How to fix boot manager failed to find OS loader error?

Are you not able to turn your computer On and directly jumps into the Windows Startup Repair menu? Well, it is not an uncommon problem. Whether you are using Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or Windows 10, this error can appear in any system at any time. But, whenever this appears, you should definitely know how to fix boot manager failed to find os loader error?

Well, in this article, we are going to do the same. We will give you a brief guide to help you know more about this error and the best ways to fix it easily.

This error is caused by some issues with the Windows bootloader. This means, if your boot manager is not able to find the bootloader at its location, it will face some issues with the startup. And, that’s why you will see the startup repair menu opened just after that.

fix boot manager failed to find OS loader error

But, there are several ways to fix it up. Any of them can work for you depending on your system and the reason for the problem. We are going to cover everything in this article below.

You will be able to know how to easily tackle this issue every time it appears on your system.

The problem is caused by some external factors. You do not have to worry about any virus or anything like that.

However, it could be some files or the system issues which are resulting in this problem. You should be ready to follow all the steps we are going to discuss here.

This issue could become serious because it will not let you turn on your computer and use it for anything you want. However, once everything is fixed, you might not see this problem again.

So, without talking much about it, let’s dive deeper into the topic and see how to fix this problem properly. But, before that, we will discuss some basic details about this problem and the possible reasons.

What is Windows OS loader error?

As the name suggests, your Windows OS becomes unable to find the bootloader and that’s why it is not able to turn your computer On normally. Because of this error, your PC operating system will never find its way to do its job in the way it should.

In fact, this error will result in continuous launches of the startup repair menu and then do nothing afterward. If you are seeing this error for the first time, it could be pretty daunting to see.

Because you never know why it is happening, you may find it tough to get it fixed.

Also, it is possible that this error is highlighting any other serious issue which might be happening around. So, you should definitely try to fix it as soon as possible.

But, before that, let’s discuss the reasons why this issue might be happening inside your computer.

Reasons for the boot manager failed to find OS loader error – Missing Loader?

As we have discussed, it could be tough to find out the actual reason for this problem at the first attempt. But, we can assume the possible reason for some main things.

The main symptom you will see is the loading of Startup Repair. And, if you see something like below, you are surely facing this issue.

Root cause found:

Boot manager failed to find the OS loader.

Repair action: File repair

Result: Failed. Error code =  0x3

Time taken = 1529 ms

Repair action: Boot configuration data store repair

Result: Failed. Error code =  0x2

Time taken = 0 ms

Deleted Bootloader

Your system might be saying the main thing which is causing this issue. It is possible that Windows Bootloader is actually deleted. It could happen due to various reasons.

But, the main one is a failed Windows Automatic update installation. So, if your system has updated recently, it is the reason behind this issue.

The Windows new BOOTMGR Bootloader can be found inside the C drive of your system most of the time. But, if it is somehow deleted, your OS will not find it and result in this problem for sure.

Corrupted Boot Volume

This is another most possible reason why you are seeing this error inside your computer. Both NTFS and FAT30 partitions can see this corruption and you should always keep your computer safe from them.

It can result in some other issues like unsafe shutdowns, frequent power losses, and problems in disk drives.

Faulty Hard Disk

If there is some kind of faults inside your hard disk, it can cause various problems for you. But, before your OS will not be able to find the boot files, you might see this issue because of it.

Also, if you have removed your hard disk, this error can appear because of that as well.

Do you have to re-install Windows After Missing OS Loader?

It depends on the situation. If you have a completely destroyed hard disk with no data left in it, you will surely have to reinstall your Windows along with a new disk.

However, if there are some temporary issues with your system files, this article is enough to make this better for you. We will do follow some methods by which you can easily solve this problem. However, if any of them doesn’t work for you, you might have to think about Windows reinstallation.

But, do not do it on your own. Just follow the methods we are going to discuss here. We are going to help you with everything.

So, make sure to keep reading till the end and you will find the best solution to this issue.

Exclusive Steps to fix boot manager failed to find OS loader error in Windows

So, now when are aware of the things which might be making these hassles for you, it is time to actually see how you can fix this thing.

Let’s see some of the best ways to solve this problem and get your computer back in normal condition.

1. Run System File Checker

SFC (System File Checker) scan is one of the best-inbuilt tools you get with your computer to fix various file issues inside your Windows computers.

It can help you to solve various problems related to your system files.

Also, running this scan is pretty easy using the Command Prompt. However, when your computer is not able to start because of this error, you can find it hard to run this scan. But, we have a good solution for you.

We know that running this scan can fix your problem and that’s why we are going to use the best method to run it even if you are not able to get into your system.

It is in fact not too much tough if you have a little bit of technical knowledge about computers.

Let’s see how you can easily do the same

  1. Insert the Windows installation disk in your computer.
  2. If you do not have the installation disk, just go to this link and download the Windows Media Creation tool. After that, run it on a normal computer and create a recovery drive. Use this recovery drive to open the Windows recovery menu.
  3. Restart your computer to boot it form this disc
  4. Select the language and other things
  5. Now, choose the options Repair your computer>>Troubleshoot>>Advanced Options>>Command Prompt
  6. Enter this command and hit Enter

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows

When the scan is completed, make sure to restart your computer and see if it get back to the normal condition. If not, just go to the next step.

2. Repair bad sectors on your system drive

Again, this is a great method to check your disk for any kind of internal errors. But, it could be tough to do the same because you are not able to get inside your computer. We will make use of the Command prompt again here and run a special command which Windows will support in any situation.

This command will actually look for any kind of issues inside your hard disk and try to solve them.

So, if there is any unwanted element or a problematic file, it will fix it and solve this issue for sure. This could be a pretty helpful thing for you to know how to run this system drive check even if you are not inside your computer’s main interface.

Now, let’s see how to run this scan and how to fix boot manager failed to find os loader error easily.

  1. Follow the above procedure to get into your Windows Troubleshooting menu and enter the Command Prompt.
  2. Now, enter this command and hit Enter

chkdsk C: /f /r

The system will run this scan inside the whole C drive and check for errors. It will fix any error if it finds. Once the scan is completed, make sure to restart your computer and see if it boots up normally.

3. Rebuild MBR

This is another great way to fix your computer whenever it starts to face this problem. In fact, it is going to help you if there is some issue with the MBR (Master Boot Record) or BCD (Boot Configuration Data).

The procedure may look similar to what we have done earlier but this time, we are going to run different commands and hence the effects will be different as well. Alternatively, you can rebuild your system with the bootrec.exe file if you want.

It can be found inside the Windows recovery environment. But, we will again use the command prompt to try solving this thing.

It should solve your issue because it is the last but most effective way you should try.

So, without any further discussions, let’s see how to do that.

  1. Use the first step to enter the Windows Recovery Environment.
  2. Now, Enter the Command Prompt option
  3. Enter these commands inside the Command Prompt one by one followed by an Enter.
    • bootrec/fixmbr
    • bootrec/fixboot
    • bootrec/rebuildpc

Once you are done with all these commands, make sure to restart your computer once again. If it is not able to boot up, you will have to ask for a professional help now.

What if you are facing the same error?

In that case, it is good to get in touch with a Windows or any other computer expert. They will be able to get into this matter deeply and help you get rid of this issue for sure.

Alternatively, you can try to reinstall your Windows if you have a proper backup of your data. This will be another good way for you. Make sure to connect with the customer support services of your computer or laptop manufacturer and get the support from them.

They can guide you further about how to get in touch with the expert. If your computer is within the warranty period, you do not have to worry about it much because you will surely get everything fixed for free.


Final Verdict

We hope you are now aware of how to fix boot manager failed to find os loader error in Windows computer. Make sure to follow the guidelines properly and follow them only if you think you can do it.

If you are not confident about these processes, it is better to ask for some professional help from someone who is an expert in all that.

Any wrong step or command can put you in some more hassles which might not be related to all this.

We hope you have found the solution to this issue with the help of this article. If so, consider sharing this information with others as well. Also, give us your valuable feedback in the comment section and let us know what you think about it.

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