Error Code 0xc0000225 Windows 8.1

Question

I recently tried to start up my Dell Inspiron laptop and instead get this blue screen with: Error code 0xc0000225 Blue Screen only gives me two options: Enter to try again or F8 for Startup Settings. Elsewhere it says something about 'UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME' Trying again doesn't work as it still won't boot.  I tried to boot to Safe Mode, which also didn't work.  None of the Startup Settings seem to work.  I have a 'Dell Operating System Windows 8 Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products 64-bit' recovery disk that was sent to me years ago for an unrelated problem.   I put it in the disk drive to see if I could boot from that but I don't even see the option and I can't see any way to get to a command prompt. Not sure if it would work for this problem.  I have no idea how to fix this.  I haven't installed any new hardware or software and I haven't been partitioning anything so I'm a bit puzzled as to what's going on. After posting on the microsoft forums and attempting several fixes, nothing has changed. I can't access the BIOS.  I have repeatedly tried pressing 'F2' during startup (which, according to Dell is the correct key) and it does nothing.  It always comes back to blue screen.  So I can't even look at BIOS settings I can't access built-in hard drive diagnostics.  I have pressed the correct keys (according to Dell) but it accomplishes nothing.  I end up back at blue screen. I have no Windows installation disk.  Windows 8 came pre-loaded on the laptop.  All I have is my 'Recovery Media for Windows 8 Products 64-bit' disk, which isn't an installation disk.  If I could get to a windows console, I would love to run any kind of scan, but I suspect if I could do that I would have been able to fix the problem in the first place. I installed Dell's 'Recovery & Restore' tool on a USB to boot from that, but when I press F12 to get boot options, the computer doesn't respond, just shoots me back to blue screen.  I have boot options on the blue screen.  None of those options actually work, which leads me to an endless cycle of restarting and blue screen.  Frustrating! Can someone please help or do I need to take my laptop to a computer repair shop?  Thanks!

ejn63 · Answer

This error almost always corresponds to a a faulty hard drive. To verify that, press F12 a few times immediately upon power up. Boot to the Dell diagnostics and run a full (extended) test on the system, and in particular on the hard drive. If you then see an error such as 2000-0142, etc. the drive needs to be replaced before you reload the operating system.

If you need further information, we'll need the system model number --i.e., Inspiron N5110, 5521, etc.

Flat Round · Answer

I can't access any boot options.  F12 doesn't accomplish anything, it continues to attempt to boot and shoot me back to blue screen, no matter how many times I press it.  Looks like I'll probably have to take it to be repaired.  :emotion-39:

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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