The Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened [6 Ways]

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on Apr 24, 2024

The error "The Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened" is quite common when dealing with BCD files executing "bcdedit.exe." This error might prevent the system from booting if the BCD files are corrupted or misconfigured. As a result, you might also face problems such as:

• Being unable to access or change the BCD data.
• Challenging dual-booting or altering system settings.
• System instability.

BCD files are crucial for the proper booting of an operating system, and failure in execution can lead to issues with commonly encountered messages such as:

• "The boot configuration data store could not be opened; the system cannot find the file specified."
• "The boot configuration data store could not be opened; the requested system device cannot be found."
• "The boot configuration data store could not be opened. Access is denied."

So, if you also have encountered one such error, you are in the right direction. Continue reading this article to fix the Boot Configuration Data store that could not be opened.

How to Fix Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened 

Refer to the table given below to get a brief idea about the methods that you are going to implement, their efficiency as well as the difficulty level of each one of them.

The next are the specific instructions for each approach shown in the above table. You can also share this guide with other friends who are also searching for the solutions to fix the boot configuration.

Method 1. Run the Command Prompt as Administrator

The command-line tool "bcdedit" needs admin privileges to manage the BCD. Using this method, you may raise your privilege in Command Prompt and run "bcdedit.exe" with administrator permissions to fix the "Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened" problem. Here is how you can do it:

Step 1. Right-click the Start button.

Step 2. Select "Command Prompt (Admin)."

Step 3. Retry the 'bcdedit.exe' command to check if the problem persists.

Method 2. Use the Boot Repair Tool

A boot repair tool may resolve several BCD-related problems, including missing or unreachable boot BCD files. EaseUS Partition Master, a flexible software program, can help you manage BCD-related problems. It has a great "Boot Repair" function that can deal with several BCD exception issues, such as situations in which the boot BCD file is missing or unable to be located.

You can download EaseUS Partition Master and quickly fix the "The boot configuration data store could not be opened" problem, both easily and quickly. 

Step 1. Start EaseUS Partition Master after connecting the external drive/USB to your computer, go to "Bootable Media," and click "Create bootable media."

Step 2. Select an available USB Drive or CD/DVD and click "Create." You can also burn the Windows ISO file to the storage media.

Step 3. Connect the created bootable drive to the new computer and reboot the computer by pressing and holding F2/Del to enter the BIOS. Then, set the WinPE bootable drive as the boot disk and press F10 to exit.

Step 4. Boot the computer again and enter the WinPE interface. Then, open EaseUS Partition Master and click "Boot Repair" under the "Toolkit" option.

Step 5: Select the system you want to repair and click "Repair."

Step 6. Wait a moment, and you will receive an alert that the system has been successfully repaired. Click "OK" to complete the boot repair process.

Other errors that EaseUS Partition Master can fix:

Method 3. Change the Boot Mode

Switching the boot mode might be helpful when receiving the "Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened" issue since it can realign the system's boot settings and eliminate potential conflicts.

Step 1. Restart your computer.

Step 2. Access BIOS/UEFI settings (typically by pressing a key like F2, F12, Del, or Esc during boot).

Step 3. Find the "Boot" or "Boot Options" section.

Step 4. Switch between UEFI and Legacy/CSM boot mode.

Step 5. Save changes and exit BIOS/UEFI.

Step 6. Let your computer boot into Windows.

Step 7. Reattempt the 'bcdedit.exe' command.

Method 4. Change the Partition Style

Converting from MBR to GPT or vice versa can assist in resolving compatibility difficulties and guarantee that the boot configuration data store is suitably recognized. On top of that, the EaseUS Partition Master, a flexible disk management tool, makes it simple for you to complete this process.

The MBR (Master Boot Record) and GPT (GUID Partition Table) partition styles can be switched using EaseUS Partition Master. The effortless transition ability between these two partition methods makes this tool significant in fixing the problem.

Here's how to go about it:

Step 1. Download and launch EaseUS Partition Master on your computer.

Step 2. Go to Disk Converter, select "Convert MBR to GPT" and click "Next" to continue.

Step 3. Select the target MBR disk that you tend to convert to GPT, and click "Convert" to start the conversion.

Once you have changed the partition style with the help of this tool, check if the issue has been solved. In most cases, this method proves to be very useful. So, if you haven't tried this method yet, go to your browser and download EaseUS Partition Master and see how effortlessly it can solve your problem.

