Windows Vista Boot Configuration Data or BCD is a firmware independent database required by computer to get configuration information at boot time. It has similar functionality that Boot.ini file performs in earlier versions of Windows. On computers using IBM PC compatible firmware, the file is located on system volume in \Boot\BCD. If the file goes missing or cannot be read by computer, you encounter several boot-time issues. In worst case, the system can become completely unbootable, without allowing you to access the stored data. If you fail to solve such issue by using system repair tools, you might need to reinstall Windows Vista that causes data loss. To restore thus lost data, you need to either use your backup or a third-party data recovery utility that can locate and restore the missing data.

To illustrate such scenarios, consider that you use a Windows Vista based computer. You start the computer and come across the below error message:

File: \Boot\BCD Status: 0xc000000f Info: "an error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data”

You cannot boot the computer after you receive this error message and your data remains inaccessible.

Cause

The above error might occur due to any of the following possibilities:

The \Boot\BCD file is missing or damaged No Bootmgr (Windows Boot Manager that accesses BCD store) is present

Solution

To solve the given problem, you need to follow these methods:

Use Windows Vista installation disc to start the computer and choose 'Repair your computer'. You then need to select 'Startup Repair' option of 'System Recovery Options' to repair the BCD store. Try using Bootrec /RebuildBcd command through command prompt listed in 'System Recovery Options' that runs the Bootrec.exe tool to rebuild the store. Type Yes if the tool can locate missing Windows installation and asks you to mark an entry. If it cannot, you need to execute the below commands to remove and then recreate the BCD store:

Bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old Bootrec /rebuildbcd

Reinstall Windows if error persists and restore data from backup.

You need to use data recovery software to extract seemingly irrecoverable data while no good backup is available. Data Recovery products are suitable applications specifically designed to scan a logically crashed drive and provide safe partition recovery after loss.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is a comprehensive recovery utility that salvages lost data for Windows 7 RC1, Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000 based systems. It is a reliable data recovery software options, like Disk Imaging, Disk Cloning, RAW File Recovery, Drive Status and others. It supports FAT32, VFAT, NTFS and NTFS5 file systems.