How to Fix Inaccessible Boot Device (Stop Code 0x0000007b)

PAGE CONTENT:

What is Inaccessible Boot Device
What Causes Inaccessible Boot Device
How to Recover Data from Inaccessible Boot Device
How to Fix Inaccessible Boot Device - 6 Fixes

What Is Inaccessible Boot Device

The Inaccessible Boot Device error, often accompanied by stop code 0x0000007b, is a common blue screen of death (BSOD) issue that occurs when Windows 10 fails to start normally, especially after a major update, software update, or system reset. This error prevents the computer from booting and accessing data, as Windows loses its ability to locate the system partition, rendering the startup process inaccessible.

inaccessible boot device error code ox0000007b

The general boot devices include hard drives, SSDs, CDs/DVDs, and USB drives, among others. According to reports, the BOSD problem is more commonly experienced in computers that use an SSD.

To resolve the inaccessible boot device issue and fix the 0x0000007b error code, and prevent the blue screen of death, start by identifying the possible causes of the problem. Then, attempt to access your computer data using a reputable third-party bootable data recovery program, which can help you recover your important data without having to start from scratch.

What Causes Inaccessible Boot Device

The boot device is not accessible due to various reasons, similar to other blue screen of death messages. The underlying culprits can be a malfunctioning operating system, a critical process failure, or other hardware-related issues, such as a faulty hard drive or a malfunctioning BIOS. These problems can prevent the computer from accessing the boot device, resulting in the blue screen error.

Drivers corrupted, outdated or configured inaccurately with current hardware
The boot drive, which is the primary hard drive that contains the operating system and essential system files, has been corrupted, damaged, or failed, making it unable to boot up the computer normally.
Hardware conflicts with the system updates and changes
Other minor factors that may cause the issue include a loose or faulty data cable connected to the software, or malware or virus infections.

How to Recover Data from Inaccessible Boot Device

You don't need to be an expert to recover data from a blue screen of death, as there is software that can do it for you. Deep Data Recovery Pro with Bootable Media is designed to retrieve data when Windows won't boot or shows a blue screen of death.

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If your computer is displaying the error "Inaccessible Boot Device" and is unbootable, you can recover your data by using a normal computer to download and install data recovery software, then creating a bootable CD/DVD or USB drive on it. This process involves three stages of data recovery.

To revive a dead computer, create a bootable drive on another computer, then use it to boot the dead computer. This will allow you to perform a full data recovery.

Step 1. Create a bootable disk

Before creating a bootable disk, make sure to copy any important data from the USB to another device, as the process will erase the data on the USB. Once you've cleared the USB, you can use Deep Data Recovery WinPE Edition to create a bootable disk.

Connect the USB drive to your PC, then launch Deep Data Recovery WinPE Edition. From there, select the USB drive and click "Create" to create a bootable disk.

Step 2. Boot from the bootable USB

Connect a bootable disk to a non-booting PC, change the boot sequence in BIOS settings, and restart the PC while pressing the F2 key to enter BIOS. This often resolves the issue.

To boot your PC from a device other than the hard drive, press F10 to save and exit when prompted, then select "Removable Devices" (bootable USB disk) or "CD-ROM Drive" (bootable CD/DVD) as the boot device.

Select file types that you want to recover

Step 3. Recover data from a hard drive that won't boot

When you boot from a USB, you can run Deep Data Recovery from the WinPE bootable disk and select the drive to scan to find lost files.

Click "Scan" to start the scanning process.

To recover data from a computer or laptop, scan the device after installing a data recovery software. Once the scan is complete, preview all recoverable files, select the desired files, and click "Recover" to restore them. Save the recovered data to a different location to avoid overwriting.

How to Fix Inaccessible Boot Device (6 Proven Ways)

For computer users with limited technical skills, encountering the Inaccessible Boot Device blue screen can be daunting. However, with the help of a reliable data recovery solution like Qiling, it's possible to access and export important data to a safe location. Fortunately, there are five simple troubleshooting methods that can help the operating system find the boot device and start the computer correctly, making it easier for users to resolve the issue on their own.

Fix 1. Solve inaccessible boot devices with Windows Repair Services

To resolve system startup errors, consider consulting Windows repair services. They can address various issues such as system failure, BSOD, BIOS problems, boot device issues, and more.

Consult with Qiling data recovery experts for one-on-one manual recovery service, which includes the following services after a FREE diagnosis:

Fix Windows boot issues, including BSOD
Fix Windows error and configure Windows environment
Restore the system when it fails to boot
Optimize Windows computer to make it run quickly

Fix 2. Uninstall the recently installed packages

You can invoke the Windows Command Prompt to remove recently-installed packages that might be causing the error. To do this, open the Command Prompt, navigate to the directory where the packages were installed, and use the `uninstall` command to remove them.

