Error 0xc00000e9 "An unexpected I/O error has occurred" appears on the computer screen with a specific file, for example: BootBCD or "An unexpected I/O error has occurred" or without
Error 0xc00000e9 may be displayed on the blue screen of Recovery, 8.1 or Windows 7, and in some cases even during a clean installation of the system from a USB flash drive or CD.
This guide details what can cause unexpected I/O error 0xc00000e9 and how to fix it.
Error 0xc00000e9 in Windows
If an error with this code reports that "The operating system could not be loaded because the system registry file is missing or contains errors," use the Windows restore point methods to restore working copies of the registry.
How to fix I/O error 0xc00000e9
The most common cause of error 0xc00000e9 during Windows boot or installation is a problem with the operation of SATA devices or hard drive errors / failures.
Most often we are talking about the system hard drive, but this is not always the case: for example, a malfunction of the second physical disk or DVD drive can also lead to the same result.
Depending on the conditions under which the “Unexpected I / O error” occurs or what preceded its appearance, the following approaches to the solution are possible:
If the error occurs once after shutting down, and does not appear when you turn it back on, and Windows 10 or 8.1 is installed on your computer or laptop, try disabling fast startup.
Try disconnecting all drives except the system drive (including DVD drive, flash drives, memory cards).
If any work was done inside the PC or laptop, for example, after cleaning from dust, installing new equipment, or simply in cases where the PC case is always open, double-check the connection of the system hard drive or SSD.
If you have a SATA connection, both from the side of the drive itself and from the side of the motherboard, if possible, you should also try using a different cable and SATA connector on the motherboard).
On the error screen, you will be prompted to press F8 in order to open the boot options. Press F8 (or Fn+F8) and see if the computer boots in safe mode. If the download was successful, open the properties of "Disk C" and check the "Tools" tab.
If safe mode does not start, you can try booting from a bootable Windows flash drive, press Shift+F10 (or Shift+Fn+F10 on some laptops) and use the command line (cmd) to check the hard drive for errors using chkdsk (chkdsk/ f).
Try using a bootable USB flash drive with your version of Windows to restore the system bootloader.
Double-check the Bios settings, in particular, the SATA mode (usually AHCI) and the boot mode. The error can be caused by switching from UEFI to Legacy mode, or vice versa, when the system on the disk is installed in a different mode. Reset Bios settings to default (factory settings).
Usually, one of the above helps in solving the problem, however, if this did not happen in your case, it may make sense to try to reinstall Windows yourself from a USB flash drive or contact a reinstallation service.
Also consider the fact that the error may also be due to hardware problems with the hard drive, especially if you dropped your laptop, the hard drive has often made clicking sounds lately.
