Why is Bootrec FixBoot denied access?

The bootrec /FixBoot Access is denied error mostly occurs while fixing boot-related issues inside Command Prompt. It is related to the Boot Manager. There are some other causes for this issue too, but it usually revolves around the notion of Disk Partitioning. In this guide, we will be taking a look at troubleshooting this error on Windows 10.

The bootrec /FixBoot Access is denied error on Windows 10 is caused when executing bootrec /fixboot. You have two options to proceed:

1. Get a new ISO.
2. Fix the UEFI boot.
3. Run Startup Repair

This works in both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1] Get a new ISO

There is a possibility of issues with your installation media. Create a new USB Bootable device after getting a new ISO image file for Windows 10.

Then continue the boot fixing process with this new image.

2] Fix the UEFI boot

Make a bootable Windows 10 USB drive and then boot your computer using it. Then when you get the Welcome Screen to click on Next, and then click on Repair your computer on the bottom left portion of the window.

Next, click on Troubleshoot. After that, select Advanced Options. And then, Command Prompt.

Once it opens, enter the following command it initiates DISKPART:

DISKPART

After that, execute this command:

LIST DISK

Now you need to select the boot drive. For that, type in:

SEL DISK #

You will have to now list all the volume and partitions. Execute this command:

LIST VOL

Select the EFI partition now:

SEL VOL #

Assign it a custom letter now by entering this:

ASSIGN LETTER=V:

Exit the DISKPART Utility by executing this command:

EXIT

Now, type in:

V:

Format the EFI Partition by entering this command:

format V: /FS:FAT32

Finally, execute this command to fix the boot settings:

bcdboot C:\Windows /s V: /f UEFI

Reboot your computer, and your error should have been fixed now.

3] Run Startup Repair

Boot your PC using a bootable USB Drive, and get into Advanced Recovery. The recovery offers a Startup Repair option that can automatically fix boot-related issues on Windows.

Internally the tool uses the Bootrec command but uses it logically using the available options.

What is Bootrec /Fixboot Command?

Bootrec is a utility from Microsoft that is a part of recovery tools and comes in handy when Windows fails to boot.  The /Fixboot option writes a new boot sector to the system partition. Thus it allows Windows to boot normally.

It is usually used when another OS has modified, damaged, or replaced the boot sector. The same tool also offers FixMBR, ScanOS, RebuildBCD options which are used when Windows becomes inaccessible.

Related: Bootrec is not recognized as an internal command

How can I FixMBR without losing data?

The best way to use FixMBR is from the Recovery console. It is advised not to use it from within Windows, and it may not work as well. The only chance of corruption or data loss is when the command alters the Partition Table, but it will warn you about it.

This command only lets BIOS or UEFI find the right path to load Windows. This is sep[erate partition from the user data. However, if you are worried about your data, connect the Data disk to another PC, and create a backup.

PAGE CONTENT:

What's bootrec /fixboot?
How to Fix "bootrec /fixboot access is denied" Error?
Alternative Ways to Fix Windows Boot Problems

Bootrec (bootrec.exe) utility is for reviving a failed, not working, or not responding operating system in Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). What if running the command bootrec /fixboot returned the error message 'Access is denied? This article offers one real solution for you to fix the bootrec /fixboot access denied in Windows 10/8/7, plus other alternative ways to fix the Windows startup problems.

What's bootrec /fixboot?

The [bootrec /fixboot] is a command performed in the Bootrec.exe tool in Windows Recovery Environment. Bootrec /fixboot writes a new boot sector to the system partition by using a boot sector that's compatible with the present Windows system. E.g., if your system is Windows 7, fixboot will write a Windows 7-compatible boot sector and so forth. This fixboot command is normally used to fix a number of startup errors and problems like:

• The boot sector is damaged
• Black screen on startup
• Missing boot device
• Blue screen of death
• Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart
• Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

In fact, all three situations are pointed to a PC that cannot start properly. One common way to fix such errors is to run the command "bootrec /fixboot". However, running the bootrec /fixboot command is likely to cause a new round of problems. An error says that access is denied. How to make the command take effect while the access is denied then?

