“BOOTMGR is compressed” is a common system error when starting your Windows 10/11 PC. This post explains what it is, why it happens, and how to fix the compressed BOOTMGR through 4 proven solutions.

Quick Answer

The “BOOTMGR is compressed” error occurs when Windows cannot load the Boot Manager file during startup. The main cause is enabled compression on the system drive. To fix it in Windows 11/10, disable drive compression, run Startup Repair, rebuild BCD, and recreate BOOTMGR files.

BOOTMGR Is Compressed Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to Restart

BOOTMGR, Windows Boot Manager is necessary for Windows to work properly. If it goes wrong, Windows will fail to load, preventing access to the desktop. One common error is “BOOTMGR is compressed.”

Common causes include:

  • NTFS compression enabled
  • Boot files compressed accidentally
  • Damaged boot configuration data (BCD)
  • Recent system changes

File compression is an excellent feature to help PC users reduce the size of files, folders, and programs to save disk space. But since the system boot sector code cannot decompress files by itself, the BOOTMGR file shouldn’t be compressed. Or else, you see the error on the screen.

How to Fix BOOTMGR Is Compressed Windows 10/8/7

Tips:
Windows cannot start when the BOOTMGR error occurs, so perform the fixes in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). To enter WinRE, boot from an installation disc and select Repair your computer, or interrupt normal startup 3 times.

#1. Disable NTFS Compression

Sometimes “BOOTMGR is compressed” error is triggered by a compressed hard drive and uncompressing the drive is a good solution to fix the issue in Windows 10/11.

Step 1: Boot the PC from the installation drive or disc and open Command Prompt.

Step 2: Type in one of the following commands based on which Safe Mode you want and press Enter. After that, exit CMD and restart the PC to Safe Mode.

  • Safe Mode: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
  • Safe Mode with Networking: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network
  • Safe Mode with Command Prompt: bcdedit /set {default} safebootalternateshell yes

Step 3: Go to Windows Explorer, right-click on the system drive like C and choose Properties.

Step 4: In the General tab, uncheck the option – Compress this drive to save disk space.

Step 5: Click Apply and OK to save the change.

Disabling NTFS drive compression in Windows

#2. Run Startup Repair to Repair BOOTMGR

Startup Repair is a good way to scan the Windows operating system for damaged or missing system files in Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista. If the BOOTMGR file is corrupt, missing, or compressed, you can also run this to replace that file to remove the error from the PC.

Step 1: In WinRE, go to Choose an option > Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Step 2: Click Startup Repair or Automatic Repair to fix problems that keep Windows from loading.

Windows Startup Repair

Then, the Startup Repair tool starts scanning the system for known issues and try a repair if possible. If this cannot fix BOOTMGR is compressed, continue the fix in other ways below.

#3. Rebuild Boot Configuration Data (BCD) File

BCD includes boot configuration parameters that are used to boot Windows. If the BCD file is corrupted or damaged, rebuilding it is necessary since the system always cannot boot up. When getting the error message “BOOTMGR is compressed press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart”, you can also try to rebuild BCD by following the instructions below.

Step 1: In WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt. 

Step 2: Type in these commands in turn and press Enter after each command:

bootrec /fixmbr 

bootrec /fixboot 

bootrec /rebuildbcd

Rebuilding BCD using Bootrec in Windows Recovery Environment

Related Article: What Is Bootrec.exe? Bootrec Commands and How to Access

#4. Recreate the BOOTMGR Files

The BOOTMGR error can be caused by a compressed BOOTMGR file. To fix it, you can recreate the BOOTMGR files. Here is what you should do:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt (CMD) in WinRE.

Step 2: Type in bcdboot C:\Windows /s D:\ to the CMD window and press Enter to execute this command.

 
Tip: Windows installation drive is usually C drive. If you install Windows on another drive, replace C:\ here with the correct one. Besides, D:\ refers to an active boot partition. If it is not D on your PC, replace it, too. See the following example screenshot to know the details.

update BOOTMGR file in Windows 7

After trying these ways, the error message “BOOTMGR is compressed press Ctrl+Alt+Del” should be removed and you can run Windows normally. You can share these solutions on Twitter to let more people know so that they can easily get rid of the trouble when encountering it.

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Suggestion: Back up Your PC

Windows system issues always happen unexpectedly and even sometimes Windows cannot load properly. Once the system goes wrong, you need to take some time to find solutions, which is troublesome and annoying. If you don’t have some computer skills, fixing the issues is difficult.

It is recommended to back up your PC using professional backup software, such as MiniTool ShadowMaker. It enables you to create a system image for Windows 11/10 and back up files, folders, disks, and partitions.

With backups, you can restore the PC to a previous state in case of system crashes and restore lost data.

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1: Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and go to its Backup tab.

Step 2: Under SOURCE, system drives are selected automatically. Just click DESTINATION to choose a drive to save the system image file.

The Backup tab in MiniTool ShadowMaker for system backup.
Tips:
To back up files, click SOURCE > Folders and Files, and choose the items you want to back up.

Step 3: Click Back Up Now to perform the backup task.

Conclusion

“BOOTMGR is compressed press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart” can be easily resolved in Windows 11/10 through these proven solutions. Follow the instructions to disable NTFS compression, run Startup Repair, rebuild BCD, and recreate BOOTMGR files.

To protect your PC, back up the system and files with MiniTool ShadowMaker. If you have issues with this software, contact us at [email protected].

BOOTMGR Compressed FAQ

What does “BOOTMGR is compressed” mean?
This error means the Windows Boot Manager file is compressed to save space, so the system cannot load it during startup.
Can I fix BOOTMGR is compressed without a USB?
Not always. If you can access WinRE by interrupting the startup three times, fixing compressed BOOTMGR is easy. Otherwise, a bootable USB drive or installation DVD is required.
Will disabling drive compression delete my files?
No. Disabling compression helps uncompress the files on the drive and doesn’t affect your files.
What is the difference between BOOTMGR is compressed and BOOTMGR is missing?
“BOOTMGR is compressed” indicates Windows can find the Boot Manager but fails to load it since it is compressed. “BOOTMGR is missing” means the Boot Manager is inaccessible or cannot be found.
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About The Author

Vera
Vera

Position: Columnist

Vera has been working at the MiniTool Team for over 10 years as a technical editor and content writer. She mainly focuses on disk and partition management, data recovery, Windows backup and restore, and PC troubleshooting. Through in-depth software testing and hands-on experience, she has helped users solve a wide range of computer problems and better protect their data on Windows devices.

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