[SOLVED] Unable to use Windows Updater or enable DirectPlay

[ruleroftheroost]

So today I tried to install some old fighting games that use DirectPlay, and when trying to enable it in the Legacy settings, I got error 0x800703F9, the system has attempted to load or restore a file into the registry, but the specified file is not in a registry file format. One thing led to another from here, and I discovered my machine has not been updating windows 10 for several years now (I'm on build 19041 right now). Windows Updater does not work, and gives the same error when I attempt to use it. From here, I ran a bunch of other diagnostic stuff and talked to some users in a Discord who directed me here to post about it. Which I will post below in the proper format...

1. SFC Scan:

This results in the message: "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation."

2. Run DISM:
Running the DISM Command "Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" gave an error where it'd work 3.8% of the way, then error code 1017 saying:
The system has attempted to load or restore a file into the registry, but the specified file is not in a registry file format.

3. Components scanner:
Ran this, got the following error message:
"C:\WINDOWS\System32\config\COMPONENTS is not a Registry hive (bad signature)
Failed to load registry hive (System.Exception)"
No text file was generated.

4. CBS folder: see attachments.

Based on what users in the support discord told me, and based on what I'm seeing from all these error messages, it seems that COMPONENTS file is broken or corrupted or something, and I need to replace it. I think my problem is pretty similar to the guy in this post here, if that helps?: "Failed to load the COMPONENTS hive from 'C:\windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS' into registry key 'HKLM\COMPONENTS'. " on Windows 10

I might be wrong, but I think I just need a properly updated components file, but I don't know how to get the proper one. I can't try the one in the post I linked since that's just for that one guy's machine. Anyone have any idea / is able to help? I can post more information if needed. My goals here are to be able to install windows updates again and to enable directplay.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

Hello, just wanted to see if anyone has any idea what's causing this issue? I can get you screenshots and more info if needed. Today when I booted up my computer it blue screened with a KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR so I really want to get this issue resolved so I can get my windows updates.

 

[Maxstar]

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Download the

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:

Download the 64 bit version: - Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Link

• Note: Your antivirus program may report FRST incorrectly as an infection. If so, disable the real-time protection when downloading and running FRST.
• Right-click to run the tool as administrator. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Note: Ensure that the Addition.txt check box is checked at the bottom of the form within the Optional Scan area.
• Press the Scan button.
• Please wait for the tool to finish. It will produce two logfiles called FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from (which should be the desktop)
• Post the logfiles FRST.txt and Addition.txt as attachment in your next reply.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

When I try to download the 64bit version, chrome blocks it for being suspicious. Is this a false positive? Why would it be marking it as potentially malicious and auto-blocking it?

Edit: The comments on the page of that link report the same thing, that it's being flagged as a virus. Is there a mirror? Or is this actually a virus or something?

 

[Maxstar]

This is a false positive, FRST is not digitally signed and therfore flagged as malicous. So you can ignore this message and download FRST safely from Bleeping Computer which is a reliable source.

I've update my previous post to perform a scan with FRST. So please attach both logs FRST.txt and Addition.txt

Please note: Bleeping Computer is one of the well-respected Security Forums, so they don't provide any harmful software.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

Thanks, sorry for the apprehension, you can never be too careful when it comes to that sorta thing. I've ran the scan tool, here are the logs you asked for.

 

[Maxstar]

(..) you can never be too careful when it comes to that sorta thing

That's absolutely true, as well as to be careful downloading from MediaFire since a downloaded ZIP-file contained a trojan horse as it seems...

1. You have ran CrystalDiskInfo today, what was the result of this tool?
2. If there are *dmp-files inside C:\Windows\Minidump - zip all the files and attach the ZIP-file to your next post.
3. Please upload also a copy of the COMPONENTS hive.

Upload your COMPONENTS hive.

• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\Config and locate the COMPONENTS file.
• Please copy this file to your desktop.
• Note: If you receive an error that this file is in-use, simply reboot your computer and try again.
• Right-click on this file on your desktop and select Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder. This will create a file named COMPONENTS.ZIP on your desktop.
• If the file is too large to upload here, upload the file to www.wetransfer.com and post the link in your next reply.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

Crystal Disk: I don't understand the technical details, but a friend suggested running it to make sure my hard drive health is OK. The Health Status bar says "Good 100%" so I think my hardware is mostly fine.

Minidump: This folder is completely empty.

Components: See attached.

 

[Maxstar]

Could you please run ComponentsScanner in safe mode.

Download

ComponentsScanner and save it to your desktop.

Boot into safe mode

• Press the Windows icon on the keyboard together with the letter I, to get into the Settings.
• Choose Update and Security - from the menu at the left, choose Recovery.
• Under the title Advanced startup at the right, choose Restart now.
• From the window that will appear choose Troubleshoot and then Advanced options.
• Choose Startup Settings and then Restart.
• Press number 5, for choosing Safe mode with networking.

Run ComponentsScanner.

• Right-click ComponentsScanner.exe and select "Run as administrator", click Yes on the UAC (User Account Control) prompt which appears.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.
• Once complete, a report will be saved to your desktop called ComponentsScanner.txt.
• Post the logfile ComponentsScanner.txt as attachment into your next reply.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

rebooted in safe mode and ran it.

 

[Maxstar]

It seems your COMPONENTS hive is badly damaged, do you have recent backups?

