“Invalid Partition Table!” error when booting Windows
If your PC or laptop displays “Invalid Partition Table!” during start-up, it usually means the system can’t find a valid boot record on the internal drive. This can happen for several reasons, including incorrect boot order, a corrupted boot sector, or a connected external device confusing the boot process.
The steps below describe a general recovery approach used in Windows 7, Windows 10, and Windows 11.
Important: These steps involve advanced recovery tools. If you’re unsure at any point, or if the system shows signs of hardware failure, seek help from a qualified technician.
Start with basic checks
- Disconnect or remove all external or removable drives (USB sticks, external hard drives, SD cards, etc.).
- Restart the computer and see if it boots normally.
Sometimes the system tries to boot from an external device instead of the internal drive, which triggers this error.
Access the Windows Recovery Environment
- Restart the computer.
- When the manufacturer logo or BIOS screen appears, wait for it to finish.
- As soon as it disappears, press the key that opens the Advanced Boot Options or Recovery Environment.
- On older systems, this is often F8.
- On Windows 10/11 systems, you may need to interrupt start-up three times to trigger automatic repair, or use installation media to access recovery tools.
- Choose Repair Your Computer.
- Select your keyboard layout.
- Log in with an administrator account if prompted.
- When the System Recovery Options window appears, choose Command Prompt.
Repair the boot records
In the Command Prompt window, you can run the following commands:
Repair the Master Boor Record (MBR):
bootrec /fixmbr
Repair the boot sector:
bootrec /fixboot
Restart the computer to see if the issue is resolved.
If the error persists, return to the Command Prompt and continue.
Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BDC):
bootrec /rebuildbcd
When to seek help
If Windows still won’t start after these steps, you may be dealing with:
- A failing or unreadable drive
- A corrupted Windows installation
- A system configuration issue that requires specialist tools
At this point, reinstalling the operating system or consulting a technician is usually the safest next step.
Reviewed: 12/01/2026