Recovering the boot partition

Windows Boot Partition Recovery

Detailed instructions for restoring the boot partition without losing files. If Windows won't boot, this method will help restore the bootloader. 🔧

Preparing the Bootable USB Drive

First, you need to insert a bootable USB flash drive with Windows installation files, formatted in FAT32.

You can create it from another working device.

Next, you need to enter BIOS and set the boot order, selecting this USB flash drive as the boot device.

After booting from the USB drive, you will see the "Windows Setup" window.

Opening Command Prompt

We need to open the command prompt and execute commands. On the Windows Setup screen, press SHIFT + F10.

A command prompt window will open. Type:

diskpart

The disk and partition management utility will open.

Finding the EFI Boot Partition

Next, type:

list vol

• A list of all volumes on the disk will appear

• Find the EFI boot partition by the following characteristics:

  • Size: about 100 MB

  • File system: FAT32

  • Label: SYSTEM, EFI, or may have no name

  • Note: usually the disk has no drive letter assigned

Formatting and Assigning a Drive Letter

Next, type (replace 5 with your EFI volume number):

sel vol 5

After this, all subsequent commands will be executed on this partition.

Next, type:

format fs=fat32 quick

This performs a quick format of the selected volume to the FAT32 file system, clearing its contents.

Next, type:

assign letter=Z

The selected partition is assigned the temporary drive letter Z:, which allows access to it from the command prompt.

Next, type:

exit

This exits DiskPart and returns you to the command prompt.

Restoring the Bootloader

Next, type:

bcdboot C:\Windows /s Z: /f all

• C:\Windows — path to the installed Windows system (if your system drive has a different letter, replace it with the correct one)

• /s Z: — partition where boot files (EFI) will be copied

• /f all — creates a bootloader for both UEFI and BIOS

If all steps were completed correctly, turn off the computer, remove the USB flash drive, and turn it on again.