How to Repair Windows 2012 Boot [6 Ways]

Why Windows Server 2012 boot failed?

Experiencing a boot failure in Windows Server 2012 can be a frustrating issue, especially if the server plays a critical role in your IT infrastructure. Boot failures can arise from various reasons, including hardware issues, software conflicts, or corrupted system files. Here’s an overview of common causes of a Windows Server 2012 boot failure.

1. Corrupted Boot Configuration Data (BCD)

The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) contains essential information for booting the system. If BCD is missing becomes corrupted, the server may fail to boot.

2. Missing or corrupted System Files

If crucial system files are missing or corrupted, it can prevent Windows Server 2012 from booting.

3. Faulty hard drive or disk issues

Disk errors can cause boot problems, especially if there’s corruption in the disk or the drive is failing.

4. Incorrect BIOS settings

Sometimes, misconfigured BIOS settings, such as boot order or Secure Boot options, can lead to boot failures.

5. Virus or malware infection

A boot failure could also be caused by malware that infects the boot sector or other critical areas of the operating system.

How to repair Windows 2012 boot failure

Here is a comprehensive guide that outlines six step-by-step solutions to Windows Server 2012 R2 boot repair.

Fix 1. Use Windows 2012 boot repair tool

AOMEI Partition Assistant Server is a comprehensive disk management software that provides users with a range of tools to manage hard drives and partitions effectively. It’s designed to cater to both novice and advanced users, enabling them to perform tasks such as partition resizing, merging, splitting, and, importantly, repairing boot issues. It also works on Windows Server 2025, 2022, 2019, 2016, 2012 (R2).

The "Boot Repair" feature focuses on repairing damaged or missing BCD files. It provides consumers with a simple and effective method to swiftly restore their computer's normal boot function.

✍ Common usage scenarios: ◆ The system fails to boot: Error warnings like "Boot Configuration Data file is missing" or "Boot Configuration Data file is corrupted" appear. ◆ Boot failure after update: The boot configuration is corrupted following a system update or upgrade. ◆ Multi-system boot conflict: It refers to the conflict or misconfiguration of boot configuration files in a multi-OS environment. ◆ Boot sector corruption: It occurs as a result of viral attacks or other causes.

Step 1. Download and install AOMEI Partition Assistant Server on a working server computer and connect an available USB drive to it.

Step 2. Open the software and select the Boot Repair tool below the Recover section.

Step 3. Click the create a bootable disk option to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 4. Plug the created drive into the non-booting computer and change the boot sequence in BIOS to boot the computer from it. Once the computer starts up successfully, it will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and perform a scan of boot problems.

If your computer can boot normally, directly click Next to start the system’s boot entry scan.

Step 5. Once the scan completes, you can see all scan results, including system paths, system versions, and boot status. Select the repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the Repair button.

Step 6. Wait for the repair process to finish, then remove the bootable USB drive and boot the server from the original system drive.

Fix 2. Run SFC and DISM

If Windows Server 2012 R2 gets stuck on the restarting screen after an update and displays the message "We couldn’t complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don’t turn off your computer," you can fix this issue by restoring the pending update. To do so, run the following command to resolve the error.

Step 1. Enter the command sfc /scannow and hit Enter.

Step 2. If this doesn't work, try the following commands instead:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Fix 3. Run Bootrec.exe to repair MBR

Boot failure often happens due to a corrupted MBR (Master Boot Record). To scan and repair it, follow these steps:

First, rebuild the BCD and repair the MBR by typing the following commands:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr – Writes a new MBR to the system partition.

bootrec.exe /fixboot – Writes a new boot sector to the system partition.

bootrec /scanos – Scans for Windows installations.

bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd – Scans all disks for Windows installations and lets you choose which to add to the BCD store.

Fix 4. Restore Bad Registry from Regback

If the automatic repair loop in Windows Server 2012 is caused by missing or corrupted system registry files, you can restore the system registry from a backup by following these steps:

Step 1. Verify your system drive. If you're unsure if C is the correct drive, you can type dir c: to check for folders like Program Files, Users, etc.

Step 2. Once confirmed, run this command: copy d:\windows\system32\config\RegBack\* d:\windows\system32\config and press Enter.

Fix 5. Check boot sector

Next, you can run Chkdsk to check and repair any file system corruption on the hard drive. Use the following command, replacing "C:" with the correct drive letter if needed:

chkdsk C: /f /r

Afterward, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

Fix 6. Uninstall Update

Microsoft released the Windows Server 2012 R2 KB5009624 update, but installing it can cause your Server 2012 domain controller to enter a boot loop. This update also affects Hyper-V servers, with many admins reporting that Hyper-V won't start, and ReFS volumes become inaccessible until the updates are rolled back. To resolve this, you can boot from installation media and use command lines to uninstall specific updates.

Follow these steps:

Step 1. Boot from your installation media and open Command Prompt.

Step 2. Type the following command and press Enter:

wusa /uninstall /kb:4093123

Conclusion

Dealing with boot issues in Windows Server 2012 can be a daunting task, especially when the server plays a critical role in your environment. However, with the six effective methods outlined in this guide, you have the tools to address and resolve various boot problems.

With the right approach and these powerful tools, you can restore your Windows Server 2012 to its normal operation, keeping your systems running smoothly and minimizing downtime.