Error: An unexpected I/O error has occurred (0xc00000e9)
Recovery 
There was a problem with a device connected to your PC

An unexpected I/O error has occurred
Error code: 0:xc00000e9

This problem can happen when a removable storage device is removes while it's in use or is failing. Properly connecting any removable storage and restarting your PC may fix this problem

What is error “An unexpected I/O error has occurred (0xc00000e9)“?

Windows 10 or 7 failed to boot with error code “An unexpected I/O error has occurred (0xc00000e9)“. This error appears shortly after the boot process and before the login screen. This is point to an I/O issue , most probably the system is unable to access the drive (HDD or SSD).

How to solve 0xc00000e9 error
How to solve 0xc00000e9 error

Most common reason for An unexpected I/O error has occurred (0xc00000e9)

  • Loose or Damaged ports connecting to Hard disk.
  • RAM contact issue.
  • Hard drive failure
  • Boot manager is missing or corrupted
  • A boot sector virus or other malware.
  • Incorrectly seated components such as a disconnected hard drive that doesn’t make contact with the motherboard.
  • Improperly configured UEFI, BIOS, or CMOS settings.

How to solve 0xc00000e9 error ?

  1. Power off the computer
  2. Unplug the computer from power socket
  3. Laptop: Remove the battery from battery compartment.
  4. Disconnect all external hardware devices / peripheral devices, such as USB storage devices, external displays, and printers .
  5. Connect the power cord/ battery.

Clean hard disk Contact : Dust or other particles can get accumulated in between the contacts for hard drive and motherboard. This can cause boot error. Disconnect the hard disk and gently clean the connectors and sockets using a brush. Blow it out with compressed air. Clean it thoroughly and connect it back.

Clean RAM Contact : Over the period of time dust or other particles can get accumulated in RAM slot. Remove RAM from mother board and clean disk and gently clean the memory slot using a brush. Blow it out with compressed air. Very gently clean the contact points of RAM using a dry cotton cloth, if there is visible dirt. After cleaning, insert the RAM back to motherboard.

Clean contacts of CD/DVD drives and all other hardware sockets an pins. Blow the dust on motherboard with compressed air. Connect all components back and boot the PC. Follow the next step, if the same error persists.

BIOS Hardware Diagnostic Tool

BIOS have built-in hard drive and RAM(Memory) testing tool. Go to BIOS and run Memory Test and Hard Drive Check. Here i am using HP laptop and its BIOS for you to understand the steps. If your PC/Laptop belongs to a different brand, chose the steps accordingly.

0xc00000e9 BIOS Hardware Diagnostic Tool

On HP Laptops -> Power on the laptop -> Press ESC key -> then press F2 key to open System Diagnostics
Major Brands and their BIOS keys

  • acer F2
  • HP F1, F10, F11
  • Dell F2
  • Fujitsu F2
  • IBM F1
  • Lenovo F1, F2
  • Sharp F2
  • Packard Bell F1, F2, Del
  • Sony F1, F2, F3
  • Toshiba F1 or Esc

0xc00000e9 HP Laptop Memory Test

Memory Test

Press arrow key to select “Memory Test” and press enter key. Now BIOS will diagnose the RAM/Memory check and return the result. It may take several minutes to complete the testing. Memory test should pass without and fail/error message. If your memory test failed then you have to replace the RAM. If passed, you can go back to main menu and start the next step.

Hard Drive Check

From the main menu you select “Hardware Check” option using arrow key and then select “Extensive Check” scan option. Now hard drive diagnostics will start. It may take several hours to complete the diagnostic process, depending on your hard disk/SSD. Result of the should be passed/success, I mean no error in hard disk. If your hard drive test resulted in error/failed, then you have to replace the hard disk/SSD and then reinstall Windows 10. It will be impossible to recover from such failures. If the check was successful, then you can continue to next step.

Startup Repair Using Bootable Windows 10 USB

  1. Use a working PC to create Windows 10 bootable USB using Media Creation tool and insert the USB flash drive into the USB drive of the faulty machine.
  2. Restart or power on the desktop / laptop
  3. Enter BIOS -press the (F2) function key for entering BIOS, right after power on. See the BIOS key of major brands.
    • acer F2
    • HP F1, F10, F11
    • Dell F2
    • Fujitsu F2
    • IBM F1
    • Lenovo F1, F2
    • Sharp F2
    • Packard Bell F1, F2, Del
    • Sony F1, F2, F3
    • Toshiba F1 or Esc
  4. BIOS: Go to boot menu and change the boot order to boot it from USB
  5. Save BIOS settings and exit.
  6. Now your system will boot from USB drive, if not go to BIOS and verify the boot order settings and reboot.
  7. Now on Windows setup screen , select your language, region etc.
  8. Click “Repair your computer” button located in the setup window.
  9. Now select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> click “Startup Repair“

Now the troubleshooter will try to fix the issues with Windows 10 startup process. After completion of startup process, shutdown the PC, remove the USB drive and again switch on the PC. Check whether the PC is booting normally to Windows 10 from the hard disk/SSD. Follow the next step, if the booting failed with same error.

Check Disk For Error And Fix Boot Manager.

  1. Insert the USB flash drive into the USB drive of the faulty machine.
  2. Restart or power on the desktop / laptop
  3. Enter BIOS -press the (F2) function key for entering BIOS, right after power on. See the BIOS key of major brands.
    • acer F2
    • HP F1, F10, F11
    • Dell F2
    • Fujitsu F2
    • IBM F1
    • Lenovo F1, F2
    • Sharp F2
    • Packard Bell F1, F2, Del
    • Sony F1, F2, F3
    • Toshiba F1 or Esc
  4. BIOS: Go to boot menu and change the boot order to boot it from USB
  5. Save BIOS settings and exit.
  6. Now system will boot from USB drive, if not go to BIOS and verify the boot order settings.
  7. Now on Windows setup screen , select your language, region etc.
  8. Click “Repair your computer” button located in the setup window.
  9. Now select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> click “Command Prompt“
  10. Enter the following command line to check the disk partition for errors: This command will scan the hard disk for error and it will repair it.
chkdsk /f /r X:
  1. Enter the following commands one by one, these commands will rebuild the BCD store 
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot

If these commands resulted in error then , probably you may have to think of reinstalling Window 10. Otherwise, remove the USB drive from the PC , restart the PC and see whether Windows is booting normally.

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