Method 5. Specify BCD File

This allows you to explicitly define the location of the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file, guaranteeing that the system can locate it correctly when you face the "The boot configuration data store could not be opened; the system cannot find the file specified" error.

Using the EaseUS Partition Master, a comprehensive Windows boot repair tool, you can complete this process effectively. The BCD menu in EaseUS Partition Master allows you to designate where the BCD file is located.

Method 6. Rebuild BCD

Using Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and the Windows 10 installation disc, you may manually rebuild BCD if the previous ways don't work to fix the "bcdedit: The boot configuration data store could not be opened" problem.

Here are the steps you can follow to handle BCD-related problems successfully:

Step 1. Start your PC from the Windows 10 installation disc by inserting it.

Step 2. Once the Windows setup begins, select "Next," then choose "Repair your computer," followed by "Troubleshoot," and finally, "Command Prompt."

Step 3. In the elevated Command Prompt window, enter the following commands one by one and press Enter after each:

• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /scanos
• bootrec /rebuildbcd

Step 4. After the process finishes, restart your computer and check if the error has been resolved.

If you found this article useful in resolving your issue, consider sharing it with friends who might benefit from these solutions.

Sharing knowledge can make troubleshooting easier for everyone! Also, don't worry if you encounter the bootrec /fixboot error, here is a tutorial article to help:

Getting Bootrec /Fixboot Access Is Denied Error? Roundup Solutions

What to do when CMD warns 'bootrec /fixboot Access is denied' error message? This article offers all possible solutions for you to fix the [bootrec /fixboot access denied] in Windows 10/8/7.

What Is Boot Configuration Data

In Windows operating systems, Boot Configuration Data (BCD) is a crucial system component. As it maintains crucial configuration parameters for the bootloader, it is crucial to the boot process. BCD instructs the machine on how to boot and load the operating system.

Several boot-related issues, including the following, might arise when the BCD is damaged or has problems:

• It failed to open the boot configuration data storage.
• lt states, "Boot BCD is missing or corrupt."
• Error: "The requested system device cannot be found.
• "When attempting to access BCD, access is denied."

Now that you know what BCD is and the issues it might create continue reading to see why you could get the particular error message: "The BootConfiguration Data Store Could Not Be Opened." If you like this tutorial, you can share it with others by clicking the social buttons below:

Why The Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened

Look at a real example from the Microsoft community forum to see the context of the error. 

This case is a perfect example of the problem many Windows users encounter. 

So, continue reading to discover the underlying variables in the "Access is denied" problem.

• Lack of Command Prompt Window Privileges. Administrative rights are necessary to access BCDedit. The "Access is denied" issue may appear if the command prompt is not launched as an administrator.
• Missing Startup Configuration Data File. If the startup configuration data file is missing or damaged, Windows will encounter this issue because it cannot retrieve the essential boot data.
• Boot Partition Type and Disk Partition Table Inconsistency. When the boot partition type (MBR or GPT) and the disk's partition table are incompatible, BCD access may be hampered, and errors may occur.

Conclusion

The "Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened" error is frequent and distressing for Windows users. It may cause the boot process to fail and cause other issues.

However. the EaseUS Partition Master Tool is a highly effective and simple solution after examining other approaches to this issue, each with a different level of efficiency and complexity. It is the best option for quickly fixing this problem because of its Boot Repair tool, which speeds the processing of an array of BCD-related problems.

FAQs About The Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened

Suppose you have any additional queries. The following sections contain responses to commonly asked questions regarding "The Boot Configuration Data Store Could Not Be Opened."

1. How to fix BCD errors in Windows 10?

Fixing the BCD error in Windows 10 isn't that challenging. Just follow the steps below, and you'll be able to fix the issue in no time.

Step 1. Launch the Command Prompt as administrator.

Step 2. Run 'bcdedit.exe' to check for BCD errors and apply appropriate fixes.

2. How can the requested system device not be found?

You can fix the requested system device cannot be found error using the process below:

Step 1. Access BIOS/UEFI settings.

Step 2. Verify and adjust the boot device or partition settings to ensure the system device is recognized.

3. How do you repair BCD from the command prompt?

Repairing BCD from the command prompt is quick and effective. Follow the instructions , and you can repair BCD easily.

Step 1. Boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) using a Windows installation media.

Step 2. In the Command Prompt, execute 'bootrec /fixmbr,' 'bootrec /fixboot,' 'bootrec /scanos,' and 'bootrec /rebuildbcd' commands to repair the BCD.