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Thread ID: 150987 2022-11-16 06:32:00 Win10 PC unbootable following windows update odyssey (4613) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1489301 2022-11-16 06:32:00 So my Dad performed a windows update today on his PC which has rendered the PC unbootable. When attempting to boot a recovery screen comes up with the message "An unexpected I/O error has occurred" with error code 0xc00000e9 and pointing to the file \windows\system32\winload.efi (screenshot attached).

Of the options available:
Enter: does nothing
F1: reboots back to this screen
F8: does nothing
ESC: get into bios

Accessing safemode and troubleshooting options don't seem to be available with this error unfortunately. I have tried using win10 usb installation media to do a repair which helpfully advises that it cannot. Likewise it won't uninstall the previous update. I could get to the command prompt but SFC would scan the C: drive but not repair and Chkdsk found a corrupt file which after it fixed changed nothing.

Short of doing a clean install using the win10 usb media are there any other suggestions I can try?

In theory, all his docs/photos etc are on a separate internal data drive, and I can boot into an old instance of Win10 on his machine (a version before he migrated to an SSD) and can copy over any Win10 files in his latest Win10 user file (i think thunderbird profile is the main one that needs to be transferred).

Thanks for any suggestions!
odyssey (4613)
1489302 2022-11-17 05:05:00 If it was mine I would take this opertunity and upgrade to windows 11.
Just make sure you disconnect that other drive with an old version of windows 10 on it.
That could be part of the problem.
Driftwood (5551)
1489303 2022-11-17 18:05:00 chances are good if you got two or more drives the boot loader is on the other drive and the upgrade got them mixed up.

One thing to try is to install Macrium Reflect on a working machine, create and make rescue disk, boot from a CD or USB with Macrium reflect, along the top
may need to google what tab- ( I think from restore) , tell macrium to fix windows boot problem. OR look up how to bebuild the boot loader, BUT can give you one hint, mostly the command prompts dont actually work where as Macriums option does. :)

Edited: This is an old version but the new is almost identical knowledgebase.macrium.com
wainuitech (129)
1489304 2022-11-17 21:28:00 Thanks for the suggestions and advice. I'm less keen to install Win 11 as his PC is too old to support it, but will certainly investigate Macrium Reflect as that sounds a promising solution! odyssey (4613)
1489305 2022-11-18 02:56:00 I would disconnect the data drive before attempting to fix the problem. Wainui's advice above is, as always, spot on simple and easy to follow and is likely to get you up and running in short order. CliveM (6007)
1489306 2022-11-22 05:12:00 Just a quick update. I disconnected the old drive before running macrium but unfortunately it couldn't fix the boot issue. So went for the nuclear option and did a clean install of Win10. Took the afternoon to install all the updates and programs but PC is back up and running now thankfully. Was thinking I might reformat and use the old disconnected drive to make a backup image of the C: drive using macrium given wainui's praises for this app :) It also seemed pretty easy to use based on the short time I was using it.

Thanks again for all the advice.
odyssey (4613)
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