Windows will fail to boot correctly if the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file is corrupted or deleted accidentally. As such, any task involving a change or modification in the bootloader settings should be exercised with extreme caution. If something goes wrong, one can always create a backup copy to restore the original Boot Configuration Data (BCD) registry file.
Backup & restore BCD file in Windows 11/10
There are two ways of backing up or restoring the BCD Store in Windows 11/10.
- Using the command-line interface
- Using a third-party freeware tool
Let’s cover it in a bit of detail.
1] Using Command Prompt or Windows Terminal
- The first method leverages an elevated Command Prompt or Windows Terminal.
- Type the following and press the Enter key.
bcdedit /export f:\01.bcd
- This will create a backup of your BCD file named 01.bcd on your D Drive. So you need to suitably select the Drive letter and the name for your BCD file.
- Once completed, the user will be notified of the successful completion of the process.
The restoration process is also quite similar. All you have to do is use the command with the /import parameter-
bcdedit /import f:\01.bcd
That’s all there is to it.
Read: System Configuration cannot save the original boot configuration
2] Using EasyBCD
The second method uses the EasyBCD tool. It is an advanced GUI that makes it easy to modify the Windows bootloader and its entries. The first time you run this tool, it automatically takes a backup of your BCD. Before restoring the backup, you can preview an EasyBCD backup.
It is important that before proceeding further, you ensure you have selected the right BCD. Then load the System BCD once more and restore!
After that, type in the path to the destination and save the file (ending in .bcd), or use the browse button on the right-hand side, just adjacent to the ‘browse’ text box and a place to save the file. When you’re ready, click “Backup Settings” and relax.
To restore the BCD file, browse the EasyBCD save file created last time (ending in .bcd) and click the “Restore Backup” button. The restore function will start instantly. EasyBCD can create a backup of your BCD settings from the “BCD Backup/Repair” page if required.
Read: Boot Configuration Data Editor in Windows OS
If you have not backed up your BCD Store yet, it might be a good idea to do so now. If the BCD file is ever missing or corrupted, Windows won’t be able to start.
This post will show you how to rebuild BCD should the need arise, and this one will show you how to change the Windows Boot Logo.
What is the BCD in Windows?
BCD storage is a special binary file named BCD located in the BOOT directory of the active partition. The boot manager is designed to load the system in accordance with the existing configuration located in the special storage called Boot Configuration Data, or BCD for short. The boot manager ‘bootmgr’ loads the core of the Windows OS installed on the computer in accordance with the loading into BCD storage.
How to repair BCD in Windows?
You can use the bootrec /rebuildbcd when in Windows advanced recovery command prompt. If you cannot select Windows or boot into Windows, this will come in handy to fix it.
