sfc /scannow not working

zephyr · Aug 2, 2023

here you go

Maxstar · Aug 3, 2023

Is this a legal version of Windows, as I see traces of KMSpico?

zephyr · Aug 3, 2023

No, I activated it through cmd. However my other previous laptop which is also activated through cmd, does not have any issues which is why I activated it in my new one.

Edit: windows is official, but I activated through cmd (I'm guessing its related to KMS)

x BlueRobot · Aug 3, 2023

I can't see any immediate reason why SFC shouldn't start, have you tried doing an in-place upgrade using the MCT?

zephyr · Aug 3, 2023

I did try to update my windows. However after the whole process, it starts deleting the update. It says something like 'update failed, undoing changes'. I tried this with update from settings, Microsoft update assistant, MCT

x BlueRobot · Aug 4, 2023

I would suggest attempting to upgrade again via Windows Update or the MCT tool and then allowing the upgrade to roll back. Afterwards, please provide the setup logs using these instructions:

Download and run SetupDiag from Microsoft

Download

SetupDiag to your desktop.
Right-click on SetupDiag.exe and select Run as administrator.
When completed the following files are created: "Logs.zip, SetupDiag.exe.config and SetupDiagResults.log"
Attach SetupDiagResults.log and Logs.zip to your next reply.

The logs might point out the cause behind SFC failing to run as well.

zephyr · Aug 5, 2023

I used the SetupDiag after the update rolled back. I dont see any log files. I used run as admin.
However I have a screenshot of the message after my update failed

x BlueRobot · Aug 6, 2023

Please navigate to the following directory and then copy the all the folders to a .zip folder. Please attach this .zip in your next post. If it is too large to attach then please upload it to a file sharing site such as WeTransfer and then provide us with the file share link.

Code:

C:\$Windows.~BT\Sources

Corday · Aug 6, 2023

Just came accross a similar thread: [SOLVED] - 0xc1900101 - 0x30018 installation failed at FIRST_BOOT phase with a error during SYSPREP_SPECIALIZE That's the last of 7 pages. BTW, Driver Booster is a possible cause of the problem.

zephyr · Aug 7, 2023

I compressed my whole sources folder here
also @Corday idk what a driver booster is. But since I dont have another ssd, I am keeping that solution as my last resort
Sources.rar

Corday · Aug 7, 2023

Driver Booster is a 3rd party driver verifier. IMO only get drivers from the manufacturer of the device or Windows Update.

DR M · Aug 8, 2023

Hi, zephyr.

Driver Booster has nothing to do with your issue, and as Corday said it could be a cause of such a problem. Not in your case, however.

I reviewed your FRST logs above, and I have some suggestions, but please first follow the instructions x BlueRobot gave to you.

x BlueRobot · Aug 8, 2023

zephyr said:
I compressed my whole sources folder here

Thanks for providing the log files, there appears to be multiple issues here so it would be wise for someone like @DR M to look over your FRST log findings. I suspect that there may be something meddling with your disk as well because I found multiple instances of the MCT unable to query your disk capabilities.

Code:

2023-08-05 19:47:56, Error                        [SetupHost.exe] IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY failed: 0x32

DR M · Aug 8, 2023

Zephyr, I will agree with my colleague above that there are multiple issues present in your logs, so it would be good to investigate them first and then concentrate further, if needed, to the updates issue itself.

I'll start with what @Maxstar said here:

Maxstar said:
Is this a legal version of Windows, as I see traces of KMSpico?

You replied that you activated via cmd, but this doesn't give a reply or an explanation about the presence of KMSpico's traces in your logs. Have in mind that KMSpico is a program used to illegally bypass activation for Microsoft products. If, for any reason, the operating system is not activated with a genuine licence, OEM or Retail, then the inability to perform updates or an in-place upgrade, or even to run DISM or SFC is not uncommon. So, the first thing I would like to check has to do with the kind of licence the OS has.

Please do the following:

Press Windows icon on your Desktop, together with the letter R.
Type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run Command Prompt as administrator.
Copy and paste the following command and press Enter:

Code:

slmgr /dli

After running the command, you will get a report. Please take a screenshot of what you got and attach it in your next reply.

zephyr · Aug 8, 2023

I am assuming it is KMSpico?

DR M · Aug 9, 2023

Yes. Your OS is activated via Volume_KMS Client Channel.

This maybe is due to several reasons: you bought the license from a questionable site or store, the computer belongs to a company, or you used KMSpico to activate the operating system. I explained in my previous post what KMSpico does.

I would like to see your thoughts before saying anything else.

zephyr · Aug 9, 2023

I found a video on YouTube long time ago which showed how it activated windows through cmd. I am guessing they used KMSpico to activate windows, which I wasn't aware of. I searched KMSpico and saw some apps, however I didn't use any of them. So the only possibility is that the cmd commands I used to activate was to bypass through KMSpico without the app

DR M · Aug 9, 2023

This is from your logs:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\KMSpico

It shows that the KMSpico had been installed in the system.

Anyway. Have in mind that we don't provide help if the operating system is not legally activated, with either OEM or Retail license. In addition to the legal/illegal part of the situation, a not activated system is a security risk, and gives a lot of issues you are already experiencing. Thus, I strongly recommend you buy a genuine Retail key and activate as soon as possible. If you don't buy from Microsoft directly, make sure that the license you are getting is Retail.

zephyr · Aug 9, 2023

Hmm... For now I have removed my activation key, with slmgr to avoid further corruption and I am planning to buy a windows 10 key. What other solutions do you have for now?

Or is there any way I could transfer my installed files, without the OS, to another drive/folder?

DR M · Aug 9, 2023

Unfortunately, you can't do anything until you activate with the proper way. And you must do this as soon as possible. You are running on version 1903 which reached the end of support on December 8, 2020. As to your files, you can copy and paste them in an external disk as a backup. But it's not a prerequisite in case you activate your Windows 10 with a genuine key.

sfc /scannow not working

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