How to Fix the "Invalid Partition Table" Problem

Theo Lucia

Jan 15, 2024 • Filed to: Windows Computer Solutions • Proven solutions

There are instances where the users come across certain error messages and hard disk crashes in their system. Windows 10 is one of the recent operating systems by Microsoft and has gained immense popularity in recent times.
Not everything is perfect and your OS can malfunction at times. During the boot process, your system can malfunction out in the blue. This type of malfunction and crashes can lead to data loss and data redundancy. This occurs mostly due to an invalid partition table problem. Your valuable data is at risk and it is the need of the hour to fix the invalid partition table problem.

Part 1: How to fix invalid partition table error

Reset Boot Sequence

To fix the invalid partition table problem, the primary step you can take is to fix the boot sequence. In this case, it is commonly known as resetting the boot sequence of Windows. You can follow the below-mentioned steps to reset the boot sequence of your system:

Step 1: Firstly, power on your system or restart your computer.
Step 2: Secondly, press the F12 key or Del key to enter the BIOS settings menu.
Step 3: Thirdly, as soon as the BIOS setup utility opens, navigate to the "Advanced BIOS" feature.
Step 4: Lastly, select "Hard Disk Boot Property".
Step 5: You can now check the BIOS if it is set to boot from the right disk. If this is not the case, you need to alter it and get your PC to reset to boot it from the right disk. Save changes.

Upgrade the BIOS version

The underlying problem related to an invalid partition table can be solved by simply upgrading the BIOS of your system. Remember that upgrading the BIOS is a tricky thing to do and you must not press any irrelevant system keys during the up-gradation process. Here are the steps to upgrade BIOS in Windows 10:

Step 1: As soon as Windows 10 starts up, open the Start Menu.
Step 2: Click on the "Power" button.
Step 3: Hold the "Shift" key and click on "Restart".
Step 4: Numerous options will appear on your screen. Click on "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced Options".

Step 5: Click on "UEFI Firmware Settings".

Step 6: Click on Restart and your computer will boot to BIOS.
Step 7: Enter BIOS and look for the BIOS update option.
Step 8: Connect your USB flash drive and choose the BIOS update file.
Step 9: Wait for the BIOS to be upgraded.

Perform Startup Repair

It happens as times that your system gets stuck during the startup and fails to load eventually. This problem can be solved using start-up repair. It is also one of the effective ways to fix an invalid partition table issue. Here are the steps you can follow to perform startup repair in Windows 10:

Step 1: Begin with inserting the Windows installation disc to the system. Or you can connect the USB bootable media to your computer as well.
Step 2: Upon seeing the install window, you got to select the language, time, and other details. Do as per the instructions and click "Next".
Step 3: Hit on "Repair your computer" now.
Step 4: Go to the Advanced startup environment and several options will appear. Click "Troubleshoot".
Step 3: Click the "Advanced options" button.
Step 4: Then click the "Startup Repair" button.

Step 5: Select the operating system to get it diagnosed. Click on continue and the startup repair process will begin.

Inactive Partition using Diskpart in Windows 10

DISKPART is an effective tool when you want to inactive a partition in our disk. This can fix up the invalid partition table problem in your system. The following steps can be effective when it comes to making a partition inactive using the DISKPART in Windows 10:

Step 1: Boot in Windows 10.
Step 2: Open command prompt and type in DISKPART.
Step 3: Press Enter and a new window will open.
Step 4: Type in LIST DISK and press Enter. A list of disks will appear on the screen.
Step 5: Type in SELECT Disk # and replace # with the appropriate disk from the list on the screen.
Step 6: Then type in LIST PARTITION and a list of partitions will appear on the screen.
Step 7: Type SELECT PARTITION and replace # with the appropriate partition from the list on the screen.
Step 8: Lastly, type INACTIVE, and your partition will be marked as inactive.

Rebuild MBR on Windows 10

Still, wondering about other ways on how to fix an invalid partition table? You can solve the issue by attempting to rebuild MBR on Windows by following simple procedures mentioned below:

Step 1: The first step starts when you boot from the original installation DVD.
Step 2: Click on "Repair your computer".
Step 3: Click on "Troubleshoot" and choose "Command Prompt".
Step 4: Type in the following in the command prompt:

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

Step 5: Press Enter.

Restore System from Backup

System backup is crucial when your system crashes or you face any problem related to an invalid partition table. To initiate the system restoration process, you can follow the following steps:

Step 1: Go to "Settings".
Step 2: Click on "Backup". Then select Backup using File History.
Step 3: Click on More options icon.
Step 4: Select the files you want to restore and click on the Restore files from a current backup option.
Step 5: Click on "Restore" and the restoration process will start.

Check if the Hard Drive Is Failing

It is important to check the check of your hard drive and you can do that from your system. Simply follow the below-mentioned steps and run a check:

Step 1: G to File Explorer and right-click on a drive.
Step 2: Click on Properties.
Step 3: Click on Tools.
Step 4: Click on Check below the Error-checking section.

Part 2: How to recover data from the computer when all solutions fail to fix the issue?

You might be wondering what to do to fix the invalid partition table problem if all of the above-mentioned solutions fail. Well, there is nothing to worry about as we have got your covered. We present you an amazing tool called Recoverit Data Recovery tool from Wondershare. Recoverit comes loaded with several facilities related to data recovery and here are some of the major benefits of the software:

You can recover lost data which includes audio files, video files, and other documents.
It supports data recovery from recycle bin, hard disk, memory card, and even flash drives.
The software supports recovery of data which are accidentally deleted while formatting, system crash, or a virus attack.

Here are the steps by which you can recover data from an unbootable system:

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Step 1: Launch the Tool

Launch Recoverit and select the data recovery mode. Then select "Recover from Crash Computer" in case of an unbootable system.

Step 2: Create Bootable Drive

Go ahead by choosing a mode to create a bootable drive. Then click on the "Create" button.

Step 3: Confirm Format

As you move forward, a dialog box will appear on the screen with a confirmation message. Proceed by clicking the "Format now" button.

It will create a bootable drive and it can take a while to complete the process.

Step 5: Insert USB to boot

Now, you can further the process by inserting the USB in an unbootable PC. Then adjust the BIOS menu to boot from the USB drive.

You can open Recoverit now and follow the instructions to get your data recovered.

Once you have successfully recovered the data, simply use the Windows Installation media to reinstall Windows.

The Bottom Line

The article discusses various solutions to fix the invalid partition table problem in Windows 10. Data recovery is not a difficult task at all and makes sure you adhere to the above-mentioned steps. It's best to use the Recoverit Recovery tool as it removes all the hassles in the way and paves way for a smooth data recovery. Rest assured, your valuable data are in safe hands with this amazing tool.

Download | Win Download | Mac