5 Ways | How to Solve Windows to Go Inaccessible Boot Device

User Case: Windows to Go Inaccessible Boot Device

"Hey guys, my Windows gets Inaccessible Boot Device error. I created the Windows drive using a USB stick and it was working fine until now. I need to use it urgently for work, but I can't seem to fix the issue about Inaccessible Boot Device. Any suggestions on what I can do to get it up and running again? Thanks in advance!"

Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device error is a frequent cause of the Blue Screen of Death, often with a stop code of 0x0000007b. This error can happen on various types of storage devices, including hard drives, SSDs, CDs/DVDs, and removable drives. However, based on numerous reports, it appears to be more prevalent on SSDs. Consequently, the error can be categorized into these specific cases.

• "Inaccessible Boot Device" of Windows 10 SSD
• Windows stop code "Inaccessible Boot Device"
• Windows 10 blue screen "Inaccessible Boot Device"
• Windows 10 stop code "Inaccessible Boot Device"
• "Inaccessible Boot Device" on external hard drive
• "Inaccessible Boot Device" reboot loop

Reasons for Inaccessible Boot Device Error in Windows

The "Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device" error can occur due to various reasons, including:

• Corrupted or outdated device drivers.
• Malfunctioning hardware, such as a faulty hard drive or SSD.
• Damaged system files or registry entries.
• Incorrectly configured BIOS or UEFI settings.
• Incompatible hardware or software.
• Malware or virus infections.
• Issues related to Windows updates or upgrades.

Identifying the specific cause of the error can be helpful in determining the appropriate solution to fix it.

How to Fix Inaccessible Boot Device in Windows with 5 Ways

If you're unsure how to fix Windows Inaccessible Boot Device, consider trying these five methods.

• Solution 1. Verify Computer Hardware and Disconnect External Devices
• Solution 2. Remove Recently Installed Updates Using Command Prompt
• Solution 3. Access Windows Safe Mode
• Solution 4. Troubleshoot Blue Screen Errors
• Solution 5. Inspect and Fix Hard Drive Issues
• Create Disk Backup Images for Quick Restoration

Solution 1. Verify Computer Hardware and Disconnect External Devices

If your computer hardware is defective or there is a conflict with an external device, it can cause Inaccessible Boot Device on Windows 10/11. Therefore, the first Inaccessible Boot Device Windows 10 fix is to check for hardware malfunctions and disconnect all external devices.

Step 1. Power off your computer completely and open the side panel of the case (laptops may require the back cover to be removed).

Step 2. Check the memory and hard disk for any visible damage, and try replacing them with different interfaces if necessary.

Step 3. Check for any loose cables or connections. If you have recently installed new hardware, it's recommended to remove it first.

Step 4. Once you've completed all the necessary checks, restart your computer and disconnect all external devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, headset, etc.

Then, check to see if the error still persists. If the error persists, move on to the next method.

Solution 2. Remove Recently Installed Updates Using Command Prompt

If you have set Windows Update to install updates automatically, your computer may install these updates without your knowledge. However, these recently installed updates can also be the cause of the Windows Inaccessible Boot Device error. Therefore, it's essential to uninstall the most recently installed update to fix it.

Step 1. Enter the Windows Recovery Environment by forcibly shutting down and then rebooting your computer twice.

Step 2. Click on Troubleshoot followed by Advanced Options and Command Prompt in turn. Wait for your computer to restart.

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type dir c: and press Enter. If your Windows installation is on a different disk, replace c with the appropriate disk number.

Step 4. Type Dism /Image:c:\ /Get-Packages and press Enter. This will display a list of recently installed updates. Take note of the name of the installation package you want to uninstall.

Step 5. Type dism.exe /image:c:\ /remove-package /[package name] and press Enter. Replace package name with the name of the installation package you noted in the previous step.

Step 6. Type exit and press Enter to exit the Command Prompt.

