Fixing the “Inaccessible Boot Device” Error After Windows Update

You restart after a Windows update, and instead of the login screen, you get this terrifying message:

“INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE”

This blue screen error often blindsides users after major updates, BIOS tweaks, or SSD cloning. But recovery is possible—and often easier than it looks.

What Causes This Error?

Windows can’t locate the boot volume. Common causes include:

Driver conflicts after an update
Changing SATA controller mode (AHCI ↔ RAID)
Improper SSD cloning
Corrupted BCD (Boot Configuration Data)

Step-by-Step Recovery

1. Boot Into Recovery Environment

Use a Windows 10/11 installation USB or let Windows boot into recovery after several failed attempts
Go to Advanced Options → Command Prompt

2. Rebuild the Boot Configuration

Run the following commands:

Reboot and see if the system boots normally.

3. Check SATA Mode in BIOS

Enter BIOS (usually DEL or F2 at startup)
Go to Storage Configuration or similar
Make sure SATA mode is set to what it was before: usually AHCI
If you changed RAID or IDE mode after cloning or updating, revert it

4. Roll Back the Update

If the issue started right after an update:

Boot into Advanced Startup → System Restore
Or use DISM to remove the problematic update:

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dism /image:C:\ /get-packages dism /image:C:\ /remove-package /PackageName:[Name]

5. Safe Mode Boot (If Accessible)

If Windows boots into Safe Mode (F8 or Shift + Restart → Troubleshoot → Startup Settings), uninstall recent drivers or run:

to repair corrupted system files.

Real Fix Example

After a BIOS reset, a user’s PC couldn’t boot. The BIOS had defaulted back to RAID mode. Switching back to AHCI resolved the “inaccessible boot device” instantly.

This is one of the most feared BSOD errors—but it’s often a configuration issue, not a catastrophic failure.