Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions
After turning on the computer, if it does not boot, you will panic. Not only you, but it is also the natural reaction of all who experiences it. But if it is displaying the 0x00000e9 error, there is nothing to worry about. It is a common problem that many users experience, and fixing it also easy.
This post will guide you about the Error 0xc00000e9 windows has encountered a problem communicating, solutions to fix this, and the steps to recover data with Recoverit.
0xc00000e9 error is a hardware error that signifies your computer is unable to link to the hard drive. It prevents your computer or laptop from booting up. Several reasons can cause this error.
It can occur while unplugging the external drive when it is in use. Faulty hardware, incompatible updates of operating systems, corrupted registry files, etc. are some of the other reasons that cause the error.
Whenever you receive the message - windows has encountered a problem communicating with a device, it signifies a problem with hardware or there is some invalid BIOS settings. You can fix it with the solutions discussed here. Read on to learn the detailed steps to fix the problem.
A faulty connection could be the possible cause of error 0xc00000e9. You need to check which connected device is causing a problem. To do so, you can disconnect all the external devices one by one and see if it fixes the error.
If disconnecting the external device, fixes the error, then replace the faulty peripheral device to avoid getting this error 0xc00000e9 again.
If your Windows is not booting up normally, try booting it on Safe Mode by entering into WinRE - Windows Recovery Environment. You can enter Safe Mode with these steps:
Step 1. Enter into WinRE
Turn off the computer after pressing the "Power" button for 10 seconds. Now turn on the PC, and when it is going to boot from the operating system, turn off the computer by pressing the power button again. You need to do it 3 times.
When the PC turns on the third time, it automatically enters into the "Automatic Repair" option. If it does not fixes the problem, enter WinRE by clicking on the Advanced options. Now try other options for repairing your computer.
Step 2. Click on Startup Settings
You can reach startup settings by selecting troubleshoot, then click on advanced options and startup settings. Now click on "Restart."
Step 3. Start your Windows in Safe Mode with Networking
Turn on the computer and press F5 to boot your system in Safe Mode with Networking.
When you boot the PC in safe mode, it enables only the necessary services. This might fix the issue - windows have encountered a problem communicating.
Incorrect BIOS setting can cause error 0xc00000e9. Modifying BIOS settings or resetting it to default can fix the problem. Here are the steps to fix the problem.
Step 1: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setting by pressing the appropriate key. It can be F1, F2, F10, ESC, or DEL. Press the one that is displayed on the first display when the computer turns on.
Step 2: Select "Load Optimal Defaults"
Step 3: Click on Advanced and configure settings to AHCI or IDE.
Step 4: Save the settings and reboot your system.
When your computer boots normally, it loads the number of programs and files. But when you opt for a clean boot, it loads only the necessary files and programs that are vital for the operating system.
When your system does not start normally, and you get the error 0xc00000e9, perform a clean boot to find the issue. If you are confusing clean boot with the safe mode, then we would like to tell you that both are different.
Proceed with the clean boot with these steps:
Step 1: Log in to your system as an administrator to get privileges for the clean boot.
Step 2: Type msconfig in search and click on "enter."
Step 3: Select the system configuration and move to the services tab.
Step 4: Select the option "Hide all Microsoft services" and click on "disable."
Step 5: Open task manager after proceeding on the startup tab.
Step 6: Disable everything present and close task manager.
Step 7: Click OK in system configuration and restart your computer.
Try opening your computer after clean boot
Windows startup problems can also be the possible cause of the error 0xc00000e9. Fix it with the below steps:
Step 1: Download Windows installation ISO image from some other computer. This should be as per the operating system of your computer.
Step 2: Burn the ISO image downloaded in the above step to DVD.
Step 3: Insert Windows installation CD to your computer that is causing the error and boot it from this CD by pressing any key when prompted.
Step 4: Press "Next" on the setup screen
Step 5: Click on "Repair your computer"
Step 6: Now proceed to repair Windows startup problems as per your operating system.
While installing updates for Windows, sometimes, you install some incompatible updates. This also results in error 0xc00000e9. To get rid of this error, you need to uninstall the problematic update. You can do it in safe mode with these steps:
Step 1: Enter WinRE and go to Troubleshoot -> Advanced options and then Startup Settings.
Step 2: Press the F5 key to select "Enable Safe Mode with Networking." This will boot the system into Safe Mode with networking.
Step 3: Tap on "File Explorer" and right-click on "This PC." Now select "Properties."
Step 4: Click on the Control Panel. You can see it in the upper left corner. Now, select Programs and Features.
Step 5: Select "View installed updates."
Step 6: Find the problematic update and right-click on it to uninstall.
Now check whether the problem is fixed.
System restore helps you take your system back to the previous recovery point. After finding the restore point on your system, then proceed with the following steps:
Step 1: When you boot your system from the installation disc click on "advanced recovery options."
Step 2: Now, click on "system restore." You will see here the restore points list. Select the point from where you need to continue. This should be the point before the occurrence of the error.
If the hard disk used in your system is from a longer time, it can have bad sectors, which can cause error 0xc00000e9. CHKDSK can scan your hard drive to look for bad sectors or any other errors. Along with detecting, it also repairs bad sectors. Proceed with the below steps:
Step 1: Enter the command prompt by opening it as an administrator.
Step 2: Type chkdsk /f /r D: and press "Enter." D is the drive letter here.
Step 3: Restart the system after scan finishes
When the windows have encountered a problem communicating the issue, you might lose your vital data while fixing the problem. If you experience it, recover your lost data easily with the Recoverit data recovery software. It has the maximum recovery rate of recovering data lost under various scenarios.
The software can support above 1000 file formats and can recover data from the crashed computer, recycle bin, hard drive, and from the external storage device.
Download and install Recoverit on a different computer which is working normally. You need to create bootable media on that computer.
Step 1: Create USB Bootable media
Launch Recoverit on some other computer and select the option "recover from the crash computer." Now click on "Start."
Connect the USB to the computer for creating a Bootable media. When your system recognizes USB, click on "Start." Now, select the USB and click on "Create."
You will get an alert message for formatting the USB drive after you select the USB. Make sure you have a backup of the stored data. When you click on format, a firmware starts getting downloading. It is a software embedded in other hardware devices and is necessary for creating a bootable drive.
After downloading firmware completes, the formatting of the connected USB begins. After that, the creation of bootable media begins. Do not eject the USB as the complete process of creating bootable media can take some time.
Step 2: Booting from USB
Connect bootable media - USB drive to your computer. Start the computer and press the BIOS key on your computer screen to select the bootable media and boot into your system.
Step 3: Recovering data
When the computer boots from the created bootable media, click on data recovery or hard disk copy.
If you are selecting data recovery, select the disk to begin the scanning and connect a drive to your computer. When the scanning completes, select the location to save the recovered data. Select hard drive connected to your computer and then click on "recover." All the data will be recovered from the computer to a hard drive. When the recovery completes, it displays the message – file recovery completed.
If you select hard disk copy, click on the copy directory option and connect the drive to your computer. Select the connected drive and click on "copy." You will see the process of copying data from your computer to a hard drive. When the process completes, it displays the message.
Preview data once the recovery process completes and save it at your desired location.
Whenever you experience error 0xc00000e9, do not panic if your system does not startup. We have discussed several solutions above. Fix the error by proceeding with the detailed steps.
However, if you lose your data while fixing the error, we recommend using Recoverit Data Recovery to recover your lost files.
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David Darlington
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