Fix Windows Boot error 0x0000c225 “Winload.efi is Missing or Corrupt”

Sometimes you may come to a situation, “Windows 10 fails to boot” with a blue screen error code of which is 0x0000c225 or 0xc0000001, aka winload.efi is missing or corrupt. This issue usually occurs when the system is unable to locate or properly load the Winload.efi file, a crucial component in the Windows Boot Manager. This issue prevents Windows from booting normally and can be caused by corrupted boot files, disk errors, or misconfigured boot settings. This article explores the possible causes and effective solutions to fix this Boot error 0x0000c225 and restore normal system functionality.

What is Winload.efi?

Winload.efi is a type of EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) file associated with Microsoft Windows developed by Microsoft Corporation for the Windows Operating System. These files are executable files for the firmware of the computers that are based mainly on  UEFI and execute the tasks of loading the files to the bootloader of the computer.

And the Copies of winload.exe can be found in subfolders of C:\Windows, like Boot and WinSxS, and maybe others. Under UEFI-based systems, winload.exe is called winload.efi, and can be found in the same C:\Windows\System32 folder.

How to Fix “Winload.efi is Missing or Corrupt” Error

Windows 10 Boot Error 0x0000c225: “Winload.efi is Missing or Corrupt” occurs for different reasons, some of the common ones include:

• Corrupt Boot Configuration Data (BCD) – If the BCD is damaged, Windows may fail to locate Winload.efi.
• Damaged System Files – Missing or corrupted essential boot files can trigger this issue.
• Faulty Windows Update or Upgrade – An incomplete update or upgrade can result in boot failure.
• Corrupt Hard Drive Sectors – Bad sectors on the system drive may prevent Windows from booting.
• Incorrect UEFI/BIOS Settings – Improper configurations can interfere with the boot process.

Disconnect External Devices and Restart

External devices such as USB drives, external hard disks, or peripherals may interfere with the boot process. Let’s disconnect them and check if this helps

• Turn off your computer completely.
• Unplug all external devices, including USB drives, printers, and external storage.
• Restart your computer and check if Windows boots properly.
• If successful, reconnect the devices one by one to identify the problematic hardware.

Check and Set the Correct Boot Order in BIOS/UEFI

If the boot order is incorrect, the system may attempt to boot from an unbootable device, causing this error.

• Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing F2, F10, Del, or Esc (varies by manufacturer).
• Navigate to Boot Options.
• Ensure that your system drive (where Windows is installed) is set as the first boot option.
• Save the changes and restart your system to see if Windows loads correctly.

Disable Secure Boot

Most of the users recommend on the Microsoft forum, disabling the Secure Boot option helps them to fix the problem. So find the Secure Boot option in BIOS or UEFI, and then disable it.

Note: This option is usually in either the Security tab, the Boot tab, or the Authentication tab.

Perform Startup Repair

Windows has a built-in repair tool that can fix boot-related problems automatically by diagnosing system errors and applying fixes.

1. Boot from a Windows 10 Installation USB/DVD.
2. Select Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.
3. Let Windows attempt to diagnose and repair the issue.
4. Restart the system after the repair completes and check if the problem is resolved.

Note: In case you don’t arrange Windows installation disk, then forcefully restart the computer three times by pressing the Power button. Windows automatically start the Startup repair process.

Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

Again, Rebuilding the BCD can help resolve corruption-related boot issues by restoring the boot loader settings.

1. Access Advanced boot options, using Windows Installation media.
2. This time click on the command prompt and run the following commands one after another:
   • bootrec /FixMbr – (Repairs the Master Boot Record)
   • bootrec /FixBoot – (Fixes boot sector issues)
   • bootrec /ScanOs – (Scans for installed operating systems)
   • bootrec /RebuildBcd – (Rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data)
3. Close the command prompt with the command:  exit
4. Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

If the previous method did not help, you must rebuild the boot configuration file (BCD) for the MBR in the Recovery Console command prompt:
bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot
bcdedit /set {default} device boot
bcdedit /set {default} osdevice boot
bcdedit /set {default} device partition=c:
bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=c:
bcdedit /set {default} path \windows\system32\winload.efi

Restart the computer and check if the problem is fixed.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM Commands

System file corruption can lead to boot errors, and running these commands can restore missing or damaged system files.

• Again access command prompt from Advanced options
• Type command “sfc /scannow” (Scans and repairs corrupted system files)
• Let SFC utility scan and restore missing system files.
• Next run dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth (Repairs Windows image files)
• Once the scanning is complete 100%, restart your computer and check if Windows boots normally.

Restore Windows Using System Restore

If the issue started after a Windows update or a software change, restoring the system to a previous state can resolve it.

1. Boot into Advanced Options > System Restore.
2. Choose a restore point before the issue started.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore Windows.
4. Once the process is completed, restart your PC to see if the problem is resolved.

If all other methods fail, reinstalling Windows from scratch can help.