The error code 0xc0000185 may appear while booting up a Windows device. Issues with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) are often the primary cause of it. However, there are several other reasons that may cause this issue to occur and require specific fixes. If you have also encountered the 0xc0000185 error code, go through this article to learn about potential solutions and techniques to resolve the problem.
What is Error Code 0xc0000185?
The error number 0xc0000185, commonly known as the ‘blue screen of death’ error, shows up while your device is attempting to start up. Usually, an error code stating the following message occurs:
”Your PC needs to be repaired.
A required device isn’t connected or can’t be accessed.
Error code: 0xc0000185
You’ll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don’t have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your system administrator or PC manufacturer.”
Your system may not restart properly as a result of this.
What errors can cause error code 0xc0000185?
There are several possible causes of error code 0xc0000185 including:
- Damaged or corrupted Boot Configuration Data
- Broken or faulty hard drive
- Improper shutdown of the system
- Virus or malware infection
Solutions to Fix Error Code 0xc0000185
There are several solutions that can help you fix this error code:
1. Change Boot Order
A reason for 0xc0000185 can sometimes be when your computer tries to boot up from the wrong disk. To repair error code 0xc0000185 in/on Windows 11, follow these steps to verify the boot order:
- Reboot your computer. To begin, press the relevant key, which is often ‘F2,’ ‘F10,’ or ‘Del.’ This will navigate you to the BIOS settings.
- Navigate to the ‘Boot’ tab using the arrow keys.
- Verify that the boot order is accurate. The operating system drive should be at the top of the list.
- Save the changes. Close all BIOS settings.
2. Run Automatic Repair
Automatic Repair, an inbuilt repair utility for Windows, assists users in resolving errors similar to error code 0xc0000185. To conduct automatic repairs, follow the instructions below:
- Reboot the device after inserting the Windows 10 installation media.
- In the event that you reach a black screen with the message ‘Press any key to boot from CD or DVD,’ you will need to press any key on the keyboard in order to start from your installation media.
- Choose the ‘Repair Your Computer’ option, which is situated in the lower left portion of the display.
- Go to the ‘Troubleshoot’ option.
- Then select ‘Advanced Options.’
- Finally, click on the option for’ Automatic Repair.’
- Choose your operating system from the list in the window that appears next.
- Await the completion of the process.
- Restart your system to check if the issue has been resolved.
3. Rebuild BCD
Rebuilding the boot configuration data can resolve any boot data-related problems. Implement the following steps to rebuild the BCD:
- Similar to the prior approach, boot from the installation media.
- Select the ‘Repair Your Computer’ option.
- Go to the ‘Choose an option’ dialog and click on ‘Troubleshoot.’
- Select the ‘Advanced options’ from the Troubleshoot menu now.
- To use the utility, select ‘Command Prompt.’
- Enter the following commands, one after the other, pressing ‘Enter:’
- bootrec /fixmbr
- bootrec /fixboot
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
- Hold off until the process is finished.
- Restart your computer and see if you receive the same problem message.
- Check Hard Drive
If the error is caused by a defective or damaged hard disk, you would be required to inspect your hard disk using the following actions:
- Restart your device after inserting your Windows installation media (a CD or USB flash drive).
- Press relevant key to boot from the installation media.
- After choosing your preferred language, click ‘Repair Your Computer.’
- Choose ‘Troubleshoot,’ and then ‘Command Prompt.’
- Input ‘chkdsk c: /f /r’ and hit ‘Enter.’
- The tool will look for faults on the hard disk and make an effort to correct them.
- Give your computer a restart to check if the issue has been fixed.
- Run Disk Cleanup
Your computer often stores temporary files and folders, which may be the source of several issues including error code 0xc0000185. In this case, these unwanted files should be eliminated using a disk cleanup tool. The steps are as follows:
- Switch to safe mode.
- Open the search box and type ‘disk cleanup.’ From the search results that are shown, choose ‘Disk Cleanup.’
- The webpage will display a popup telling you how much space you can clear out in total by utilizing Disk Cleanup. By checking or unchecking the boxes adjacent to the folders, you may choose files to remove. Once the process is finished, click ‘OK.’
6. Perform a Clean Windows Installation
You might need to conduct a clean Windows install if none of the aforementioned fixes work. Make a backup of all your crucial data before proceeding.
- Restart your device after inserting the Windows installation media (CD or USB flash drive).
- When asked to boot from the installation media, press any key.
- Click ‘Install now’ after selecting your preferred language.
- To finish the installation, adhere to the instructions displayed on the screen.
- Restore your Computer
After installing a program, driver, or Windows update, if you see the error code 0xc0000185, you might need to execute a system restore to fix the problem. You may use system restore to go back in time to a moment when your Windows PC successfully booted up. To boot into the recovery environment, adhere to the guidelines provided below.
- Go to ‘Troubleshoot’ and locate ‘Advanced Options’ to select it.
- Choose ‘System Restore’ and press ‘Next.’
- When window shows ‘Restore system files and settings,’ click ‘Next.’
- Choose the last restore point when system booted properly.
- After selecting a restore point, select ‘Next.’
- Allow the process to complete before restarting your computer.
Data loss may occur if the issue stems from a hard disk failure or system corruption. It therefore becomes essential to make a backup before starting any fixes. Partial restorations, however, may still result in data loss. To recover important data under such circumstances, you can turn to robust data recovery programs like Stellar Data Recovery Software for Windows.
The Stellar Data Recovery Software for Windows has the following salient features:
- The tool restores deleted and lost data from multiple sources on Windows devices.
- It facilitates data recovery from laptops, PCs, memory cards, SD cards, external hard drives, and USB devices.
- The solution can recover and retrieve data in more than 300 distinct file formats.
- Users can retrieve files based on file name and type.
- Data can also be recovered from formatted partitions as well as crashed/unbootable devices.
- Users can preview recovered data/files before proceeding.
- Stellar Data Recovery Software for Windows operates with Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7.
Conclusion
To summarize, users may attempt a few ways to resolve the 0xc0000185 error code on Windows. They can try to rebuild BCD configuration, adjust boot order, perform automatic repair using the Windows utility, and inspect the hard disk for corruption, and other potential solutions. If everything else fails, the last resolution could be to restore the system or reinstall the Windows installation.
It’s important to note that data is fragile and can be lost at any time during the repair process. Hence, it quintessential to create a full backup of data before attempting to troubleshoot errors. There are several reliable data recovery software programs, such as Stellar Data Recovery Software for Windows, on the market that can be used to recover and retrieve important files and data if an unfortunate case of data loss occurs.