 

[ruleroftheroost]

No. I've never backed it up before. I backed it up yesterday just in case i screwed it up even worse, but as far as i know that's my only one. Is there a way I can get a new one, or get this one fixed?

Edit: Also, do I just exit safe mode by restarting again?

 

[Maxstar]

This hive is damaged beyond repair, and if you don't have any backups we can't repair/rebuild it. That said, there is no default COMPONENTS hive which you can use as replacement. So in this case I would advise to try to perform a repair install. Otherwise there's no other option then reinstall this system from scratch.

Windows 10 Repair Install
This will reinstall and update the operating system and fix any corruptions, without removing any file or program. But make always a backup of all your important data!

• Go to this Microsoft page and under the title Create Windows 10 installation media press on Download tool now.
• Save the tool on your Desktop and double click to run it.
• On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept.
• On the What do you want to do page, select Create installation media (USB....) and then select Next.
• Choose the ISO file option. Once the download is complete, right click the ISO and select the option Mount.
• Open the Windows File Explorer and open mounted ISO, and run the setup.exe file.
• Follow the instructions and click on the option Change what to keep.
• Select the option Keep personal files and apps and click next.
• Windows Setup will now start the in-place upgrade installation to repair Windows.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

I tried this yesterday, twice, one as an ISO and one with the wizard tool itself, and got this error both times. It would run pretty far before it hit this error, maybe for about 20-30 mins?


Others have suggested doing a full clean install, but I really do not want to have to wipe my computer to fix this. The thread I linked in my OP had someone else supply a new components file... Is that simply not possible?

 

[Maxstar]

The thread I linked in my OP had someone else supply a new components file... Is that simply not possible?

No, that COMPONENTS hive is from a (Windows 10 Build 18363.xxx) system and was repairable because an [ERROR_BADDB - sequence numbers are mismatched] issue.

Your COMPONENTS hive (Windows 10 Build 19041.572) is damaged beyond repair. To be more clear, it is not even recognized as HIVE-file and cannot be loaded in a offline registry editor as well. Only in HxD which shows a badly damaged hive file.....

2024-02-08 16:39:58, Info                  CBS    Failed to load the COMPONENTS hive from 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\config\COMPONENTS' into registry key 'HKLM\COMPONENTS'. [HRESULT = 0x800703f9 - ERROR_NOT_REGISTRY_FILE]
2024-02-08 16:39:58, Info                  CBS    Failed to load component store [HRESULT = 0x800703f9 - ERROR_NOT_REGISTRY_FILE]
2024-02-08 16:39:58, Info                  CSI    00000003 GetSystemStore called without loading components hive
2024-02-08 16:39:58, Error                 CSI    00000004@2024/2/8:21:39:58.808 (F) onecore\base\wcp\componentstore\com\store.cpp(5971): Error HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND) originated in function CreateOrGetIStore expression: (null)
[gle=0x80004005]

As you have noticed, ComponentsScanner failed as well to load this HIVE (even in safe mode), with the following message:

'C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\COMPONENTS' is not a Registry hive (bad signature)
Failed to load registry hive (System.Exception)

Sadly, there is no other option than perform a clean install if you don't have any backups.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

I'm confused. If the file itself is the only issue, I understand why it can't be repaired. But is there no way to generate a new one to take it's place? There's no tool for this? Is it also not possible to get a fresh install or something on a VM or another computer and then send that computer's COMPONENTS file over to mine?

I also do wonder if there's a backup of it somewhere. I doubt I ever would have backed it up, but is it possible that my computer backed it up? I really do not want to have to go through the trouble of making sure all my files are 100% safe and offloaded somewhere else before I wipe this one clean, and then reimport the new files over.

I'm sure I don't understand what I'm talking about, so some insight would be helpful.

Edit: I'd be fine with doing the ISO install-in-place since that keeps my files; maybe there's a way to fix the error that was stopping me from doing that?

 

[Maxstar]

I understand why it can't be repaired. But is there no way to generate a new one to take it's place? There's no tool for this?

Unfortunately no, that's why it is so important to make regular backups to avoid issues like this.

Is it also not possible to get a fresh install or something on a VM or another computer and then send that computer's COMPONENTS file over to mine?

Unfortunately, this is not a possibility either and may cause other issues.

See also this thread, and especially the following quote below:

Whilst the hive is not considered a boot-critical hive (meaning your computer will boot up and mostly function if the hive is corrupt), corruptions in the COMPONENTS hive will cause issues when it comes to updating Windows. This may result in the inability to install/uninstall updates or Windows Features and sometimes issues installing some programs.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

Is there anything I can do to fix the error I encounter when trying to reinstall with the ISO like you instructed earlier? Could I have not enough space on my computer for it (I was at around 100 open gigs when i ran it. i cleaned up about 150gigs worth of space yesterday and im sitting at 230 open gigs now)? Is it possible there's other corrupted files on my computer causing the issue? I've had this machine power down instantly due to power outages in the past, and I've encountered a corrupted file here and there as well.

Or is the issue on reinstall due to the corrupted components file?

 

[Maxstar]

Let's take a closer look at "Error 0x8007002 - 0x3000D", so please run the following tool.

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.

 

[ruleroftheroost]

When I run that file on my desktop as an admin, a black screen pops up, instantly closes, and i don't seem to see any resulting log files. What could cause that?