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If Windows shows “0xC0000263” with “Driver Entry Point Not Found” during startup, the status name points to a missing driver entry point—but the code alone does not identify a driver or prescribe a single fix. First note any driver or module named on screen and any recent driver, software, hardware, or Windows changes. Then follow the recovery path that matches whether you can reach Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment.
What 0xC0000263 means—and what it does not
Microsoft’s Windows Error Reference associates 0xC0000263 with STATUS_DRIVER_ENTRYPOINT_NOT_FOUND (Microsoft Windows Error Codes (MS-ERREF)). The name indicates that a driver entry point was not found. It does not tell you which driver is involved, what change triggered the message, or whether a driver is the only possible cause.
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The code is a status value; the available Microsoft stop-error guidance does not establish it as a dedicated bug-check diagnosis with a known culprit or universal repair. Treat the displayed message as one clue, not a complete diagnosis. A driver or module name on screen, a recent change, and whether Windows can start in Safe Mode or recovery are more useful for choosing the next step. Microsoft recommends relating stop errors to observed driver or service behavior and recent hardware or software changes (Microsoft advanced stop-error troubleshooting).
Before troubleshooting, capture the clues
- Write down the complete message and any named driver or module; take a photo if the screen disappears quickly.
- Note your Windows version or edition if known, when the error appears, and whether you can reach sign-in, Safe Mode, or recovery.
- List recent driver installations or updates, Windows updates, new hardware, and utilities installed shortly before the failure.
Do not infer a vendor or delete a driver file based only on the status code. If a driver name is displayed, use it together with the timing and device information to identify what to investigate.
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Choose the recovery path that matches your access
| What you can reach | Next step | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop, or Safe Mode | Inspect the implicated device or recent driver change in Device Manager; consider updating, rolling back, disabling, or uninstalling that driver. | Change only the driver supported by the evidence. Prefer the PC or hardware maker’s driver package when the device is identified. |
| Windows will not start normally, but WinRE is available | Run Startup Repair from Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. | It addresses certain startup problems, not every cause. A BitLocker recovery key may be required. |
| WinRE is unavailable | Use Windows installation media to reach recovery tools, following Microsoft’s advanced startup guidance. | You need another working PC to prepare media if you do not already have it. A USB drive is only a way to access recovery tools; it does not repair the status code. |
Recovery menus and available options vary by Windows version and device configuration.
If Windows starts in Safe Mode or reaches the desktop
- Open Device Manager. Search for Device Manager from Start, then check for devices marked with a warning indicator. Look first for a device related to any driver or module named in the error and for drivers changed just before startup failed.
- Choose a targeted driver action. If the device is identified, try updating its driver from the PC or hardware manufacturer. If the issue began immediately after a driver update, roll back that driver when the option is available. If needed, disable or uninstall the implicated device or driver, then restart to see whether normal startup returns. Microsoft’s consumer guidance also describes updating, disabling, or uninstalling a relevant device (Microsoft troubleshooting steps).
- Consider other recent changes. Install applicable Windows updates or use System Restore if the failure followed a change and a suitable restore point is available. These are general recovery options, not guaranteed fixes for this status value; Microsoft lists them among troubleshooting steps for problems after an update (Microsoft troubleshooting steps).
Avoid third-party “driver updater” utilities and avoid changing unrelated drivers. If the responsible device remains unclear, preserve the error details and contact the PC or driver vendor rather than guessing.
If Windows will not start normally
Run Startup Repair in Windows Recovery Environment
Enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), then select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair. Microsoft says Startup Repair can address certain problems that prevent Windows from starting, including some involving incompatible drivers, missing or damaged system files, boot configuration data, and registry issues (Microsoft Startup Repair guidance). It is a repair attempt, not a guarantee that this particular status will be fixed.
If BitLocker is enabled, WinRE may ask for the recovery key before it can use recovery options. If you do not know where the key is, check the account or records where it was saved before proceeding; Microsoft’s recovery instructions explain when the key is needed (Microsoft Startup Repair guidance).
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If WinRE does not open
Microsoft documents using Windows installation media to access advanced startup troubleshooting when the built-in recovery route is unavailable (Microsoft Windows boot-issues troubleshooting). If you lack prepared media, a USB flash drive and another working PC can be used to create it; the drive is access equipment, not a repair for the driver error.
If Startup Repair does not resolve startup
Choose a recovery option that fits the timing of the failure and the backups available, such as System Restore, or seek help from the PC or driver vendor if you have identified the affected device. Do not edit offline registry driver-start settings or delete driver files based only on 0xC0000263: the code does not establish which service or file is safe to change.
Advanced diagnostics: use Driver Verifier cautiously
Driver Verifier is for diagnosing suspected driver problems, not a first-line startup fix. Microsoft warns that it can increase CPU use, slow the computer, and cause additional crashes; broad verification can make Windows unusable. Do not select every driver. Restrict verification to suspicious drivers when you have a specific reason to test them (Microsoft Driver Verifier guidance).
Verifier cannot run in Safe Mode. If its use prevents the PC from reaching the desktop, Microsoft notes that it can be disabled from Safe Mode. Advanced troubleshooting may also involve collecting and analyzing memory dumps, but those steps are best suited to a technician or experienced user working from crash evidence—not a guess based on the status code.
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