If it is still not working to fix the Inaccessible Boot Device error in Windows 10 by Command Prompt, please see the next method.

Solution 3. Access Windows Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode in Windows that enables you to start your computer without loading third-party device drivers. It's mainly used for troubleshooting and fixing system errors, including Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device error.

To access Safe Mode, click on Troubleshoot in the Windows Recovery Environment, followed by Advanced options and Startup Settings. Press F4 or the number 4 key to enable Safe Mode.

If your computer starts up normally in Safe Mode without any blue screen issues, then the problem is likely related to a driver. You can make necessary changes to these drivers as required.

Solution 4. Troubleshoot Blue Screen Errors

Troubleshoot is a built-in utility that can help solve common computer problems, including blue screen errors such as Inaccessible Boot Device in Windows 11/10. To use Troubleshooting, follow these steps:

Step 1. Enable Windows Safe Mode with Networking and open Windows Settings by using Windows + I shortcut.

Step 2. Select Update & Security and switch to the Troubleshoot tab in the left panel. In the right panel, click Additional Troubleshooters.

Step 3. Under "Find and fix other problems", select Blue Screen and click the Run the Troubleshooter button.

Solution 5. Inspect and Fix Hard Drive Issues

Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device error may occur due to bad tracks or errors on your computer's hard drive. To fix this issue, you can use the CHKDSK tool to check and repair any bad tracks or errors present on the hard disk.

Step 1. Enter Windows Safe Mode with Command Prompt by using the Windows + S shortcut to open the search box, typing cmd, and selecting Run as administrator.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk C: /f and press Enter to execute the command.

Note: Replace C in the above command with the local disk drive where the system archive is installed.

Step 3. Press the Y key again to confirm the check at the next system reboot.

Create Disk Backup Images for Quick Restoration

When the Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device error occurs, it's essential to resolve it promptly to avoid any impact on your work or daily life. This error can potentially be caused by a damaged hard disk, so it's recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper Standard for disk backup during your daily use. This provides additional security for essential data on your hard disk, allowing for quick restoration if needed.

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free backup utility that allows you to create disk images on Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, among others. It offers to perform disk backup to external hard drive, USB drive, NAS devices, cloud drives, and other locations. Additionally, the software offers efficient and convenient features for file backup:

♬ Automatic file backup: You can enable the automatic backup function for daily, weekly, and monthly regular backups to prevent data loss due to forgetting to back up.
♬ Back up only changed files: If files change frequently, and you only want to back up changed files, it's recommended to choose incremental backup, which can save a lot of backup time.

Download this software and try it now.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Backupper Standard, go to the Backup tab in the left panel, and choose the Disk Backup option in the right panel.

Step 2. In the Disk Backup window, click on the Add Disk button. Additionally, you can click on the pencil icon in the upper left corner to modify the name of this backup task.

Hints: To personalize your backup settings, access the lower left corner and click on the Options, Schedule Backup, and Backup Scheme options.

✪ Options: This feature allows you to add comments to the current backup job for free and enables email notifications. If you upgrade to the Pro version, you can also enable encrypted backup features.
✪ Schedule Backup: This option allows you to set up daily, weekly, and monthly backups, as well as Event triggers and USB plug in.

✪ Backup Scheme: This option enables you to modify the backup method to either full or differential backup. The differential backup and auto-cleanup features are only available in the professional version, which requires an upgrade.

Step 4. Please adjust the destination path for the disk backup and click on the Start Backup button located at the bottom right corner.

Summary

If you're unsure how to deal with Windows to go Inaccessible Boot Device error, read this article carefully to understand the cause of the problem and learn five methods to restore your computer to normal. These methods can also be used to fix Inaccessible Boot Device error after cloning.

It's important to keep in mind that hard drive corruption can lead to severe consequences. Therefore, it's highly recommended that you regularly create disk backups with AOMEI Backupper Standard to facilitate the quick recovery of your data in case of hard drive corruption.