The function of the FixBoot switch is to write a new boot sector to the system partition. But in UEFI systems, the EFI System Partition (ESP) is unmounted by default. As FixBoot can’t access the system partition, it fails and returns the Access Is Denied error.By assigning a drive letter to the ESP, you can successfully run Bootrec /Fixboot to repair the boot sector. In addition to this, you’ll also find alternative ways to repair the UEFI boot loader and deal with booting issues on UEFI systems in the article below.
What Causes Bootrec /Fixboot Access Is Denied?
How to Fix This Issue?
You can use diskpart to manually assign a mount point to the EFI System Partition. After doing so, you should be able to use FixBoot without any issues. Alternatively, you can instead use BCDBoot to repair the EFI Boot Loader.One more thing to note is that this error is very common in Windows versions 1707, 1709, and 1803. If your PC is running any of these versions, then we recommend that you use Windows Version 1703’s image to create a bootable media and copy the BCD.
Mount ESP with Diskpart and Repair
You can use diskpart to assign a drive letter to the EFI System Partition, then use FixBoot or BCDBoot to perform the repair. Here are the steps to do so:
Delete ESP and Use Automatic Repair Tool
The Automatic Repair tool is the go-to option to combat any kind of startup issue. But before using it, you should delete the system partition to ensure that a corrupt EFI system partition (ESP) isn’t the issue. Here are the steps to do so:If the repair tool resolves the issue, great. If not, you’ll see a message along the lines of Startup Repair couldn’t repair your PC. In this case, select Advanced Options and try out the other solutions from our guide.
Uninstall Latest Updates
A common issue that users often report is that Windows won’t boot after an update. In cases like this, uninstalling the latest update is generally enough to resolve the issue. Here are the exact steps to do so:
Clean Install OS
If the issue is still not resolved, a clean reinstall of the OS is likely the final option. Keep in mind that this will remove everything from your PC. So, if you don’t want to lose your files, you may want to hold off on this temporarily. Here are the steps to clean install Windows:
Related Questions
How to Repair Boot Sector on MBR Disks?
The code listed above to repair the EFI bootloader applies only to disks using a GPT partition table. In the case of Legacy BIOS or CSM (Compatibility Support Mode), MBR partitioning flavor is used. So, you should follow the steps listed below instead:
How to Fix BFSVC Error: Could not open the BCD template store. status – [c000000f] ?
First, ensure that you entered the correct command:Bcdboot C:\Windows /s x: /f ALL Additionally, if you’re using a localized version of Windows, you’ll need to modify the code accordingly. E.g., in the case of US localization, modify the command as such:Bcdboot C:\Windows /l en-us /s x: /f ALLIf still facing the same error, the BCD template store is likely corrupt. In this case, using the SFC and DISM utilities to repair the template store first, then using the commands from this guide will be helpful.
