5 Ways to Fix Failure When Attempting to Copy Boot Files

Updated by

Sherly 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on Jul 10, 2025

When you use BCDBOOT to repair boot files in WinPE or use it on a new image, you may receive the error message: "failure when attempting to copy boot files." This may cause your computer to fail to boot from the hard disk.

Corrupt boot files, inactive system partition, or loss of system reserved partition may cause a BCDboot failure problem. EaseUS will provide you with the most effective and fastest solution and get your computer running smoothly again:

Here is a recent and typical case of encountering this problem. Let's take a look at it together:

Don't worry. We provide five detailed and effective methods!

Method 1. Repair MBR with EaseUS Partition Master

The MBR is responsible for the initial boot of the system. When the system fails to boot due to a BCDBOOT error, the master boot file may be corrupted. Please try to rebuild the MBR.

EaseUS Partition Master Professional is a reliable computer management and repair tool. It offers a "Rebuild MBR" feature that allows users to repair corrupted system files in one click without losing any data.

Download this tool and fix the errors encountered using the bcdboot command:

Step 1. Create a WinPE bootable disk

• Launch EaseUS Partition Master, and click "Bootable Media" on the toolbar. Select "Create bootable media".
• Click "Next" to finish the process.

Step 2. Boot EaseUS Partition Master Bootable USB

• Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your PC. 
• Press F2 or Del when you restart the computer to enter the BIOS screen. Set and boot your computer from "Removable Devices" or "CD-ROM Drive". And then EaseUS Partition Master will run automatically.

Step 3. Rebuild MBR

• Click "Toolkit" and choose "Rebuild MBR".

• Select the disk and the type of MBR. Then, click "Rebuild".

• After that, you can see "MBR has been successfully rebuilt on Disk X".

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Method 2. Set System Partition As Active

If the bcdboot command fails due to an inactive system partition, please try to set the system partition as active. EaseUS Partition Master provides a Set Active feature to help you accomplish this task. If you are a computer expert, you can use the command prompt to fix the BCDboot failure problem when copying boot files. But make sure you enter each command correctly to avoid data loss.

Step 1. Insert the Windows installation media and boot your Windows system.

Step 2. Click Repair Your Computer in the lower left corner.

Step 3. Navigate to Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Command Prompt.

Step 4. Type diskpart and enter the following command as well to set the system partition as active:

• diskpart 
• list disk 
• select disk 0 (select primary hard drive)
• list partition
• select partition 3
• active

Method 3. Copy the UEFI and BIOS Files to Disk

To fix the bcdboot error, ensure your computer's firmware is updated and compatible with the boot files. If the EFI-reserved partition on the GPT disk or the system-reserved partition on the MBR disk is missing, run the following command via CMD and copy the UEFI and BIOS files to the disk:

• bcdboot c:\windows /ss: /f ALL

If you know the drive uses GPT or EEFI, use the specific command. Otherwise, use this command, ALL, to ensure that the UEFI and BIOS files are copied.

Method 4. Use a System Restore Point

If you have created a System Restore Point before, you can roll back all settings to the restore point and easily boot the system from the hard disk.

Step 1. Boot your Windows system using the installation media.

Step 2. Navigate to Repair Your Computer > Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > System Restore.

Method 5. Reinstall Windows

The most straightforward option to fix an operating system error is reinstalling a new one. However, reinstalling the operating system may result in losing all data, so back up your important files.

Step 1. Create a bootable USB drive: All You Should Know About Bootable USB Drive

Step 2. Boot Windows 10 from the USB.

Step 3. Select the language on the Windows Settings page and click Install Now.

If you find this article helpful in fixing bcdboot failure, please don't forget to share it with more friends who may encounter the same problem.

Conclusion

Do you know how to fix failure when attempting to copy boot files? EaseUS Partition Master provides the quickest and most efficient solutions. It can help you rebuild MBR, set the partition as active, and reinstall Windows 10/11. If you know the specific reasons that caused the error, you can also use manual solutions to fix bcdboot failure.

FAQs About Failure When Attempting To Copy Boot Files

Do you have any further confusion about bcdboot failure when attempting to copy boot files on Windows 10/11? Continue reading this part and solve your problems.

1. Why failure when attempting to copy boot files?

Several reasons may cause failure when attempting to copy boot files, including the following situations:

• Inactive system partition
• Corrupted master boot record files
• Problems with boot mode
• Missing system reserved partition

2. How do I fix boot files?

Windows provides some built-in tools to help you fix boot files. You can use the command line to fix it. Or you can use the Windows Startup Repair Tool:

Step 1. Insert the Windows installation USB/CD and boot from it.

Step 2. Choose Next>Repair your computer on the install screen.

Step 3. Under the Choose an option screen, select Troublshoot>Starup Repair.

3. Why is my Bootrec Fixboot access denied?

Corrupted system files may cause bootrec /fixboot access denied errors. Please use the installation media containing the latest version of the Windows operating system to run the bootrec /fixboot command and fix the boot problem.