Error 0xc00000e9 occurs either randomly while your system is running or only when reading and writing data to a specific drive. This error is serious when it occurs during the booting process, preventing Windows from starting.
To fix the error, you first need to find out which drive is affected. If this error always occurs on a specific drive, you can narrow down the troubleshooting process. For example, if you disconnect all external drives from your PC and everything runs smoothly afterward, then you’ll know that something must be wrong with one of your external drives.
Often, the error is caused by damaged or loose cable connections. Sometimes all you have to do is replace the USB cable of an external drive and the error will be resolved.
If you’re troubleshooting a built-in hard drive, shut down and unplug the computer, open it up, and check that the SATA cables are connected properly. These cables can loosen over time due to vibrations from the fan and hard drives. Another frequent problem is that contacts can corrode, causing connections to become unreliable. When in doubt, simply replace the SATA cables.
If error 0xc00000e9 only occurs when reading a specific CD or DVD, it usually means the disc is defective. In that case, all you can do is try to copy as much data as possible from the CD to the hard drive. A write-protected drive cannot be repaired.