Windows failed to start or Error 0xc000014c is often faced by Windows users while booting up their PC. Here are the methods that’ll help you fix the error.
How To Fix Error 0xc000014c
Windows Failed to start error isn’t specific to one Windows OS. Those who use Windows Vista, Win 7, Windows 8 and Win 10 are also facing this Error 0xc000014c.
Depending on the OS you are using, the error message changes. On Windows Vista and 7, you’ll get the following error.
“Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.”
On Windows 8 and 10 you’ll get the following error. However, Error Code 0xc000014c remains constant.
“Windows Recovery Environment. Your PC needs to be repaired. The Boot configuration data for your PC is missing or contains errors.”
The following are the fixes for Windows Failed To Start (Error 0xc000014c) for Windows Vista, Win 7, 8, and 10.
Fix #1
The first fix you can try for Error 0xc000014c is to restore your Windows OS using a previously saved restore point. However, this only works if you have saved a restore point. Otherwise, move on to the next fix.
This fix works a tiny bit differently depending on the Windows version you are using. The only thing common is that you need an installation media regardless of you using Windows 7, 8, or 10. Below is the in-depth fix for Error 0xc000014c for both Windows 7 and 10 versions.
Windows 7 Fix
Boot Win 7 installation media and click on “Repair your computer”. Select your OS and click on Next. Wait for the scan to complete and then click “Restore” when prompted. Wait for the process to complete and don’t turn off your PC. Once the process is done, the System Restore wizard will show up. Click on”System Restore”. Check the “Show more restore points” box and select the restore point from when the OS was working properly and click “Next”. When prompted, click “Yes” and wait for the Repair Tool to roll back your system to a previous version. This will fix the Windows Failed To Start (Error 0xc000014c) and Windows 7 will start working properly.
Windows 10 Fix
Boot up Windows 10 installation media and click on “Repair your computer”. From the available options click on “System Restore” and select your OS. When a window pops up, click on “Next” and select the system restore from where your system was working properly and hit “Next”. When prompted, click on Finish and wait for the process to complete. This will fix the error and Windows 10 will start working properly.
Fix #2
If you are reading this then either the above fix didn’t work or you didn’t save any system restore point when your Windows OS was working properly.
in that case, you can try rebuilding BCD files to fix the error code 0xc000014c. This can be done using command prompt and here is how to do it.
Just make sure you have the installation media ready for your Windows 7, 10 or whichever OS version you are using.
Windows 7 Fix
Boot up the Win 7 installation media and click on “Repair your computer”. Select your OS and click Next.
Form system recovery options select “Command Prompt”. Type in the following commands and press enter after each of them.
Bootrec /FixMbr
Bootrec /FixBoot
Bootrec /ScanOS
Bootrec /RebuildBcd
Once all of the commands have been run, type “chkdsk /f /r” and press enter. This will scan and repair bad sectors in your HDD. Your PC will restart and the error is now fixed.
Windows 10 Fix
Boot up Windows 10 installation media and click on “Repair your computer”. From the troubleshoot menu, select “Command prompt”. Type in the following commands and press enter after each of them.
Bootrec /FixMbr
Bootrec /FixBoot
Bootrec /ScanOS
Bootrec /RebuildBcd
Once all of the commands have been run, type “chkdsk /f /r” and press enter. There is a chance that you might end up losing some data while repairing bad sectors on your HDD. Restart your PC and Windows Failed To Start (Error 0xc000014c) is now fixed.
Fix #3
If the above fixes didn’t work out for your then it’s time to try restoring registry files from the RegBack folder.
Remove the HDD in which the Windows is installed and attach it to another system as a secondary driver. From that system, access the HDD your just attached and navigate to “/Windows/system32/config/RegBack”. Copy all the files and go back press backspace to get to the “Config” folder. Paste all of the copied files here and when asked to override, click “Yes to all”. Turn off the system and remove the drive and place it back in its original PC. Boot it up and the error 0xc000014c is now fixed.
Fix #4 – Windows Vista
If you are facing the “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause” error on Windows Vista then you need to try out the following fixes.
Last Known Good Configuration
Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly until you get a list of options. Select “Last known good configuration”. Let the system complete the process and it will fix the error.
sfc /scannow
Restart your PC and press F8 repeatedly until you get a list of options. Select “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”. Once the command prompt opens, type “sfc /scannow” and press enter. Once the process is done the error will be resolved.
That is all for our fixes on Windows Failed To Start (Error 0xc000014c). If you are facing other PC issues then also see our hub for commonly occurring PC errors and issues.