To run the bootrec.exe, you'll first create a Windows installation media USB flash drive to enter the Windows RE. According to the discussions on Microsoft community, many victims who had the same issue with the command bootrec/ fixboot access is denied, are using the Windows 10 1709 installation media. After they tried the same command with Windows 10 1703 installation media, they do not get the error again.

 ImportantHence, the bootrec /fixboot access denied looks like an error with the installation media for Windows 10 1709.

On condition that your situation is not caused by the installation media, the most effective way to troubleshoot the bootrec /fixboot access denied error is to recreate EFI structure and reconfigure the boot files.

Step 1. At first, turn off your computer. After that, switch on as soon as your system starts up and you see the manufacturer's logo, press and hold the power button again to force shut down the system. Repeat the steps several times and it will automatically read the startup repair screen. Here is what we're going to officially apply the fixes.

Step 2. When your computer boots up, you will be represented by the Automatic Repair window. Click on the Advanced options button.

Step 3. In the Choose an option window, choose the Troubleshoot option.

Step 4. Next, proceed with the Advanced options.

Step 5. In the Advanced options window, choose the Command Prompt option.

Step 6. In the Command Prompt window, type commands diskpart and then list disk one by one and hit Enter to open Diskpart and list information of your disks available.

diskpart
list disk

Step 7. Next, you'll need to choose the disk # where Windows is installed, and the volume # that represents the EFI partition (Usually, the EFI partition have 100MB storage and formatted in FAT32 format. For example, disk 0 is the HDD drive containing Windows and volume 5 is the EFI partition. So, here you will type select disk 0, list vol, and select vol 5.

select disk 0
list vol
select vol 5

Step 8. Now you need to assign a new drive letter to the EFI partition. Type assign letter=V: and hit Enter.

assign letter=V:

Step 9. After diskpart assigned the drive letter successfully, type exit to exit the diskpart and press Enter.

exit

Step 10. Now type the comamnd V: and after that run the command bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI and hit Enter.

V:
bcdboot C:\windows /s V: /f UEFI

Step 11. Close the Command Prompt window and return to the Troubleshooting window, click on Continue to normally boot into Windows 10 without getting any errors.

Alternative Ways to Fix Windows Boot Problems

According to Microsoft, there are several useful commands in Bootrec.exe that are used to troubleshoot the Windows startup problems caused by different locations on a Windows installation hard drive. Besides bootrec /fixboot, which is used to fix the damage to the Windows boot sectors/boot records, the other command bootrec /fixmbr is also widely used when there is a problem with the hardware Master Boot Record (MBR). With MBR failure, Windows cannot start either.

Hence, when you must resolve the MBR corruption issues, or when you have to remove nonstandard code from the MBR, use the command bootrec /fixmbr instead of bootrec /fixboot in this case.

Using the fixmbr command in Windows RE is also prone to cause the same access denied issue as the fixboot does. To prevent you from this annoying error and save your time from learning every possible way to troubleshoot the constant error like this, it's better to turn to a third-party partition manager that enables you to rebuild MBR for a specific drive.

Among these, we suggest EaseUS Partition Master. It's a perfect alternative to bootrec /fixmbr to rebuild the Master Boot Record that only requires a few mouse clicks. More importantly, ease your worry of typing the wrong commands and causing more serious boot problems in Windows 10/8/7. Download EaseUS partition magic software now, and see how intelligent it is to fix an MBR corruption issue.

Step 1. Create a WinPE bootable disk

• Launch EaseUS Partition Master, and click "Bootable Media" on the toolbar. Select "Create bootable media".
• Click "Next" to finish the process.

Step 2. Boot EaseUS Partition Master Bootable USB

• Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your PC. 
• Press F2 or Del when you restart the computer to enter the BIOS screen. Set and boot your computer from "Removable Devices" or "CD-ROM Drive". And then EaseUS Partition Master will run automatically.

Step 3. Rebuild MBR

• Click "Toolkit" and choose "Rebuild MBR".

• Select the disk and the type of MBR. Then, click "Rebuild".

• After that, you can see "MBR has been successfully rebuilt on Disk X".

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