To open Windows Command Prompt, go to Settings > Update and Security > Recovery > Advanced Startup, and restart. In the blue screen window, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

open windows 10 command prompt

Once the Command Prompt window appears, go through the steps to uninstall the unwanted packages you recently installed.

Step 1. The command "dir c:" is a Windows command that lists the files and subdirectories on the C: drive. When you type "dir c:" and press Enter, it will display a list of all the files and subdirectories on the C: drive, including their names, sizes, and timestamps. This can be useful for finding specific files, checking disk space, or troubleshooting issues related to the C: drive.

Step 2. Run the command Dism /Image:c:\ /Get-Packages to view all installed packages on your system. Identify the most recent package installed by looking for the date, and write down the package's name.

Step 3. The command to delete a troublesome package using the DISM tool is `dism.exe /image:c:\ /remove-package /[package name]`. This command is used to remove the specified package that is causing issues.

Step 4. Reboot your computer.

Fix 3. Remove "Update Pending" packages

Windows 10 sometimes installs updates without notification, and it can be unclear if the update has finished. Some updates may get stuck during or after installation, leading to a situation where pending packages cause an "Inaccessible Boot Device" error. In such cases, you can try to remove the unfinished packages using the Windows Command Prompt.

Step 1. To open the Windows Command Prompt, go to the Start menu, type "cmd" in the search bar, and press Enter. Alternatively, you can also type "powershell" in the search bar and press Enter.

Step 2. Run the three commands as listed to delete the SessionsPending registry key, and press Enter after each line.

reg load HKLM\temp c:\windows\system32\config\software
reg delete "HKLM\temp\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\SessionsPending"/v Exclusive
reg unload HKLM\temp

Step 3. To prepare for the upgrade, type "dism /image:C:\ /get-packages" to get a list of pending updates. Note any updates with the "Install Pending" tag, as these will need to be moved into a temporary file to complete the upgrade.

Step 4. To create the temporary file, type MKDIR C:\temp\packages and press Enter.

Step 5. To remove a pending package from the DISM log, type "dism /image:c:\ /remove-package /packagename:[package name] /scratchdir:c:\temp\packages" and press Enter, moving all pending packages into the temporary file.

Fix 4. Enable AHCI mode in BIOS

Different manufacturers, such as Lenovo, Dell, and Acer, have their own methods of entering the BIOS environment, and the BIOS menu layout also varies between them. This means that the process and appearance of accessing and navigating the BIOS settings can differ significantly from one brand to another.

To solve the Inaccessible Boot Device error, toggle the AHCI mode value in BIOS to Enabled by entering the BIOS settings, usually by pressing F2, Escape, or Delete, and navigating to the Advanced Options menu to change the AHCI Mode value to Enabled.

enable ahci mode in bios

Fix 5. Update Drivers

Drivers play a crucial role in Windows, ensuring hardware functions correctly. However, when a driver becomes outdated, corrupted, or incompatible with Windows 10, it can cause issues, including the Inaccessible boot device error.

To update your faulty driver, you can go to the official website of your hardware manufacturer and download the latest controller drivers, such as IDE ATA/SATA, if you remember the manufacturer. Alternatively, you can try other methods.

To update the driver automatically in Device Manager, press the Windows + R keys simultaneously, type "devmgmt.msc" in the Run box, and hit Enter. Then, in the Device Manager, navigate to and expand the "IDE ATA/SATA controller" sub-menu, right-click on "Standard SATA AHCI Controller," and select "Update Driver. Windows will automatically check and install the necessary driver after a restart.

update driver to fix inaccessible boot device

Fix 6. Check and repair hard drive corruption

The boot device not accessible, so C drive corruption should be responsible for the case. To check and repair the system C drive state of health, you need to get to the recovery console to boot into Windows and perform the below command.

Note: Running chkdsk to repair hard drive corruption may cause total data loss, so it's recommended to perform data recovery in advance. Once the data is safe, you can proceed with the CMD method to fix the issue.

Step 1. Press Windows + X keys and select Command Prompt (Admin).

Step 2. Type chkdsk /r C: and hit Enter.

The video provides solutions to troubleshoot the Blue Screen of Death (BOSD) error, including three commonly applied methods that can also help resolve the Inaccessible Boot Device error. These solutions can help get your computer out of the BOSD error and are worth trying to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

The article discusses the "Inaccessible Boot Device" error, which causes a blue screen of death (BSOD) with a stop code of 0x0000007b. When faced with this issue, users are unable to boot their computer, but can potentially recover critical data using a bootable data recovery software like Qiling.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure