How to Solve the "Requested System Device Cannot Be Found" Error in Windows 11/10

When the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file system on your system becomes corrupted, you won't be able to access the operating system. You can attempt to重建BCD (Rebuild BCD) using the following command:

When executing these commands, you might encounter some error messages, such as:

1. The requested system device cannot be found while rebuilding BCD.
2. The requested system device cannot be found while importing with BCDedit.

Why does the "the requested system device cannot be found" error occur? How can we fix this issue? Relax, this comprehensive troubleshooting guide is here to assist you in understanding every aspect of the error and offering an efficient solution to fix it.

Why Does the "Requested System Device Cannot Be Found" Error Occur?

When utilizing USB installation media to resolve unbootable Windows issues, several factors can lead to the "requested system device cannot be found" error. Here are some primary reasons: 1. **Incompatible USB Drive**: The USB drive might not be compatible with the computer you're attempting to boot from. Ensure that the USB drive is recognized by the system and meets the requirements for creating a bootable Windows installation media. 2. **Incorrect Boot Settings**: The BIOS or UEFI settings on your computer may not be configured to boot from USB. You need to enter the BIOS/UEFI setup and change the boot order to prioritize USB devices. 3. **Incorrectly Created Bootable USB**: The process of creating the Windows installation media on the USB drive might have been done incorrectly. Use a reliable tool like Microsoft's Media Creation Tool or Rufus to create the bootable USB correctly. 4. **Missing Drivers**: Sometimes, the necessary drivers for the specific hardware components in your system might not be present on the installation media. This can prevent the system from recognizing the USB drive. 5. **Damaged USB Drive or Files**: If the USB drive has corrupted sectors or the files on it have become damaged, the system may fail to detect it as a valid boot source. 6. **Outdated或Corrupted System Files**: In some cases, the issue could stem from corrupted system files within Windows, making it unable to boot even with a valid USB installation media. 7. **Incompatible System Requirements**: The version of Windows on the USB drive might not be compatible with the hardware of the computer you're trying to install it on. Make sure the system meets the minimum requirements for the targeted Windows version. 8. **Mislabeled Partition**: The partitions on the USB drive might not be labeled correctly, causing the system to fail in identifying the bootable partition. To troubleshoot these issues, try different USB ports, create a new bootable USB, update your BIOS/UEFI, or check for hardware compatibility. If the problem persists, consult official Microsoft support resources or seek professional assistance.

1. USB Drive Interface Error

Even if the BIOS supports the specific USB port, you need to verify the USB interface. The Windows repair environment might not recognize the USB 3.0 interface. Try using a USB with a 2.0 interface instead.

2. BIOS partition type not updated

The boot options for MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) are distinct. When you convert an MBR disk to GPT, it's necessary to choose UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) for rebooting the PC. To rectify the error, you can enable or disable UEFI mode to align with the MBR or GPT format as needed.

3. Missing or corrupted EFI partition

On GPT disks, the system necessitates an EFI partition. Should this be missing, you would need to recreate the EFI partition. Conversely, on MBR disks, you must designate the partition where the BCD registry files are stored as the active partition.

4. Windows did not find the correct partition Translation: 4. Windows didn't locate the proper partition

Windows will typically access the installation path on the local disk by default. If you boot from the installation media USB drive, there might be an instance where the correct system partition is not identified.

5. Incompatibility between Windows installation and USB boot mode

The bootable USB should also work with the older BIOS if Windows was installed using an older BIOS.

Upon comprehending these potential reasons for the "requested system device cannot be found" error, you can tailor a solution according to the specifics of your issue. Let's proceed to the following section.

How to Fix the "Requested System Device Cannot Be Found" Error

In response to the issues raised in the previous section, this article summarizes the solutions as follows:

Fix 1. Repair MBR using Partition Master Tools

Fix 2. Repair Windows using a Windows Repair DVD/CD

Fix 3. Set the Correct Partition in Command Prompt

Of these methods, fixing one is the quickest and easiest. Let's proceed with the most effective solutions one by one.

Fix 1: Repair MBR using Partition Master Tools

tools Partition Master is a third-party tool that can be used to repair a corrupted MBR. It allows you to rebuild the MBR without resulting in data loss.

Since Windows fails to boot, you need to connect the drive to another computer for repair or use a tool to create a WinPE bootable disk to access the inaccessible operating system.

Step 1. Create a WinPE bootable disk

1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, and click "Bootable Media" on the toolbar. Then select "Create Bootable Media". 2. Click "Next" to complete the process.

Step 2. Boot the Partition Master Bootable USB

Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your PC. Press F2 or Del when you restart the computer to enter the BIOS screen. Set and boot your computer from "Removable Devices" or "CD-ROM Drive". Then, the Partition Master tool will run automatically.

Step 3. Rebuild MBR

Click "Toolkit" and select "Rebuild MBR".

Select the disk and the type of MBR, then click "Rebuild".

Then you'll see the message "MBR has been successfully rebuilt on Disk X".

Tools like Partition Master streamline the process of MBR (Master Boot Record) repair utilizing the Diskpart command. Furthermore, it aids in detecting and managing bad sectors on your hard disk and rectifying file system errors.

Fix 2: Repair Windows using a Windows Repair DVD/CD

If Windows PE or Windows is unable to detect USB 3.0 or USB 3.0 drives, you can attempt to create a Windows installation media using a DVD/CD. To repair Windows with a Windows repair DVD/CD, follow these steps:

Step 1. Choose Command Prompt on the Advanced settings screen when starting Windows from the DVD or CD.

Step 2. Enter the following commands one by one and press Enter after each command:

To test whether this works, restart your computer. Alternatively, you can fix the issue by typing bcdboot.exe C:\Windows /s C: at the command prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment.

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Occasionally, the bootrec /fixboot command might fail due to an access issue. If you encounter a similar problem, follow this guide to resolve the error:

Encountering 'Bootrec /Fixboot Access Denied' Error? Comprehensive Solutions

How to handle the 'bootrec /fixboot Access is denied' error message in Command Prompt? This article provides all possible solutions to fix the [bootrec /fixboot access denied] issue in Windows 10/8/7.

Fix 3: Set the Correct Partition in Command Prompt

When attempting to execute Bootrec operations using a USB installation media, you might encounter difficulty in locating the system partition. It's crucial to select the correct partition in the command prompt to address the issue of "the requested system device cannot be found." Follow the steps below to resolve this problem:

Step 1. Boot Windows 10 using a UEFI installation disc (CD, DVD, or USB), and choose Command Prompt from the Advanced options screen.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter. Note that the EFI partition should be in the FAT32 format.

Step 3. After exiting diskpart, type the following command:

Step 4. To rename the BDC file from BCD to BCD.bak, type ren BCD BCD.bak and press Enter.

Step 5. To regenerate BCD, type bcdboot c:Windows /l en-us /s z: /f ALL and press Enter.

Step 6. Exit the command prompt and restart your computer.

Conclusion

When encountering the issue "requested system device cannot be found," don't worry. In this guide, you'll understand the reasons behind this problem and discover the appropriate solutions to resolve it. We offer three methods, with the easiest being the use of the tool Partition Master to rebuild or repair the MBR. It's a powerful utility related to disk partition management. If you encounter any issues, give it a try.

Frequently Asked Questions About "The Requested System Device Cannot Be Found" Error

This section will provide frequently asked questions (FAQs) and their answers regarding the error message "The requested system device cannot be found." If you're interested, please continue reading.

1. Why am I getting an Access Denied error with Fixboot?

It often pertains to the Master Boot Record (MBR), a critical component of every hard drive partition. If the MBR on your primary hard disk becomes compromised, your machine will be unable to boot into Windows.

2. Can I repair the MBR?

Of course, you can fix the Master Boot Record (MBR). A corrupted MBR can prevent you from booting into Windows. You can repair it using the Command Prompt or by employing a third-party tool, such as Partition Master. This utility allows you to create bootable media and integrate with BIOS to reconstruct the MBR, thus assisting in resolving the boot issue.

3. What causes a corrupted MBR?

Unexpected system shutdowns, virus attacks, or other malware infections can corrupt the Master Boot Record, which can severely impair the functioning of the operating system by altering its programs.