This tutorial contains instructions to resolve the following blue screen error 0xc0000428 in a Windows 10 based computer: “Your PC needs to be repaired. Error code: 0xc0000428”. The BSOD error “0xc0000428” commonly appears on Windows 10 or Windows 8 OS, if Windows cannot find the required System Files to boot. (e.g. because the Boot files or the disk are damaged).
When Windows 10 fails to boot with error 0xc0000428 error (Your PC/Device needs to be repaired), the following may have happened:
- The computer was turned off, during a Windows Update. (e.g. after a power outage)
- Cloning or Resizing of the OS hard disk.
How to fix: Your PC/Device needs to be repaired – Error code: 0xc0000428. (Windows 10, 8/8.1)
Requirements: In order to fix the Windows 10 boot problem with Error code “0xc0000428”, you will need to boot your computer from a Windows installation media. If you don’t own a Windows Media then you can create one by using Microsoft’s Media Creation tool.
Method-1. Run Start-up Repair.
The first method to fix the error 0xc0000428, is to try to repair Windows 10.
1. Boot your computer from the Windows installation media.
2. Press Next at Language options screen.
3. Choose Repair your computer.
4. Then choose Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options –> Start-up Repair.
5. Select your Windows OS and then follow the onscreen instructions to fix your computer.
6. If Start-up repair cannot fix the 0xc0000428 error, continue to next method.
Method-2. Run Check Disk to Find and Fix Hard Disk Errors.
The second method to resolve the error 0xc0000428, is to check and repair the hard drive.
1. Boot your computer from the Windows Installation media.
2. Press Next at Language options screen.
3. Choose Repair your computer.
4. Then choose Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options –> Command Prompt.
5. In command prompt type: diskpart & press Enter.
6. In “DISKPART” prompt, type: list volume & press Enter.
7. Now find out the Drive letter of the Operating System (OS) volume.
* Note: The OS Volume is usually the biggest volume in size (GB) and contains the Windows Operating System.
e.g. At the example screenshot below, the OS volume is located at drive “D“.
8. Type exit to close the DISKPART tool.
9. Then give the following command to repair the OS drive and press Enter. *
* Note: Replace the letter “X”, according your case. (e.g. In this example the command is: “chkdsk D: /F /R”.
10. Now wait for the disk check process to finish. (it will take several hours).
11. When the check disk process is completed, close all open windows and restart your computer. If Windows fails to boot again, then continue to the next method.
Method-3. Repair the Boot Files.
The third method to fix the “Your PC needs to be repaired. Error code:0xc0000428” problem, is to repair the boot files: To do that:
1. Boot your computer from the Windows Installation media.
2. Press Next at Language options screen.
3. Choose Repair your computer.
4. Then choose Troubleshoot -> Advanced Options –> Command Prompt
5. In command prompt type: diskpart & press Enter.
6. In “DISKPART” prompt, type: list volume & press Enter.
7. Now find out the Volume number of the FAT32 * partition (SYSTEM volume), and the drive letter of the OS volume.
* Notes (Info)::
1. The FAT32 partition, with size 100-500MB, is also known as “EFI” volume (SYSTEM Volume) because it contains the Boot Configuration Data on UEFI based systems.
2. If you own a legacy based system, then find out the Volume number of the “System Reserved” volume (FS=NTFS & Size=100–500MB).
3. The OS (Operating System) Volume is usually the biggest in size (GB) and contains the Windows folder.e.g. At the screenshot below, we can see that the FAT32 partition is located at “Volume 1” and the OS volume has the drive letter “D“.
8. Now select the SYSTEM Volume, by typing the following command and press Enter.
* Note: Replace “1” with whatever volume number is your System drive.
9. Now type the following command to assign the drive letter “Z” on the selected volume and press Enter:
10. Type exit & press Enter, to close DISKPART utility.
11. Now, at command prompt type the following command and press Enter:
- bcdboot D:windows /s Z: /f ALL
* Note: Replace “D:” with whatever drive letter is your OS Volume.
12. Type exit & press Enter to close command prompt.
13. Remove the Windows installation media and Restart your PC.
14. Normally Windows should start without problems. *
* Note: If Windows couldn’t again and displays the error 0xc0000428, proceed as follows:
1. Boot again your computer from the Windows installation media and launch command prompt.
2. Give the following commands in order:
- bootrec /fixmbr
- bootrec /fixboot
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
3. If after executing the last command, you receive that “Total Windows installations= 0” continue to the next step (4), otherwise, if you receive “Total Windows installations=1”, skip to step 5.
4. If you receive that “Total Windows Installations=0” then give the following commands in order:
- bcdedit /export C:bcdbackup
- C:
- cd boot
- attrib bcd -s -h –r
- ren C:bootbcd bcd.old
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
5. Press “A” to add the installation to boot list and press Enter. Then restart your system.
6. Close command prompt window.
7. Restart your computer and if the boot problem persists, continue to next Method.
Method-4. Diagnose Hard Disk’s Health.
If none of the above methods work for you, then your hard disk probably is damaged and you should replace it. To diagnose your hard drive’s health, connect your hard disk to another working computer and use the diagnostic utilities mentioned on this article: Best Hard Drive Test & Diagnostic Tools to Check Hard Disk’s Health. *
* Note: If your hard drive is healthy, then backup your files and perform a clean installation of Windows 10.
That’s all folks! Did it work for you?
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