Fix: Boot Error Code 0xC000000F in an Azure VM

So, you’re spinning up an Azure VM and suddenly hit a wall: Boot error code 0xC000000F.

Frustrating, right?

One second your virtual machine is fine, the next it won’t even boot. And to make things worse, the message isn’t exactly user-friendly:

Recovery: Your PC/Device needs to be repaired. Error code: 0xC000000F.

Yikes.

But don’t stress — I’m Becky Lynn, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to fix the “Boot error code 0xC000000F in an Azure VM” step-by-step. This is the ultimate troubleshooting guide that cuts through the noise and gets you back up and running — fast.

Let’s get into it.

What is Boot Error Code 0xC000000F in an Azure VM?

In simple terms, this error means your Azure virtual machine can’t locate the Boot Configuration Data (BCD). That’s the data that tells Windows how to boot.

Why does this happen?

• File system corruption
• Improper shutdowns
• Failed Windows updates
• Accidental deletion of system files

The good news: it’s totally fixable.

Step 1: Capture a Snapshot (Safety First)

Before you touch anything, take a snapshot of the OS disk.

Why?

Because if something goes sideways during the repair process, you’ll want a backup to restore from.

How:

1. Go to Azure Portal.

2. Navigate to your VM > Disks.

3. Click on the OS Disk > Create Snapshot.

4. Give it a name and click Create.

Done. Let’s move on.

Step 2: Attach OS Disk to a Working VM

Now that your original VM won’t boot, we’ll use another working VM to fix it.

Here’s how:

1. Stop the broken VM.

2. Detach the OS disk from it

3. Attach that disk as a data disk to another healthy VM in the same region.

Now open the working VM via Remote Desktop (RDP) — and let’s begin the surgery.

Step 3: Run a Disk Check

Sometimes, all it takes is a simple disk check.

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin.

2. Identify the drive letter of the attached disk (not your system drive).

3. Run:

chkdsk E: /f

Replace “E:” with the actual drive letter.

Let it finish. If errors were found and fixed — congrats. Reattach the disk to the original VM and try booting.

Still broken? Let’s go deeper.

Step 4: Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

This is the big fix for Boot error code 0xC000000F in an Azure VM.

First, mount the disk if you haven’t already.

Then:

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin.

2. Run:

bcdboot E:\Windows /s E: /f ALL

Replace “E:” with the Windows directory on your attached disk.

This command copies boot files to the system partition and rebuilds the BCD store.

Done? Detach the disk from the helper VM and reattach it to your original one (as OS disk).

Now start it up.

Step 5: Use Azure Serial Console for Troubleshooting

If your VM is Generation 2 and boots with UEFI, you can try the Azure Serial Console.

1. Go to Azure Portal > your VM.

2. Click Serial Console under Support + Troubleshooting.

From here, you can:

• View logs
• Enter recovery environment
• Reset bootloader settings

Super handy if you don’t want to attach disks manually.

Step 6: Repair Using Azure Recovery VM Script

Microsoft offers a recovery script that simplifies all this. It creates a temporary repair VM and handles:

• Disk attachment
• BCD repair
• Disk reattachment

Use it via Cloud Shell:

1. Open Azure Cloud Shell.

2. Run:

https://aka.ms/AzureVMRepairScript

3. Follow prompts to select the broken VM

It does the heavy lifting. Once complete, your VM should boot.

Step 7: Restore from Snapshot (If All Else Fails)

If the above doesn’t work, return to the snapshot you created.

Restore by:

1. Creating a new managed disk from the snapshot.

2. Creating a new VM and using that disk as the OS disk.

This lets you recover your data and applications — even if the original VM is toast.

Preventing Boot Error Code 0xC000000F in the Future

Alright — your VM is alive again. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t flat line next time:

Always shut down VMs gracefully

Avoid force-stopping VMs unless absolutely necessary.

Keep your OS and drivers updated

Use Azure Update Management to stay on top of patches.

Enable automatic backups

Azure Backup is your friend. Schedule daily or weekly backups.

Monitor disk health

Use Azure Monitor and set up alerts for IOPS or latency spikes.

Final Thoughts

The Boot error code 0xC000000F in an Azure VM can feel like a nightmare — but with the right steps, it’s completely fixable.

Whether you used manual disk attachment, ran a BCD rebuild, or leveraged Azure’s recovery tools — you now have the skills to fix this and prevent it in the future.

Let’s recap:

• Snapshot the disk
• Attach to helper VM
• Run disk checks and rebuild BCD
• Try Serial Console or Azure Repair Script
• Restore from snapshot if needed

If you found this guide helpful, save it, share it, or bookmark it for the next time Azure gives you trouble. Stay up, stay optimized.