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Windows Boot Error 0xc0000098 / winload.efi Fix

  • \Windows\System32\winload.efi
  • Error code: 0xc0000098

Blue screen on boot showing winload.efi / 0xc0000098, or boots straight into BIOS, or Windows Boot Manager is missing from the boot list.

Root cause: Windows EFI boot entry is lost or BCD boot configuration is corrupted.

1. Check BIOS Boot Entries​

Enter BIOS and check if Windows Boot Manager exists in the boot list.

  • If present β†’ Set it as the first boot option, save and restart
  • If missing β†’ Continue with the repair steps below
tip

MSI motherboards: press F11 for boot menu, DEL for BIOS setup.

2. Preparation​

Prepare a Windows 11 installation USB drive (not a BIOS flash drive β€” it must boot into the Windows installer).

3. Enter Recovery Environment​

  1. Insert the USB drive, press F11 on boot, select the UEFI USB boot entry
  2. On the install screen, do NOT click "Install now"
  3. Click Repair your computer (bottom left) β†’ Troubleshoot β†’ Advanced options β†’ Startup Repair

If Startup Repair fails (e.g. "could not repair" / SrtTrail.txt / automatic repair failed), use manual repair:

Troubleshoot β†’ Advanced options β†’ Command Prompt

4. Manual Repair Steps​

Step 1: List Partitions​

diskpart
list vol

Identify two partitions:

  • EFI partition: FAT32, size 100MB ~ 300MB
  • Windows system partition: NTFS, large capacity

Step 2: Assign a Drive Letter to the EFI Partition​

Assuming the EFI partition is Volume 2:

select vol 2
assign letter=S
exit

Replace 2 with your actual EFI partition number. S is a temporary drive letter.

Step 3: Verify EFI Partition Contents​

S:
dir

You should see an EFI directory:

Step 4: Identify the System Drive Letter​

Drive letters may change in the recovery environment. Try each one:

dir C:\Windows
dir D:\Windows
dir E:\Windows

Whichever shows the Windows directory contents is the system drive.

Step 5: Rebuild EFI Boot Files​

Assuming the system drive is C: and EFI partition is S::

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

Success message: Boot files successfully created.

5. Common Errors​

bcdboot shows DiskPart help text​

You haven't exited diskpart yet. Run exit first to return to the regular command prompt.

Error: Failure when initializing library system volume​

Wrong system drive or EFI drive letter wasn't assigned. Re-verify both, then run bcdboot again.

dir S:\ seems to show X: drive​

Use two separate commands (S: then dir) instead of dir S:\.

6. After Repair​

  1. Reboot into BIOS, confirm Windows Boot Manager (your SSD) appears
  2. Set it as the first boot option (Boot Option #1 = Windows Boot Manager)
  3. F10 to save and exit
  4. Remove the USB drive, restart

7. Quick Reference​

Automatic Repair​

USB boot β†’ Repair your computer β†’ Troubleshoot β†’ Advanced options β†’ Startup Repair

Manual Repair​

diskpart
list vol
select vol <EFI partition number>
assign letter=S
exit

S:
dir

dir C:\Windows
dir D:\Windows

bcdboot <system drive>:\Windows /s S: /f UEFI

BIOS Setup​

Boot mode = UEFI
Boot Option #1 = Windows Boot Manager
F10 save and exit, remove USB, restart