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Winload.efi missing

Simon Dew 0 Reputation points
2024-04-30T18:36:35.9366667+00:00

My windows 10 laptop wont load as it says winload.efi is missing. I dont have a recovery section on that drive but have made a recovery usb device but dont want to reinstall everything as i have lots of files i need to keep on the main ssd

Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
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  1. Darrell Gorter 1,306 Reputation points
    2024-05-01T04:51:40.5066667+00:00

    Hello,

    Here is the article on how to fix Boot problems Look for the section on boot loader issues .https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/performance/windows-boot-issues-troubleshooting

  2. Docs 15,151 Reputation points
    2024-05-02T04:44:56.9766667+00:00

    Files can be backed up manually.

    Also Windows can backup files while installing a fresh version of Windows 10.

    Both methods require the reinstallation of drivers and applications.

    .

    .

    This link has most of the recovery options.

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/recovery-options-in-windows-31ce2444-7de3-818c-d626-e3b5a3024da5

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  4. Karlie Weng 14,801 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2024-05-07T01:20:07.73+00:00

    Hello,

    Since you have created a recovery USB, you can use it to attempt to repair the boot files without reinstalling Windows. Here's how you can do this:

    1. Insert the recovery USB into your laptop.

    Boot from the recovery USB. You may need to access your laptop's BIOS or UEFI settings to change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.

    Once booted from the recovery USB, select the option to repair your computer.

    1. Within the recovery environment, you should have the option to run automatic repair. This will attempt to fix any issues with the boot files, including the missing winload.efi file.
    2. If automatic repair doesn't resolve the issue, you can access the command prompt from the recovery environment. From there, you can manually rebuild the boot configuration data (BCD) using the "bootrec" command. Here are the steps you can follow in the command prompt:

    Type the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

    bootrec /fixmbr

    bootrec /fixboot

    bootrec /rebuildbcd

    After running these commands, restart your laptop and see if it boots successfully.

    1. If you are able to access the command prompt from the recovery environment, you can also use it to back up your important files to an external storage device. This is a precautionary step in case the issue requires more extensive troubleshooting.

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.