How to Fix 0xc0000145 Startup Driver Load Error Version 2 on Windows

A system driver failed to load during machine boot. Re-register essential drivers. (Diagnostic variation 2)

What Is 0xc0000145 Startup Driver Load Error Version 2?

The 0xc0000145 (Var 2) error indicates a conflict in the system configuration layer, device driver bindings, or essential runtimes. Without resolving this issue, the affected system processes or games will crash on startup or fail to bind correctly.

Common Symptoms:

  • Boot sequence failure or blue screen checks.
  • Application error dialog boxes.
  • Direct3D device driver loading errors.

---## Step 1: Initiate System Recovery

Boot your machine using a recovery USB and access the terminal command line.

---## Step 2: Execute Disk Checking Utility

Check disk integrity and scan system sectors for corruption:

chkdsk C: /f /r

---## Step 3: Restore Core Bootloader Configs

Run bcdboot commands to link your startup sequence back to active partitions:

bcdboot C:\Windows /s C:

---## Verification and Validation

After executing the repair steps above, restart your system and attempt to launch the program or task that triggered the 0xc0000145 (Var 2) error. Verify that the system registers 0ms lag and behaves cleanly.