

What does it mean when the boot configuration data is missing?

The Boot Configuration Data file is missing some required information. 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.”

How to Fix a ‘Boot Configuration Data File is Missing’ Error in Windows 10

You have Windows 10 on your laptop. It was there yesterday. But now, when you turn on your computer, you’re greeted with error code 0xc0000034, “The Boot Configuration Data file is missing.”  

The good news is that your data isn’t lost, and you can get it all back (we’ll show you how). The bad news is that you’ll have to do a little work to restore that missing file. Here’s how to fix a ‘configuration data file’ boot error in Windows 1o:

First, you’ll need a DVD or USB stick containing Windows installation media.

1. Insert your installation media into the computer.

2. Boot to the media. We had to press F12 during bootup on the Dell we fixed up to reach this menu, though these keys can differ depending on your laptop’s make and model.

3. Click Next on the Windows Setup menu.

4. Click “Repair your computer.”

5. Choose Troubleshoot.

6. Select “Advanced options.”Advertisement

7. Pick “Command Prompt.”

8. Type Bootrec /fixmbr and press the enter key.

9. Type Bootrec /fixboot and press the enter key.

10. Type Bootrec /scanos and press the enter key.

11. Type Bootrec /rebuildbcd and press the enter key.

12. Type “A” to add the installation to the boot list and hit enter.Advertisement

13. Exit the command prompt with the X button on the top of the window.

14. Click “Continue” to go to your desktop.

Commands and parameters

For the complete list of commands and parameters you can use with BCDEdit, type:

bcdedit /?

Whenever you are using this utility to modify a BCD store, make use use of these parameters:

• /createstore to create a new empty boot configuration data (BCD) store.
• /export to export the current configuration of the BCD store.
• /import to import a previously exported configuration file.
• /create to create a new entry in the BCD store.
• /delete to delete an entry from the BCD store.
• /deletevalue to delete a specified value.
• /set to set a new value.
• /default to specify the default entry.
• /timeout to specify the timeout at startup value.

For example, to create a new entry in the BCD file to load Windows XP, run these commands:

1. bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “Windows XP”
2. bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=C:
3. bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
4. bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast