Windows OS

Fix EFI Partition Windows 10: Restore, Repair, Recover

Adam Pope

In this article, I will discuss how to fix the EFI partition on Windows 10 by restoring, repairing, and recovering it.

Understanding EFI Partition

The EFI partition, also known as the ESP (EFI System Partition), is a crucial component in the boot process of your Windows 10 operating system. It contains important files necessary for booting up your computer, such as boot loaders and drivers.

How to Fix EFI Partition in Windows 10:

To restore, repair, or recover the EFI partition on your Windows 10 system, you can use the Command Prompt utility. First, access the Command Prompt by pressing the Windows key + R, typing “cmd,” and hitting Enter.

Next, type diskpart in the Command Prompt and press Enter to open the DiskPart tool. Identify the EFI partition by typing list volume and pressing Enter. Look for the volume labeled as “System” with the FAT32 file system.

Once you’ve identified the EFI partition, assign a drive letter to it using the assign letter=Z: command, replacing Z with an available drive letter. You can now access the EFI partition and make any necessary repairs or recover lost data.

Common Symptoms and Causes of EFI Issues

  • Check for corrupted EFI partition
    • Open Command Prompt as an administrator
    • Type diskpart and press Enter
    • Enter list disk to view all disks on your system
    • Select the disk that contains the EFI partition by typing select disk X (replace X with the correct disk number)
    • Enter list partition to display all partitions on the selected disk
    • Identify the EFI partition by its size and type select partition Y (replace Y with the correct partition number)
    • Run chkdsk /f on the EFI partition to check for and repair any file system errors
  • Rebuild the EFI partition
    • Boot from a Windows installation media
    • Choose Repair your computer and select Troubleshoot
    • Open Command Prompt
    • Type diskpart and press Enter
    • Enter list disk to view all disks on your system
    • Select the disk that contains the EFI partition by typing select disk X (replace X with the correct disk number)
    • Delete the existing EFI partition by typing delete partition override
    • Create a new EFI partition using the command create partition efi
    • Format the EFI partition by typing format quick fs=fat32
  • Repair EFI bootloader
    • Boot from a Windows installation media
    • Choose Repair your computer and select Troubleshoot
    • Open Command Prompt
    • Run the following commands: bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /rebuildbcd

Repair Methods for EFI Bootloader

If you are experiencing issues with your EFI bootloader on Windows 10, there are several methods you can try to restore, repair, and recover it. One common approach is using the Command Prompt to run specific commands that can help fix the bootloader.

Firstly, you can try rebuilding the bootloader by using the built-in tool called Bootrec. This tool can fix various boot-related issues, including problems with the EFI partition.

Secondly, you can use the System File Checker tool to scan and repair corrupted system files that may be causing the bootloader problems.

Lastly,, you can also try using the Automatic Repair feature in Windows 10 to automatically diagnose and fix any bootloader issues.

Recovering or Recreating EFI Partition

If you need to fix the EFI partition on Windows 10, you can either recover it or recreate it. Here’s how you can do both:

To recover the EFI partition, you can use the Command Prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment. First, boot your computer from a Windows installation USB or DVD. Then, select “Repair your computer” and go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

In the Command Prompt, enter the following commands:
1. diskpart
2. list disk
3. select disk X (replace X with the number of your hard drive)
4. list partition
5. select partition Y (replace Y with the number of your EFI partition)
6. assign letter=Z
7. exit

After assigning a drive letter to the partition, run the following commands:
1. Z:
2. cd EFIMicrosoftBoot
3. bootrec /fixboot
4. ren BCD BCD.old
5. bcdboot c:Windows /l en-us /s Z: /f ALL

This should repair your EFI partition. If you want to recreate it instead, you can delete the existing partition and create a new one using Disk Management or diskpart.

Data Recovery from Unbootable Computers

If your computer is unbootable and you need to recover data from it, you can follow these steps to fix the EFI partition in Windows 10:

1. Boot from a Windows Recovery USB or DVD: Insert your Windows Recovery USB or DVD and boot from it.

2. Access the Command Prompt: Once in the recovery environment, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

3. Identify the drive letter of your system partition: Type diskpart and press Enter. Then type list volume to see the drive letters.

4. Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store: Type bootrec /rebuildbcd and press Enter. Follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Repair the EFI partition: Type chkdsk /f /r X: (replace X with the drive letter of the system partition) and press Enter.

Resolution and Conclusion

To fix your EFI partition on Windows 10, you can follow these steps to restore, repair, and recover your system. First, ensure you have a backup of your important files in case anything goes wrong during the process. Next, access the recovery console by booting from a Windows installation media. Once you’re in the recovery console, use the command-line interface to repair the EFI partition.

Run the bootrec /fixboot command to fix any issues with the boot sector. Then, rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) by using the bootrec /rebuildbcd command. This will help restore the boot files and settings needed for Windows to start properly. After completing these steps, restart your computer and check if the issue with the EFI partition has been resolved.

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