What is 0xc0000225 on Windows 10/11?
Most often, Windows just restarts with a BSOD error 0xc0000225 and never boots up. Many users in Windows 10/11 claimed this issue as the screen of the error has stuck the computer and made it inaccessible. This BSOD error usually appears when the system cannot find any BCD files or if it is corrupt. This may occur due to:
- Power failures or disk write errors;
- Infection of malware in the boot sector;
- Manual BCD configuration incorrectly;
- Hardware defects;
- Windows update;
- Driver or an application fails in digital signature verification.
Sometimes, it will work properly if only the PC restarts, while with serious error types, it might get severe, and a computer cannot start the boot, then you would need troubleshooting. In this article on Outbyte we will give you a detailed guide how to fix the error.

How to Fix Error Code 0xc0000225
First Step
Create a Windows 10/11 installation disk to run repair tools. Booting from this media might erase your data, so it’s best to use a blank DVD or a flash drive with at least 8GB of space.
Here’s how to create the installation media:
- Download and run the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s website.
- Choose Create installation media (USB, DVD, or ISO) and click Next.
- Select your Windows version or leave the default settings, then click Next.
- Choose USB flash drive and follow the prompts to complete the setup.
Once the media is ready, boot from it to begin the repair, since the error might stop you from accessing your PC.
1. Run Automatic Repair
Use the Automatic Repair option with the Windows installation media.
- Boot into your installation disk.
- Click Repair your computer after selecting your language preferences.
- Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Automatic Repair.
Let the utility try to repair this problem.
2. Run CHKDSK and SFC
System corruption can be another cause. Running the System File Checker or CHKDSK or Check Disk Scans will help.
- Boot into the Advanced Options menu.
- Open Command Prompt and type:
sfc /scannow
chkdsk c: /f /r
- After this, restart your computer.
These commands will scan and repair system and disk errors.
3. Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data
As the BCD is the main suspect, this step is very important.
- Open the Advanced Option menu and select the Command Prompt.
- Run these commands one by one:
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd
At last, run all these commands in sequence after each other and reboot your system to check whether the error is still present or not.
4. Set Your Active Partition
Setting your active partition means telling your system, in some ways, from where to boot. But sometimes due to some reasons, the active partition gets changed to some other and causes an error code 0xc0000225 on Windows 10/11.
In Command Prompt window from the Advanced options type:
disk part
list disk
select disk (identify the disk you want to reformat and write the disk number)
list partition
select partition (disk number)
Active
After activating the correct partition, restart your PC.
5. Check for Hardware Issues
If none of these software solutions work, now is the time to suspect that something to do with hardware failure is going on with your error. Check your hard drive yourself or consult a professional if you think there could be hardware failure.
6. Reinstall Windows
Finally, you can go all the way and make a full reinstall with your installation media. All will be deleted, so back up beforehand.
To repair corrupted files and in turn optimize system stability during a smooth system recovery process, try using Outbyte PC Repair.
People Also Ask
Read about common Windows Errors:
FAQs
What causes error 0xc0000225?
It’s mainly caused by corrupt BCD files, power outages, or faulty hardware.
Can I fix it without reinstalling Windows?
Yes, running Automatic Repair or rebuilding the BCD often solves the issue.
Is hardware failure common with this error?
While less common, hard drive problems can sometimes cause the error.
Will CHKDSK and SFC always fix the problem?
They’re useful for repairing file corruption but may not resolve all cases of 0xc0000225.