Share this article

Improve this guide

0xc0000225 Error in Windows: Main Causes & How to Fix

Learn how to fix yet another BSOD error and get back to work

10 min. read

Updated onMarch 20, 2024

updated onMarch 20, 2024

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

As Microsoft bluntly puts it, error 0xc0000225 can be related to drivers, OS, or third parties. While we cannot argue with this perfectly valid information, we feel a bit of context is required in order to understand why this happens and what can be done to fix it.

Follow along as we have put together a detailed list of solutions that you can implement in order to fix this issue, right after we see what some common causes of it are. Keep up with us!

What causes error 0xc0000225?

First of all, error 0xc0000225 is aBSOD that will prevent your PC from booting, whether we’re talking about Windows 10 or more recently, Windows 11 and it generally occurs after an unsuccessful upgrade or update attempt.

Other potential causes are:

Now, the error code usually appears after you try to reboot your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. And alongside the error code 0xc000025, you will get the messageYour PC needs to be repaired.

The given options arePress Enter to try again,Press F8 for startup settings, andPress Esc for UEFI firmware settings. Sadly, none of them works as intended.

Most common scenarios accompanying the error code 0xc0000225:

How can I fix error code 0xc0000225 in Windows 10?

1. Perform an automatic repair

Once the repair process is finished, check if the problem is resolved.

Stuck on Automatic repair loop?Don’t worry, we’ll throw you this amazing lifeline.

For more accurate results, we recommend you usededicated PC repair software. This is a completely safe utility that fixes all system-related issues and also includes registry error prevention.

It will scan your PC and can repair all sorts of system errors, damaged DLLs, it removes spyware, and it can also scan your hardware’s performance and optimize your CPU usage.

2. Perform System Restore

Before attempting the steps above, we suggest you make abackup copy of the applicationsand programs you have installed in your Windows 10.

Once your PC is restored to the previous state, check if the problem still persists.

3. Repair your boot sector

Sometimes you might encounter error 0xc000025 if your boot sector is damaged. To fix this problem, you need to repair your boot sector.

After running these commands, close Command Prompt and restart your PC. If youcan’t run Command Prompt, follow the steps from our guide, and Working in Command Prompt will be like a child’s play.

4. Use diskpart tool

After running these commands, close Command Prompt and restart your PC and the problem should be resolved. For a smoother experience, you can also use dedicatedpartition manager software.

5. Perform a quick chkdsk scan

Error 0xc000025 is usually related to your hard drive, and if the files on your hard drive are corrupted, you’ll encounter this error.

To make things even worse, you won’t be able to boot to Windows 10 or 11 at all. Several users reported that they managed to fix this problem by performing a chkdsk scan.

6. Check the boot order in BIOS

If you’re unable to boot to Windows 10 due to error 0xc000025, the problem might be your boot order. To fix that, you need to enter your BIOS and check if your hard drive is set as the first boot device.

Many users reported that this problem occurred because they set the wrong hard drive as the boot device. To see how to enter BIOS and how to change the boot order, be sure to check your motherboard manual for instructions.

You may also use some of thebest motherboard information software toolsin that regard.

7. Update your BIOS

Sometimes error 0xc000025 can occur if your BIOS is out of date. To fix that problem, you might want to try updating your BIOS.

We have to warn you that BIOS update is an advanced procedure, so be extra cautious while updating your BIOS. BIOS updates can cause permanent damage to your PC, so keep in mind that you’re updating BIOS at your own risk.

To see how to properly update your BIOS, be sure to check your motherboard manual and follow the instructions carefully. If you need more information, you might want to check our article on how toflash your BIOS.

8. Restore your BIOS settings to default

In some cases, you might encounter 0xc000025 errors due to your BIOS configuration. Sometimes individual settings can interfere with the boot sequence and cause this error to appear.

However, you can fix that simply by resetting BIOS to default. Every version of BIOS is different, and in order to see how to reset your BIOS to default, we recommend you check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

9. Check your hardware

If this error still appears on your PC, the problem might be your hardware. Several users reported that this problem occurred because their RAM modules were faulty.

To see if your RAM is the problem, you need to test your RAM modules one by one. The best way to do that is to use theMemTest86+tool or the newerAIDA64 Extreme.

In order to perform a detailed scan, it’s advised to run the scan for a couple of hours.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to scan all your RAM modules one by one or in groups if you want to find the faulty module.

Other hardware can also cause this problem, and a few users reported that their issue was caused due to loose cables. According to them, their hard drive wasn’t properly connected, and that caused the issue to appear.

If you’re having the same problem, be sure to check if your cables are tightly connected.

How can I fix error 0xc0000225 in Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the latest OS to join the Microsoft family and it has a lot to offer in terms of looks and functionality enhancements. However, it cannot shake off its legacy, which sometimes implies update errors such as 0xc0000225.

Obviously, preparing the boot files (BCD) is a good place to start and all the methods described above are just as useful to help troubleshoot and fix error code 0xc0000225 in Windows 11 as well.

Here’s a little something on top.

Drivers are obviously very important for the well-being of your entire system and you need to keep them up to date and make sure you don’t run obsolete or even worse, corrupted versions.

Usually, drivers are automatically upgraded to the latest version along with the Windows update packages that you (hopefully) download and install regularly.

But sometimes, third-party drivers may be harder to tackle and unattended ones can easily trigger the booting error in 0xc000025.

We suggest you use a professional driver fixer and updater tool such asOutbyte Driver Updaterthat will automatically take care of this time-consuming task for you.

We have reached the end of our article regarding the Windows 10 or Windows 11 issue with error code 0xc000025. If you do run into trouble along the way, don’t be shy to reach out to the comments section.

0xc0000225 Error in Windows: Main Causes & How to Fix#

What causes error 0xc0000225?#

Most common scenarios accompanying the error code 0xc0000225:#

How can I fix error code 0xc0000225 in Windows 10?#

1. Perform an automatic repair#

2. Perform System Restore#

3. Repair your boot sector#

4. Use diskpart tool#

5. Perform a quick chkdsk scan#

6. Check the boot order in BIOS#

7. Update your BIOS#

8. Restore your BIOS settings to default#

9. Check your hardware#

How can I fix error 0xc0000225 in Windows 11?#