How to Fix Error 0xc0000225 on Windows 10?

The error code 0xc0000225 is a startup error and prevents Windows from booting at all. Since it does not allow you to access the system, it can be a bit complicated to fix it. Worry not, we have listed a number of effective troubleshooting methods that can help you fix the issue for good.

However, before you proceed with the troubleshooting methods, it is important to know about the potential causes behind the error to understand the situation better. Here are a few common reasons why you might be facing the issue:

• Corrupt System Files – The crucial system files must be in a healthy state for the system to work properly. If any of these files become corrupt or infected with a virus, you are likely to face issues like the one at hand.
• Corrupt BCD Files – BCD, or Boot Configuration Data is needed by the system to complete the startup process. If this data is unaccessible or corrupt, the system will fail to launch, resulting in the error at hand.
• Faulty Partition – There also might be an issue with your current partition. If this scenario is applicable, you can switch to the right partition to fix the problem.

Now that we know about the potential causes, let’s have a look at the troubleshooting methods can that fix the issue.

Before You Begin Troubleshooting

Before you begin the troubleshooting process, you must create an installation media on your computer. This is because, unlike most other errors, this error prevents you from booting into the operating system at all. 

If you look closely at the error code, you will notice that it says ‘You’ll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media’. Once the installation media is created on a USB drive, insert it into a computer and boot into the Windows 10 recovery environment to begin implementing the troubleshooting steps we have discussed below. 

1. Run the System Scans

Once you boot into the recovery environment, click on Repair your computer. Choose Troubleshoot and head over to the Advanced options menu. 

Since the 0xc0000225 issue is typically caused by generic corruption errors or disk inconsistencies within the system, we will begin our troubleshooting by running system scans. For this purpose, we will be needing the Command Prompt to run the scans. 

The first scan we will run is the SFC scan. The System File Checker utility scans your system’s protected files for inconsistencies. If any issues are found, it will replace the problematic files with their cached counterparts.

The second command we will run will be a chkdsk command. This command, as the name suggests, checks the system drivers for errors. If any problems are found, it will attempt to fix them without requiring much user input. 

Once you are in the Automatic Repair window, click on Command Prompt. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to proceed:

1. Inside the Command Prompt window, type the command mentioned below and hit Enter to execute the command.
   

   sfc /scannow

2. Wait for the command to complete. Once it is done, execute the chkdsk command mentioned below. If your main partition isn’t the c driver, then replace c with the letter of your main partition, whatever that might be.
   

   chkdsk c: /r

   

After the process is completed, check if the issue is resolved. 

2. Rebuild the BCD

There may also be an issue with the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) on your system, preventing Windows from booting properly and resulting in the error 0xc0000225. If this scenario is applicable, then you can try rebuilding this data using the Command Prompt and check if that helps. 

Here is how you can proceed:

1. Launch Command Prompt using the Advanced options menu by following the steps we described above.
   
2. Inside the Command Prompt window, execute the commands mentioned below one by one.
   

   bootrec /scanos
   
   bootrec /fixmbr 
   
   bootrec /fixboot 
   
   bootrec /rebuildbcd

   

Once the commands are executed, restart your computer and see if the issue is resolved.

3. Use the System Restore Utility

The Windows operating system takes a snapshot of the current work state of the system before performing critical operations. In the event that something goes wrong in the future, this restore point allows you to restore your system to a previously established point.

Another workaround for the 0xc0000225 issue at hand is going back to a previous system state where the problem was not present. Here is how you can do that:

1. In the Advanced options menu of the recovery environment, choose System Restore.
   

   

2. In the following dialog, you will be presented with a list of available restore points. Choose one (preferably the most recent one) and click Next.
   

   

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Hopefully, you will no longer face the problem once the system reverts to a previous point in time. 

4. Run Startup Repair

You can also run the Startup Repair utility to fix errors like the 0xc0000225 code. This utility is also available in the Advanced options menu.

This utility, like many other built-in Windows utilities, will scan the system for errors that may be preventing your system from booting and automatically fix the ones identified. 

Here is how you can access it:

1. Launch the Troubleshoot menu of the recovery environment and head over to the Advanced options window.
   
2. Choose Startup Repair in the following screen.
   

   

3. Wait for the process to complete. This might take a while, depending upon the complexity of the problem, so hang in there. 

Once the procedure finishes, restart your PC and check if the error code 0xc0000225 is resolved. 

5. Change the Partition

You can also choose to boot with another partition if the current one is corrupt or buggy. Follow the steps below to proceed:

1. Launch Command Prompt by following the steps above.
2. In the Command Prompt window, type diskpart and press Enter.
   

   

3. Now, type list disk and click Enter again.
   

   

4. You should now see a list of disks available on your system. Type Select x and replace the x with the letter of your internal disk. 
   

   

5. Press Enter to proceed.
6. Now, type list partition and press Enter to see the list of available partitions.
   

   

7. To select a partition, type Select Partition x and replace x with the letter of the targeted partition.
   

   

8. Finally, type active and hit Enter.

Once done, close the Command Prompt window and check if the error 0xc0000225 is resolved.

If none of the troubleshooting methods work, then we recommend that you reach out to the official Microsoft team and report the issue to them. Hopefully, they will be able to help you identify the cause and suggest a relevant fix accordingly.