What should I understand about the ‘boot selection failed 0xc000000f windows 7 symefasi64.sys’ error, and why is it occurring?

The error ‘boot selection failed 0xc000000f windows 7 symefasi64.sys’ indicates a major issue with your system’s booting process, likely caused by either corruption in the boot sector or issues with the symefasi64.sys file, which is linked to Norton Antivirus. The symefasi64.sys driver file might be corrupted, or your system’s boot configuration data (BCD) could be damaged. You might want to start by checking your BIOS settings. Make sure your hard drive is set correctly as the primary boot device. You can reset the BIOS to its default settings to see if that fixes the problem.

When you encounter the error ‘boot selection failed 0xc000000f windows 7 symefasi64.sys,’ it signifies that the system is struggling to load the necessary files to boot correctly. From my experience, this is often due to a failure in the boot configuration data (BCD) or corruption in the symefasi64.sys file. This particular sys file is part of Norton’s core system operations. Here’s how you can address the issue step-by-step:

1. Access the Recovery Environment:
2. Insert your Windows 7 installation DVD or a system repair disc and restart your computer.

3. Boot from the DVD and select “Repair your computer.”

4. Repair Boot Configuration:

5. Select ‘Startup Repair’ from the System Recovery Options. If that doesn’t work, choose ‘Command Prompt’ and run the following commands:

   • bootrec /fixmbr
   • bootrec /fixboot
   • bootrec /rebuildbcd

6. Check and Replace Corrupt Files:

7. At the Command Prompt, type sfc /scannow to check and replace any corrupted files including symefasi64.sys.

8. Update or Reinstall Norton Antivirus:

9. Since symefasi64.sys is a driver related to Norton Antivirus, an outdated or corrupted installation might be causing the error. Boot into Safe Mode and either update or reinstall the Norton program.

Using these steps generally restores the system’s ability to boot properly by addressing both the BCD and the problematic sys file.

Faced with the ‘boot selection failed 0xc000000f windows 7 symefasi64.sys’ error, I instantly knew it was a serious system issue largely related to the boot process. The fact that symefasi64.sys is part of the Norton Antivirus suite indicates that it may involve security software meddling with essential system files. The optimal resolution path involves both system repair and software update tactics.

1. Diagnose the BCD:
2. Restart your PC with a Windows 7 installation disk.
3. Choose “Repair your computer” and launch the Command Prompt.

4. Execute bootrec /scanos to identify installations that the BCD is ignoring.

5. Rebuild the BCD:

6. Use bootrec /rebuildbcd to rebuild the configuration data and include any missed installations.

7. Address File Corruption:

8. Inside Command Prompt, utilize chkdsk /f for the disk check utility which helps rectify file system errors that might be interfering with the boot process.

9. Norton Software Check:

10. Sometimes Norton’s driver gets outdated or corrupted. After getting the system to boot in Safe Mode, either update Norton or uninstall and then reinstall it to confirm no elements of it are causing the error.

By keeping a careful balance between system repair and ensuring the integrity of the security software, you can often pinpoint the exact root cause without further complications.

To understand the ‘boot selection failed 0xc000000f windows 7 symefasi64.sys’ error, it’s important to know that this specific issue suggests a problem with the boot configuration data (BCD) or a corrupted system file. Symefasi64.sys is associated with Norton Security, and it usually points out that something might be wrong with your Norton installation. This error generally happens when the system can’t read the boot configuration data correctly.