BSOD after three Windows 10 updates

[nobiR]

Hello all,

I was referred to this forum by someone from another tech support forum as my issue seems to be more Windows Update related than anything else. Here is the original post from 2 months ago:

"BSOD happened for the very first time on a system that had Windows installed for about a month. Violation code = 0xc000021a. This started happening after installing updates KB5005539, KB5005565 and KB5006670. The first two updates are visible in the Win Update Settings under History, but reappear whenever I remove them manually. The third update (6670) is not visible.

I can only boot into Windows when I disable driver signature enforcement in Troubleshooting after a failed boot.

Tried: chk disk /f /r, sfc /scannow, dism/online/cleanup-image/restorehealth, dism /image:C:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions, nothing works.

I could do a system restore to 11. October twice, after trying for the third time I get an error that it cannot do that anymore due to a missing file.

System specs: Win 10 x64, not pre-installed, system almost brand new, OS installed in September this year, i7 7700K 4.2 GHz, GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB, 16 GB RAM,MB is ASRock 270 Pro4, PSU ASUS ROG STRIX 750W, desktop computer.

What can I do?

EDIT:

This morning I decided to just reset my PC to a stable state by keeping my files (Troubleshoot > Reset PC (keep files)). After logging back to Windows, I decided to install each update individually to see if the problem would come back. After installing update KB5005539 and restarting, things were normal. Same goes for KB5006670. Then Windows offered me to download and install Windows 10 version 20H2 and this is what bricked my PC again. I tried resetting my PC via cloud download again but it said that this is impossible and that I should use local files. I'm now back in Windows after going through system restore and only god knows how long system restore is going to function."

The problem with this update is that it always "bricks" my PC in the sense that I need to run a system restore or format my PC every time this update is installed. And the update is installed automatically, I cannot cancel it, I cannot remove it (every time I do remove it, it just gets downloaded and installed the next time I log into Windows). For now I've paused Windows Updates for the max. period of 30 days, but as said before, the update gets downloaded and installed the second Win Update is activated again.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Please follow these posting instructions - Windows Update Forum Posting Instructions

 

[nobiR]

Step #2
No integrity violations

Step #3
Ran twice, both times stuck at 62.3%, cancelled.

Step #4
Error: 0x800f081f

The source files could not be found.

Step #5
Cannot compress because the folder includes characters that cannot be used in a compressed folder (ž).

 

[x BlueRobot]

Step #3
Ran twice, both times stuck at 62.3%, cancelled.

How long did you leave it running for?

Step #5
Cannot compress because the folder includes characters that cannot be used in a compressed folder (ž).

Have you tried compressing the CBS log using a third-party tool like 7Zip?

---

Do you have any third-party anti-virus or security programs installed? I assume that when you installed Windows again, it was from the .ISO rather than an backup image? The reason for asking is because if the backup software failed to make a complete backup of the system, then it can result in the bugchecks you've been experiencing.

 

[nobiR]

I ran the third step for about 45 minutes at first. Ran it again this morning, starting at 8 a.m. and after 4 hours it was still stuck at 62.3%.

Attached is also CBS in zip format.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Thanks for providing the CBS log, I believe the following is the problem:

2021-12-09 02:36:47, Info                  CSI    0000027d Warning: Unable to repair payload file ([l:23]'OfflineScannerShell.exe') for component ([l:92 ml:140]'amd64_windows-defender-offline-amcore_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.1052_none_b980d03efdff597e') from backups directory with disposition (2). A backup file may not exist or may be corrupt. Falling back to WU.
2021-12-09 02:36:48, Error                 CSI    0000027e@2021/12/9:01:36:48.191 (F) Attempting to mark store corrupt with category [l:18 ml:19]'CorruptPayloadFile'[gle=0x80004005]

2021-12-09 02:32:39, Info                  CBS    Failed to search WU for Windows.FeatureExperiencePack.amd64 [HRESULT = 0x800f0950 - CBS_E_INVALID_WINDOWS_UPDATE_COUNT]
2021-12-09 02:32:39, Info                  CBS    Repr: Could not find component missing payload:amd64_windows-defender-offline-amcore_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.1052_none_b980d03efdff597e\OfflineScannerShell.exe in the sandbox
2021-12-09 02:32:39, Info                  CBS    Repr: Could not find component missing payload:amd64_windows-defender-offline-amcore_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.1052_none_b980d03efdff597e\f\OfflineScannerShell.exe in the sandbox
2021-12-09 02:32:39, Info                  CBS    Repr: Could not find component missing payload:amd64_windows-defender-offline-amcore_31bf3856ad364e35_10.0.19041.1052_none_b980d03efdff597e\r\OfflineScannerShell.exe in the sandbox
2021-12-09 02:32:39, Info                  CBS    Repr: After UUP download, some manifests are still missing

 

[x BlueRobot]

I've asked for one of the more experienced WU helpers to verify my proposed fix.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Unfortunately, it seems that my proposal wouldn't have worked, however, the OfflineScannerShell.exe is part of the Windows 10 ISO, so I would recommend attempting a repair install using a bootable ISO instead. It may possibly replace the base file, then we can replace the versions in the f and r directories from the update.

 

[nobiR]

How exactly would I do that, i.e. repair without losing any of the data on the disc? And would it be possible to perform this task without a bootable ISO (Windows 10 can be re-installed without any external devices by downloading the required files from the internet, which is how I formatted it two months ago after this issue occurred)?

 

[x BlueRobot]

If your drive diagnostic comes back clean, then the next logical step is: Doing a Windows 10 Repair Install or Feature Update Using the Windows 10 ISO file

The above Word document will have the instructions on how to perform a repair install.

Windows 10 can be re-installed without any external devices by downloading the required files from the internet, which is how I formatted it two months ago after this issue occurred

Can you please clarify what you mean by this? I did ask earlier how you installed Windows again but you didn't really say. Did you use the official Windows 10 .ISO?

 

[nobiR]

Ok, I'll try this.

After I got the BSOD, my computer rebooted twice and at the third reboot I could enter the diagnostic screen (where I could troubleshoot problems, open CMD, do a system restore, etc). There was an option there to do a format of the system (I think it's called image recovery or something in that meaning). I chose that option and first I chose to keep the files and during the second format I chose to wipe the disc completely and do a fresh Windows installation. No USB stick was needed in either cases.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Okay, sounds like you used the recovery partition instead then, which may have been incomplete hence the missing files. If you could please try a repair install using the .ISO then it may replace them for you. Otherwise, I'll have another look at sourcing the base file.

 

[nobiR]

Okay, so I tried reparing my Win10 pro using my USB key and it didn't work, I still get the same driver error with the code as mentioned above. I forgot to mention that the only way for me to get back to Windows without doing a system restore or installing a fresh copy of Windows on the computer is for the computer to restart three times (with the said error), then when presented with advanced options, I have to select Advanced Options > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings and clicking restart. During the next boot I am presented with about 10 options, by selecting no. 7 "Disable Device Signature Enforcement", I can get into Windows without the above error. But this is only a temporary solution because as soon as I restart the computer, I get the error again.

Also, attached is the error I received after trying to repair Windows from USB.

 

[nobiR]

Ignore my last post, I used the online tool this time and I was finally able to get into Windows without a problem. All I need to do now is wait for another Windows Update to see if the problem has been resolved indefinitely.

 

[x BlueRobot]

All I need to do now is wait for another Windows Update to see if the problem has been resolved indefinitely.

You can manually initiate for Windows to check for updates from the Windows Update client if you haven't already. Let me know if you need any help with this.