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Windows may fail to boot properly if the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file is corrupted or deleted. Therefore, any tasks related to changes or modifications in bootloader settings must be performed with caution.
To ensure safety and avoid potential mishaps, Mytour recommends you to create a backup to restore the original BCD registry file. As mentioned above, there are two methods to backup or restore BCD Store on Windows 10/8/7, one is using the command-line interface or utilizing third-party tools, software.
BCD stores a special binary file named BCD located in the BOOT directory of the active partition. The boot manager is designed to load the system based on the current configuration in the special storage named Boot Configuration Data or BCD.
The boot manager 'bootmgr' loads the core of the Windows operating system installed on the computer, in line with loading into the BCD storage.
Refer to the article below by Mytour to learn how to backup and restore the BCD file on Windows 10.
How to Backup and Restore the BCD File on Windows 10
Method 1: Utilizing Command Prompt
To back up and restore the BCD file on Windows 10 using Command Prompt, firstly open Command Prompt window with Admin rights, then input the following command:
bcdedit /export f:.bcd
Note: If you're unsure how to open Command Prompt with Admin rights, you can refer to the method of running CMD as Administrator on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 on Mytour to learn how to do it.
The command above will create a backup copy of the BCD file named 01.bcd on the hard drive. Therefore, you need to select the appropriate drive letter and BCD file name.
After the execution of the above command, a notification will appear on the screen stating that the process has been completed.
To restore the BCD file, all you need to do is open Command Prompt with Admin rights and utilize the command with the parameter /import:
bcdedit /import f:.bcd
Method 2: Utilizing EasyBCD
The second method involves using the EasyBCD tool to backup and restore the BCD file on Windows 10. With its advanced user-friendly graphical interface, EasyBCD facilitates easy modification of Windows bootloader and its associated settings. Upon its initial launch, EasyBCD automatically retrieves an available BCD backup. Before proceeding with the backup restoration, users can preview the EasyBCD backup for verification.
An important note is to ensure that you have selected the correct BCD that you desire before continuing with the subsequent steps, then load the system BCD again and proceed with the restoration.
The next step merely involves entering the path to the destination file (ending with the .bcd extension), or utilizing the browse button located on the top-right corner next to the Browse box and specifying the file's location to save. Finally, click on Backup Settings.
To restore the BCD file, navigate to the previously saved EasyBCD file (with the file extension .bcd), then click on the Restore Backup button. The restoration process will commence immediately. If prompted, EasyBCD can create a backup of your BCD settings at any time from the BCD Backup/Repair page.
This Mytour article has just guided you on how to backup and restore the BCD file on Windows 10. If you don't have the habit of backing up the BCD Store, Mytour recommends you do it as soon as possible to avoid situations where the BCD file may become corrupted or damaged, leading to Windows being unable to boot. Additionally, refer to how to fix the Boot Configuration Data File is Missing in case of BCD errors.
