The “inaccessible boot device” error is a common issue that can occur on Windows 10 or Windows 11 PCs. This error typically occurs when the operating system is unable to access the hard drive or SSD that contains the Windows installation. In this guide, we’ll explore some methods to fix the inaccessible boot device error on Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.
Method 1: Use Safe Mode
Step 1: Restart your PC and keep pressing the F8 key until the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears.
Step 2: Select “Safe Mode with Networking” and press Enter.
Step 3: Once your PC has booted into Safe Mode, press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 4: Type “devmgmt.msc” in the Run dialog box and press Enter to open the Device Manager.
Step 5: Expand the “Disk drives” category in Device Manager.
Step 6: Right-click on the hard drive or SSD that contains the Windows installation and select “Uninstall device.”
Step 7: Restart your PC and Windows will automatically reinstall the driver for your hard drive or SSD.
Method 2: Check the Hard Drive or SSD Connections
Step 1: Shut down your PC and unplug all cables.
Step 2: Open the case of your PC and check the connections of the hard drive or SSD.
Step 3: Make sure that the cables are properly connected and there is no loose connection.
Step 4: Close the case and plug in all cables.
Step 5: Restart your PC and check if the “inaccessible boot device” error is fixed.
Method 3: Use Command Prompt
Step 1: Insert the Windows installation media (DVD or USB drive) into your PC and restart it.
Step 2: Press any key to boot from the installation media.
Step 3: Select your language preferences and click on “Next.”
Step 4: Click on “Repair your computer.”
Step 5: Select “Troubleshoot.”
Step 6: Click on “Advanced options.”
Step 7: Click on “Command Prompt.”
Step 8: Type the following command and press Enter:
chkdsk c: /f /r
Note: Replace “c:” with the drive letter of the hard drive or SSD that contains the Windows installation.
Step 9: Wait for the scanning process to complete.
Step 10: Restart your PC and check if the “inaccessible boot device” error is fixed.
Method 4: Update Drivers
Step 1: Press Windows key + X and select “Device Manager.”
Step 2: Expand the “Disk drives” category in Device Manager.
Step 3: Right-click on the hard drive or SSD that contains the Windows installation and select “Update driver.”
Step 4: Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
Step 5: Windows will search for the latest driver for your hard drive or SSD and install it.
Step 6: Restart your PC and check if the “inaccessible boot device” error is fixed.
Method 5: Perform System Restore
Step 1: Press Windows key + X and select “Control Panel.”
Step 2: Click on “System and Security.”
Step 3: Click on “System.”
Step 4: Click on “System protection.”
Step 5: Click on “System Restore.”
Step 6: Select a restore point from the list of available restore points.
Step 7: Click on “Next.”
Step 8: Click on “Finish” to start the restore process.
Step 9: Wait for the restore process to complete.
Step 10: Restart your PC and check if the “inaccessible boot device” error is fixed.
