How To Fix the 0xc00000bb BlInitializeLibrary Failed Error on Windows 11

Running into the “BlInitializeLibrary failed 0xc00000bb” error when booting up Windows 11 is definitely a headache. You power on your PC expecting a smooth start, but instead get hit with a black screen and that confusing message. Kind of weird, but it usually signals something’s off early in the boot process—like messed-up boot configs, BIOS issues, or even hardware glitches. If you’re stuck here, no panic, because it’s a common enough problem, and most fixes are straightforward, even if they look intimidating at first. This guide will walk through the most effective ways to troubleshoot, from tweaking BIOS details to fixing boot records and checking hardware. The goal? Restoring your PC’s ability to boot normally and access your files again.

How to Fix “BlInitializeLibrary failed 0xc00000bb” Boot Error in Windows 11

Reset BIOS/UEFI Settings and Check Boot Priority

This is often the first thing to try because improper BIOS/UEFI settings can totally throw off the boot process. You’d be surprised how many weird boot errors can be fixed just by setting the right boot drive or resetting to defaults—Windows tends to get weird after BIOS updates or hardware swaps. Restoring BIOS defaults resets all the quirky settings and might clear up conflicts that cause the error.

Perform a full power cycle: shut down completely by holding the power button until your PC turns off. Unplug the power cord, disconnect everything USB and peripherals. Wait a few minutes — this is to flush residual power that can cause phantom issues.
Reboot and press your BIOS access key — usually Del or F2 or sometimes Esc. If unsure, check your motherboard/laptop docs or look at the screen during startup.
Once inside, find the option to “Load Setup Defaults, ” “Restore Defaults, ” or similar. It’s usually under “Exit” or “Save & Exit.” Save changes and restart normally.
Double-check your boot device order: go to the “Boot” menu. Make sure your Windows drive (SSD/HDD) is at the top of the boot priority list. Save and reboot. If that doesn’t fix it, moving on to other BIOS tweaks might help.

Disable Secure Boot & Enable 4G Decoding—If Necessary

This one’s kinda weird, but Secure Boot can block certain boot components if it flags something that looks off—especially after hardware tweaks. Disabling it might help Windows start properly again. Also, if you’re running multiple GPUs or high-end graphics hardware, enabling “4G Decoding” can help your system handle the hardware better, especially with newer GPUs that need more memory address space. Just a heads-up: these are found in BIOS under different names depending on your motherboard manufacturer (look for “Secure Boot, ” “CSM, ” or “PCI Settings”).

Enter BIOS again, find “Secure Boot” (usually under “Security” or “Boot” tab) and turn it to “Disabled.”
Look for “4G Decoding” or “Above 4G Decoding”—and enable it if you have multi-GPU setups or recent, power-hungry cards. Usually under “Advanced” or “Peripherals.”
Save all changes, restart. Fingers crossed, this one helps too—sometimes it’s just about getting the right combo of BIOS tweaks.

Repair Boot Records with Windows Recovery Tools

This is where things get more serious. If your boot configuration data (BCD) or master boot record (MBR) is corrupted, Windows won’t load, and you’ll see errors like this. Using a Windows 11 install USB to fix these files works surprisingly well, but you’ll need to create that USB first (can use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool on another working PC).It’s a good move because this fixes the core of your boot setup.

Download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool on a working PC. Use it to create a bootable USB—follow prompts to download and write the ISO.
Insert that USB into your problem machine, then restart. When starting up, press F12 or Esc (varies by device) to bring up the boot menu, and select your USB drive.
Once in the Windows Setup screen, choose your language and region, then click “Next.”
Click “Repair your computer” in the bottom corner, go to “Troubleshoot” → “Advanced options” → “Command Prompt.”
In Command Prompt, run these commands one by one:
```
bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /scanos bootrec /rebuildbcd
```
If you get an “Access Denied” error during bootrec /fixboot, try this before rerunning it:
```
bootsect /nt60 sys
```
then repeat bootrec /fixboot. After that, restart and see if Windows loads normally.

Modify Registry in Safe Mode to Fix Boot Issues

This is kinda advanced, but if the error is caused by a registry setting messing with boot configs, changing a registry key in Safe Mode can help. Usually, this is about telling Windows not to forget where your boot drive is, especially if an update or hardware swap led it astray.

If Windows can’t boot normally, force it into WinRE—power on, then hold the power button as soon as Windows logo appears. Repeat this process about three times. The fourth boot should automatically launch WinRE.
From WinRE, navigate: “Troubleshoot” → “Advanced options” → “Startup Settings, ” then click “Restart.”
After reboot, press 4 or F4 to select “Enable Safe Mode.”
Once in Safe Mode, press Windows + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management. On the right, find ClearPageFileAtShutdown. Double-click it, set the “Value data” to 1 (hex), then OK.
Reboot normally and check if Windows boots without the error now.

Use Automatic Repair or Last-Resort Clean Install

If nothing else works, Windows’ automatic repair tool can do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. Boot from your Windows 11 USB again, choose “Repair your computer, ” then go to “Troubleshoot” → “Startup Repair” and follow instructions. It’ll analyze your startup stuff and try to fix detected problems.

And if that fails, consider a clean install—only after backing up your data. Use a bootable Windows installer, delete your system partition, and reinstall. Yeah, it’s drastic, but sometimes it’s the only fix left. Just, don’t forget: backup first. When you’re ready, follow Microsoft’s official instructions for a clean install.

Check for Hardware Failures

If software stuff fails, hardware might be the real culprit—bad SSDs, failing RAM, or other issues. The easiest test is removing your main drive and testing it externally if possible, with tools like CrystalDiskInfo or your drive manufacturer’s diagnosis utilities. If it’s failing, time for a new one or warranty claim. Sometimes, replacing a faulty drive with a new one and reinstalling Windows is the only way out.

Important Tips and Warnings

Always back up your data first, especially when poking around BIOS or registry. It’s easy to make things worse otherwise.
Use official tools and latest versions—don’t trust shady download sites when building your Windows media.
Make note of what changes you make. BIOS settings and registry edits can be tricky to undo if things go sideways.
Check your hardware docs if unsure about BIOS options; manufacturers often have specific instructions.

Wrap-up

Dealing with the “BlInitializeLibrary failed 0xc00000bb” can be super frustrating. Usually, it boils down to BIOS tweaks, boot record repairs, or hardware failures. The steps outlined give a good shot at resolving it without pulling out your hair. Patience is key, and it’s often a matter of trying a few fixes before the system finally cooperates. Luckily, most of these solutions are tried and true, and work on a fair number of setups. Fingers crossed, this gets your PC booting again without a fuss. Worked for me — hope it works for you too.

Summary

Reset BIOS to defaults and check boot order.
Disable Secure Boot if necessary.
Repair boot records using recovery tools.
Modify registry entries in Safe Mode if needed.
Use automatic repair or consider a clean install.
Check hardware health, especially storage drives.