As a computer user, you will face this issue, most likely when you are trying to recover your system. Winload.efi is an Extensible Firmware Interface file that loads the files to the computer bootloader. This is a part of the UEFI based on your computer system and it contains important information on your operating system for the process of startup. It is evident that this file holds an important role in the success of your Windows boot and if the error appears, it can cause issues. Some of the Blue screen errors are caused by Winload.efi missing after cloning while in recovery mode.
Blog Summary – Do you see the error message “Winload.efi is missing or contains error” on your Windows computer on bootup? We have the best fixes to Winload efi missing after the clone issue.
Fixes: “Winload.efi missing or contains error” in Windows 10.
1. Enable CSM compatibility mode –
Check if your computer supports UEFI boot mode and legacy mode. Here we enable the CSM boot or Compatibility Support Module which allows the legacy BIOS mode on the UEFI systems. Also, you will need to disable secure boot to see if Winload.efi missing is fixed.
- Failed Windows update
- System file damage due to virus attack, disk write errors.
- Cloning the OS to another hard drive
- Replacing motherboard.
Now, restart your computer and then press F2, F8 to enter the UEFI configuration menu. Now Enable CSM boot or Legacy Boot (as named in some versions).
After this go to the Secure Boot option under the Security and turn it to disable and save the changes and reboot the computer.
2. Check system drive –
To check the system drives, you will need to run the repair for your computer.
Step 1: Boot the computer using the Windows Installation DVD.
Step 2: Click on Repair your computer> Troubleshoot? Command Prompt.
Step 3: Run the CHKDSK command by typing the following –
chkdsk c:/f
Press Enter.
This method will help you scan the hard drive for any errors and fix them using this CHKDSK command and possibly fix the Winload.efi missing error.
3. Run SFS –
Another method to use for fixing the system errors on Windows is SFC i.e. System File Checker. This will figure out any changes in the system files which might be causing the Winload.efi error. Follow the steps given above to reach the command prompt from the boot mode. Then, type the following command in Command Prompt-
sfc /scannow
System File Scanner will scan the system files and then attempt to extract the backup file for the system and replace it with the corrupted file.
4. Rebuild BCD and MBR –
Sometimes, the Windows boot problem is associated with the damagedMBR and Boot Configuration data. We can run a few commands one after the other to see if any of them fixes the Winload.efi missing after clone error.
bootrec /FixMbr – repair the corrupted or damaged boot sector on the system partition;
bootrec /FixBoot – overwrite a new boot sector on the system partition;
bootrec /ScanOs – scan the disk for the installed OSs;
bootrec /RebuildBcd – rebuild the boot configuration data.
bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot
bcdedit /set {default} device boot
bcdedit /set {default} osdevice boot
bcdedit /set {default} device partition=c:
bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=c:
bcdedit /set {default} path \windows\system32\winload.efi
Also, another method is to take help from the AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard. It is a great disk partition manager tool that will help you create a bootable USB drive to rebuild MBR.
Let’s start with the following steps after connecting a USB drive to a different computer –
Note: It is to be noted that the computer having issues must have the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional software installed on it before it.
Step 1: Download the AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional from the download button given below –
Run the setup file and then finish the installation.
Step 2: Launch Aomei Partition Assistant Professional and click on Make Bootable Media.
Now follow the on-screen instructions and when you are done unplug the USB.
Step 3: Connect this USB drive to your computer and then boot it from the USB.
Step 4: Run the application and then go to the drive and right-click on it. Select Rebuild MBR on it.
Step 5: Now, select the operating system and then click on Ok.
Step 6: Go to the Topbar and click on Apply to perform the Pending operations.
This is how you can easily fix the Winload.efi missing error on your computer and fix the booting problems.
Frequently Asked Questions –
Q1. Is there a way to fix winload.efi?
Yes, there are many ways to fix the winload.efi error from running CHKDSK or SFS scan to rebuild BCD and MBR. You can use any of the aforementioned methods to fix the issue on your computer.
Q2. Why do I get the winload.exe error when I cloned my HDD?
Sometimes, when the system files get corrupted, you will see the error message while booting the computer. It can be caused by file damage by a hard drive or a failed Windows update.
Wrapping Up-
Winload.efi missing after cloning disk is possible to appear as the system files might be corrupted. It is safe to say that you can run commands to troubleshoot the problem on your own. Now, you know what to do when faced with a Winload.efi error after cloning the disk on your computer. Another way out of this error is to use AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional to rebuild MBR.
We hope this article will help you learn how to fix the Winload.efi error on your PC. We would like to know your views on this post to make it more useful. Your suggestions and comments are welcome in the comment section below. Share the information with your friends and others by sharing the article on social media.
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