Start up Error File:\Boot\BCD status 0xc000000f

[Triple-X]

Hi,

My Dell laptop I bought 6 months back has flashed up the following error on bootup:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

File: \Boot\BCD
Status 0xc000000f

An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data. I have windows vista on my pc.

[Khushal]

To resolve core issues, you have to debug the crashed system dump. At present, I suggest trying Startup Repair to fix the problem

1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc in the drive and then start the computer.

2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ...". appears.

3. Select a language, a time and currency, a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair

[Shell]

You should try the repair option. If not, Vista does not delete the My Documents folder, unless you reformat the disk. You should be able to install over the old Vista. But, you lose your programs without having to reinstall again.

[Allan.d]

If you start your computer and keep pressing F8 until a new menu appears there will be a list, click Safe Mode. If this fails, then you will have to reinstall Vista and should give you an option on the menu boot process somewhere that we keep your previous settings in the Windows folder old woman found in the C: drive or something. But if you open the safe mode and then create a new user in User Accounts (click on picture of your account on the Start menu, reboot and this should solve the problem if you do not forget to delete user after saving his stuff to the new user.