⏻ Boot & Startup Errors
winload.exe is missing 0xc0000225 — How to fix
0xc0000225 with winload.exe in the message means the Windows boot loader is missing or signed with a different boot signature than the BCD expects.
- Time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Applies to
- Windows 11, Windows 10
- Updated
- May 25, 2026
Error message
Your PC needs to be repaired. The application or operating system couldn't be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors. File: \Windows\system32\winload.exe Error code: 0xc0000225
Symptoms
- ▸Black/blue screen referencing winload.exe and 0xc0000225
- ▸PC boots into this error instead of Windows
- ▸Started after Secure Boot or BitLocker changes
Likely causes
- ▸BCD points to a winload.exe that doesn't exist
- ▸Secure Boot signature mismatch
- ▸Cloned disk with old BCD entries
- ▸Drive letter changed
How to fix it — step by step
- 01
Boot installer USB → Command Prompt
Use the same recovery path.
- 02
Rebuild BCD and re-create boot files with bcdboot
Identify the Windows volume, then run:
bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /f ALL - 03
Disable Secure Boot temporarily
In BIOS, disable Secure Boot, boot Windows, then re-enable. Often clears the signature mismatch.