How to fix Windows 10 error 0xc00000e9

What is Windows 10 error 0xc00000e9

The 0xc00000e9 code is a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) error frequently-seen on Windows 10. The issue results in an unexpected shutdown with a recovery screen displaying: “There was a problem with a device connected to your PC. An unexpected I/O error has occurred. Error code: 0xc00000e9“. The window also says the possible reason for the error appearance lies in the wrong connection of external devices. This is the truth, especially when it was abruptly removed from the input port. Whenever Windows 10 suspects a risk of damage, it shuts down your PC to prevent unhealthy conditions. However, if you keep running into the same problem multiple times, this may cause future damage to your devices. If you are sure there are no accidental manipulations done from your side, more likely there are some independent problems like wrong configuration, hard drive problems, lack of drivers, an unstable connection of plugged devices, missing or corrupted files. Below, we have gathered a list of the most popular and effective solutions to stop the 0xc00000e9 error.

1. Update drivers of conflicting devices

The first thing recommended by many experts is identifying which device causes the problem. Because this problem is related to connected devices (often storage devices), it is important to know the culprit. Before you boot up your PC, unplug all of the devices (you do not need to touch the keyboard or mouse) and only then launch your computer. Start plugging each device you use and see if there is a problem. Keep doing so with the rest you used at the time of receiving the issue. If you encountered the same issue after plugging one of the devices, there are two options of why it occurs. The first is related to the damaged port or cable. Make sure both are working without problems. To check this, you can try to connect your mouse or keyboard and see if it loses contact. If you detected the connection problem, try to use a different port for the conflicting devices.

The second and more probable option is that you lack the necessary drivers to maintain the proper connection. Usually, Windows searches and installs drivers on its own, however, there are cases when this task appears to be impossible. Whatever the case, it is a good idea to check the availability of drivers by yourself. To do this, execute these simple steps:

To update drivers manually:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu button and select Device Manager.
2. In the opened tab find the malfunctioned driver for the conflicting device (marked with a yellow triangle) and expand a drop-down menu.
3. Locate the driver, right-click on it, choose Update Driver, and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Windows will start searching for available updates and automatically install them on your computer.

Automatic update:

Sometimes identifying a problematic driver may be a hard task. You never know which one exactly causes the problem. In cases of such uncertainty, it is better to redirect this task to special utilities. Our recommendation is IOBit Driver Booster, which has deserved a high reputation in detection and replacement of lacking or out-dated drivers. You do not need to pay for it since it offers a free version to install a portion of drivers immediately after the download.

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Note: If you are unable to boot up your PC because the error occurs just before you enter the desktop, you can try to use Safe Mode. In Safe Mode, the PC is launched with basic drivers and settings. In most cases, it helps users update drivers and apply other changes despite the occurring error. Here is how to enter the Safe Mode:

1. Reboot your computer.
2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
5. Once done, you can go to Device Manager and update drivers using the previous steps.

2. Run a System File Checker (SFC) scan

In most tutorials, people advise scanning your system for lacking or corrupted files. Although it is less likely to correlate with the 0xc00000e9, a chance of missing files making such differences is always present. To check this, follow the steps below:

Note: If you cannot access the desktop to open the console below, you can do it from the Windows Recovery Environment. Usually, it is opened automatically after encountering any BSOD issue. If not, you can do it manually via the steps below:

1. Completely turn off your PC. Then hit the power button and click on F11 several times until you see the Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Then navigate to Troubleshoot & Advanced options and choose Command Prompt.
3. The console will be opened. Then, you can do exactly the same steps listed below.
4. Open Command Prompt by typing cmd into the searching box next to the Start Menu button.
5. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
6. Once the console is opened, type the sfc /scannow command and click Enter.
7. When the fixing process is done, restart your computer.
8. After you finish this step, check if there is a problem again. If the error still reminds about itself, continue reading this guide to try other options below.

3. Run DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is similar to running an SFC scan. However, it may look deeper and find corrupted data that SFC could miss. Therefore, let’s try to run it using Command Prompt as we did already.

1. Open Command Prompt as we did in the previous step.
2. Copy and paste this command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth.
3. Click Enter and wait until Windows ends the scanning and fixing.
4. Once done, restart your PC and try to use the devices again.

4. Make sure your hard drive is properly connected

We have already found that there might be a problem with external devices plugged into your system. However, If you do not use any, but still witness the 0xc00000e9 error, not excluded that this is the problem with an internal hard drive. In case you are constantly interrupted by the issue, unable to boot up the system, and no recovery methods can help you, the best decision to make is to give your laptop or PC to the professional staff. Of course, if you are experienced enough, you can do it on your own, so it is only up to you.

5. Reconfigure the MBR (Master Boot Record)

MBR is a special type of boot sector holding information about partitions, containing file systems, and assisting the load of an operating system. In case it is corrupted, the system will be experiencing the trouble of loading correctly. As a result, people have to rebuild the MBR to restore access to their PC completely. This is a hard and monotonous process, especially if trying to do this with basic tools provided by Windows. We recommend you search for a program specializing in doing this task to avoid the risks of manual attempts.

6. Scan your hard drive for damaged fragments

One more method you can apply to solve the issue of 0xc00000e9 is by repairing your disk segments. Sometimes they can be damaged and prevent your system from working as it should. To run the scan and repair, follow this list of instructions:

1. Open Command Prompt just as we did above.
2. Then, you should paste the chkdsk /f /r C: command and press Enter. If necessary, replace “C” with the letter of your hard drive.
3. The system will scan for both configuration and physical errors and automatically repair them.

7. Scan your device for malware

The presence of malicious programs has always been troublesome to Windows configurations. Never underestimate the chance of malware ruining your settings and leading to various errors. Although this is not the most probable reason, you should definitely scan your system. If you are unsure which antivirus to use, we recommend Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, a trusted and efficient program in providing quality protection and wiping any malware attacking your system. You can try it using the button below:

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8. Perform a System Restore

If you started seeing the error pop-up after running some changes or installing a program, you can select the date when everything worked fine through a restore point. You do not need any additional software, so just follow the steps below:

1. Right-click on This PC and choose Properties.
2. In the opened window, go to System Protection and click on System Restore.
3. Then, click Next and choose the date you remember working without a problem. You can also click on Scan for affected programs, which will show what might be changed after running a restore.
4. When done, click Next and start the System Restore.

Summary

We hope you have finally approached the end of this issue. Usually, hard drive errors are a bad sign indicating potential problems that will arise in the future. Knowing that and detecting such beforehand, can buy you additional time to prevent future consequences. Let us know if this guide has been helpful to you in the comments section below. In case you face any other problems on Windows or Mac, you can refer to other topics on our website.