Getting Bootrec /Fixboot Access Is Denied Error? Roundup Solutions

Bootrec (bootrec.exe) utility is for reviving a failed, not working, or not responding operating system in Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). What if running the command bootrec /fixboot returned the error message 'Access is denied? How do you make the command take effect while the access is denied?

Here, we've collected 4 practical methods that you can apply for fixing the 'bootrec /fixboot' with access is denied error:

1. #1. Recreate UEFI and Reconfigure the Boot Files
2. #2. Rebuild MBR (for Windows Beginners)
3. #3. Fix Windows Boot Error (for Windows Beginners)
4. #4. Run Startup Repair

This article offers one real solution for you to fix the bootrec /fixboot access denied in Windows 10/8/7, plus other alternative ways to fix the Windows startup problems.

How to Fix "bootrec /fixboot access is denied" Error?

Try each method with the respective guide one by one, and you'll make the computer boot up normally again. For Windows beginners, you may directly jump to Method 2 and Method 3 to eliminate the bootrec /fixboot error from your PC.

#1. Recreate UEFI and Reconfigure the Boot Files

The most effective way to troubleshoot the bootrec /fixboot access denied error is to recreate UEFI structure and reconfigure the boot files via the following steps:

Step 1. First, turn off your computer. After that, switch it on as soon as your system starts up and you see the manufacturer's logo. Press and hold the power button again to force the system to shut down.

Repeat the steps several times and it will automatically read the startup repair screen. Here is what we're going to officially apply the fixes.

Step 2. When your computer boots up, you will be represented by the Automatic Repair window. Click on the Advanced options button.

Step 3. In the Choose an option window, choose the Troubleshoot option.

Step 4. Next, proceed with the Advanced options.

Step 5. In the Advanced options window, choose the Command Prompt option.

Step 6. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command lines one by one and hit Enter each time:

(Usually, the EFI partition has 100MB storage and is formatted in FAT32 format. For example, disk 0 is the HDD drive containing Windows and volume 5 is the EFI partition. So, here you will type select disk 0, list vol, and select vol 5.)

Step 7. Close the Command Prompt window and return to the Troubleshooting window. Click on Continue to boot into Windows 10 normally without getting any errors.

Feel free to share this page online to help more of your friends fixing their PCs with a similar issue as mentioned here:

#2. Rebuild MBR

According to Microsoft, there are several useful commands in Bootrec.exe that are used to troubleshoot Windows startup problems. Besides bootrec /fixboot, the bootrec /fixmbr command is also widely used when there is a problem with the hardware Master Boot Record (MBR). With MBR failure, Windows cannot start either. 

For Windows beginners, entering the bootrec /fixmbr command without entering the Windows operating system is way too complex for them. Fortunately, EaseUS Partition Master Professional stands out, with a rebuild MBR feature, the perfect alternative to bootrec /fixmbr so to fix this error in only a few mouse clicks.

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".

When the process completes, restart your problematic computer and you should be able to enter the OS naturally. If your computer boots up successfully, don't forget to share this method online to help more people around you with a similar issue:

#3. Fix Windows Boot Error with BCD File

When the Windows computer denies you entering the 'bootrec /fixboot' command, you won't be able to load the operating system. The other option you can try is to rebuild the BCD file that caused the Windows boot issue. EaseUS Partition Master with its Boot Repair feature, can efficiently help you with this error:

To do so, you'll need to create a bootable media on a healthy computer and then use the bootable media to repair the BCD file on the problematic computer. Here are the details:

Step 1. Start EaseUS Partition Master after connecting the external drive/USB to your computer, go to "Bootable Media," and click "Create bootable media."

Step 2. Select an available USB Drive or CD/DVD and click "Create." You can also burn the Windows ISO file to the storage media.

Step 3. Connect the created bootable drive to the new computer and reboot the computer by pressing and holding F2/Del to enter the BIOS. Then, set the WinPE bootable drive as the boot disk and press F10 to exit.

Step 4. Boot the computer again and enter the WinPE interface. Then, open EaseUS Partition Master and click "Boot Repair" under the "Toolkit" option.

Step 5: Select the system you want to repair and click "Repair."

Step 6. Wait a moment, and you will receive an alert that the system has been successfully repaired. Click "OK" to complete the boot repair process.

#4. Run Startup Repair

The last but practical method you can try to get rid of the 'fix bootrec /fixboot' with access denied error is to run a Startup Repair. Here is how to do so:

Step 1. First, create a Windows installation media on an empty USB flash drive with 8GB or larger.

Step 2. Reboot the PC and set it to boot from the USB.

Step 3. Click "Repair your computer" on the Install now window.

Step 4. Click "Troubleshoot" and click "Automatic Repair".

Step 4. Select your account to run the Automatic Repair.

Wait patiently till the process completes. Then, restart your PC and check if your computer is ok to run programs and accessible for saving and transferring data again.

Extended Reading: What's bootrec /fixboot?

The [bootrec /fixboot] is a command performed in the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment. Bootrec /fixboot writes a new boot sector to the system partition by using a boot sector that's compatible with the present Windows system. E.g., if your system is Windows 7, fixboot will write a Windows 7-compatible boot sector, and so forth. This fixboot command is normally used to fix a number of startup errors and problems like:

• The boot sector is damaged
• Black screen on startup
• Missing boot device
• Blue screen of death
• Your PC ran into a problem and needs to restart
• Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

In fact, all three situations are pointed to a PC that cannot start properly. One common way to fix such errors is to run the command "bootrec /fixboot". However, running the bootrec /fixboot command is likely to cause a new round of problems. An error says that access is denied.

Why Does 'Bootrec /Fixboot Access Is Denied' Error Occur?

For now, you know that the 'bootrec /fixboot' command is used to fix the damage to the Windows boot sectors/boot records. Why does the 'access is denied' error pop up in Command Prompt?

According to the discussions on the Microsoft community, many victims who had the same issue with the command bootrec/ fixboot access is denied are using the Windows 10 1709 installation media. After they tried the same command with Windows 10 1703 installation media, they did not get the error again.

Conclusion

On this page, we've collected 4 efficient ways that work to help both Windows beginners and advanced users to resolve the 'bootrec /fixboot, Access is denied' error. Among these methods, EaseUS Partition Master stands out with its Rebuild MBR and Boot Repair features. 

For a time-saving solution, use this tool.

Alongside this, we also found that the 'bootrec /fixboot access is denied' error also occurs more regularly in the Windows 1709 build. So, if you want to learn how to get rid of this issue permanently, we think that you could update your operating system to a newer edition for better and more stable performance.