How to Fix the Requested System Device Cannot Be Found in Windows 11/10

When running 'bootrec /rebuildbcd,' you may get the message 'the requested system device cannot be found.' This passage will help you find the reasons and offer several solutions to fix this error in Windows 11/10/8/7.

When the BCD file system on your system is corrupted, you will not be able to access the operating system. You may try to rebuild BCD by using the following command:

You may receive some error messages when you execute these commands, such as:

• rebuildbcd the requested system device cannot be found
• bcdedit import the requested system device cannot be found

Why does the "the requested system device cannot be found" error occur? How can we fix this error? Don't worry. This troubleshooting guide will help you cover all aspects of the error and provide you with an effective solution to resolve it.

Why Does the Requested System Device Cannot Be Found Occur

When using USB installation media to fix Windows unbootable problems, many reasons cause the requested system device cannot be found error. Here are some of the main reasons:

1. USB drive interface error

Even if the BIOS supports the given USB slot, you need to check the USB interface. The Windows repair environment cannot detect the USB 3.0 interface. You can try to replace the USB with a 2.0 interface. 

2. BIOS partition type not updated

The boot options for MBR and GPT are different. When you convert MBR to GPT, you need to select UEFI to reboot the PC. To fix the error, you can enable/disable UEFI mode to fit the MBR/GPT format.

3. EFI partition is missing or corrupted

On GPT disks, the system requires an EFI partition. If it is lost, you need to recreate EFI partition. While on MBR disks, you need to set the partition where the BCD registry files are stored as the active partition.

4. Windows did not find the correct partition

Windows will access the installation path on the local disk by default. If you boot from the installation media USB drive, there is a chance that the correct system partition will not be found.

5. Windows installation and USB boot mode are incompatibilities 

The bootable USB should also fit the older BIOS if Windows is installed using an older BIOS.

After understanding these possible causes of the requested system device cannot be found, you can find a solution based on the specifics of your problem. Let's take a look at the next section.

How to Fix the Requested System Device Cannot Be Found Error

In response to the problems that emerged in the previous section, this article summarizes the solutions in the following ways: 

Fix 1. Repair MBR through EaseUS Partition Master

Fix 2. Repair Windows with Windows Repair DVD/CD

Fix 3. Set the Correct Partition in Command Prompt

Of these methods, fixing one is the quickest and easiest. Next, we will start with the most effective ways one by one.

Fix 1. Repair MBR through EaseUS Partition Master

EaseUS Partition Master is a third-party tool to repair the corrupted MBR. It can rebuild the MBR without losing data.

Because Windows cannot boot successfully, you need to connect the drive to another computer to repair it or use the tool to create a WinPE bootable disk to access the inaccessible operating system.

Step 1. To create a bootable disk of EaseUS Partition Master, you should prepare a storage media, like a USB drive, flash drive or a CD/DVD disc. Then, correctly connect the drive to your computer.

Step 2. Launch EaseUS Partition Master, and find the "Bootable Media" feature on the left. Click on it.

Step 3. You can choose the USB or CD/DVD when the drive is available. However, if you do not have a storage device at hand, you can also save the ISO file to a local drive, and later burn it to a storage media. Once made the option, click the "Create" button to begin.

• Check the Warning message and click "Yes".

Step 4. When the process finishes, you'll see a pop up window, asking if you want to restart computer from the bootable USB.

• Reboot Now: it means you want to restart the current PC and enter EaseUS Bootable Media to manage your disk partitions without OS.
• Done: it means you don't want to restart the current PC but to use the bootable USB on a new PC.

Note: To use the bootable disk on a new PC, you need to resart the target computer and press F2/F8/Del key to enter BIOS, and set the USB bootable disk as the first boot disk.

Wait patitiently and your computer will automatically boot up from the USB bootable media and enter EaseUS WinPE desktop.

EaseUS Partition Master simplifies the process of MBR repair using the Diskpart command. In addition, it helps you to check bad sectors on your hard disk and repair file system errors.

Fix 2. Repair Windows with Windows Repair DVD/CD

You can try to make a Windows installation media using a DVD/CD if Windows PE or Windows cannot detect USB 3.0 or USB 3.0 drives. Follow the steps below to repair Windows with Windows repair DVD/CD:

Step 1. Choose Command Prompt on the Advanced settings screen starting Windows from the DVD or CD.

Step 2. Input the following command and hit Enter after each command:

To test whether this works, restart your computer. As an alternative, you can resolve the problem by typing bcdboot.exeC:Windows /s C: directly at the prompt under Windows Recovery Environment.

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Sometimes, the bootrec /fixboot command may failure due to access issue, and if you experienced a similar issue, follow this guide to fix this error:

Fix 3. Set the Correct Partition in Command Prompt

When trying to perform Bootrec operations with a USB installation media, you may fail to find the system partition. You need to select the correct partition in the command prompt. And follow the steps below to fix the requested system device cannot be found issue.

Step 1. Launch Windows 10 using a UEFI installation disk (CD, DVD, or USB), and select Command Prompt from the Advanced settings screen.

Step 2. Type the following command and hit Enter. Please be aware that the EFI partition should be in FAT32 format.

Step 3. After leaving the diskpart, type the following command:

Step 4. To rename the BDC file from BCD to BCD.bak, type ren BCD BCD.bak and hit Enter.

Step 5. To regenerate BCD, type bcdboot c:Windows /l en-us /s z: /f ALL and press Enter.

Step 6. Exit the command prompt and restart the computer.

Conclusion 

When you meet the requested system device cannot be found issue, don't panic. In this guide, you can know why you meet this issue and find the responding solution to fix it. This guide provides three ways for you. At the same time, the easiest way is to try EaseUS Partition Master to rebuild or repair MBR. It is a powerful tool related to a disk partition. If you have any problem, you can try it.

FAQs About the Requested System Device Cannot Be Found

This part will provide frequently asked questions and answers about the requested system device cannot be found. If you are interested, keep reading.

1. Why is Fixboot access denied?

It frequently has to do with the Master Boot Record, or MBR, a crucial component of every hard drive partition. Your machine won't be able to boot into Windows if the MBR on your primary hard disk fails.

2. Can I repair MBR?

Of course, you can repair MBR. Corrupted MBR will make you unable to boot Windows. You can use the command prompt or a third-party tool to repair it, such as EaseUS Partition Master. It will help you create bootable media and integrate BIOS to rebuild MBR.

3. What causes corrupted MBR?

Unexpected system shutdowns, virus attacks, or other malware attacks can cause the Master Boot Record to become corrupt, which can completely impair the operation of the operating system by changing its programs.