[SOLVED] Win10 22H2 won't boot - problem with SYSTEM hive

J

Jagster

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2025
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8
I have an HP Pavilion x360 that is not booting and goes to a Recovery screen indicating there's a problem with the SYSTEM hive, error code 0x000014c. I don't have a backup I can pull and when I load up that hive in regedit offline (using Hirens) it looks fine to me on the surface. I also tried to use "DISM /Image:D:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth" (D was the correct drive), and it failed with error 1009, saying the configuration registry database is corrupt.

The DISM log file had the following related entries:
2025-04-21 08:44:39, Info CBS Failed to load offline \\?\D:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM hive from '\\?\D:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM' into registry key '{bf1a281b-ad7b-4476-ac95-f47682990ce7}D:/Windows/System32/config/SYSTEM'. [HRESULT = 0x800703f1 - ERROR_BADDB]
2025-04-21 08:44:39, Info CBS Failed to load offline registry: {bf1a281b-ad7b-4476-ac95-f47682990ce7}D:/Windows/System32/config/SYSTEM [HRESULT = 0x800703f1 - ERROR_BADDB]
2025-04-21 08:44:39, Info CBS Failed to load offline SYSTEM hive. [HRESULT = 0x800703f1 - ERROR_BADDB]

I'm attaching the SYSTEM hive. Hopeful a guru out there can maybe see what's wrong with it.

Thanks
 

Attachments

Jagster said:
when I load up that hive in regedit offline (using Hirens) it looks fine to me on the surface.
Click to expand...
I might have been mistaken in this part, I probably loaded a different hive because when I try now it always says it can't load it. It was a long day, and I was trying many things, so I think now that I never really successfully loaded SYSTEM using Hirens.
 
Now that I can boot and log into the system, I ran sfc /scannow and it said it found corrupt files and pointed to CBS.log for info. I then ran "DISM /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth" and received Error 1009 after 3.8% scanned. "The configuration registry database is corrupt." I looked at the DISM log and it seemed to point to the COMPONENTS hive so I found another good guide here (How to check your COMPONENTS registry hive for corruption) and that did find corruption and fixed the hive.

Currently running DISM again.. it's at 62.3% now but not really moving from there. It's only been a few minutes though.. I'll give it more time.
Update: It finally made it to 100% but gave error 0x800f081f ("The source files could not be found").
 
Ran SFC /scannow again and this time it again found corrupt files but says it successfully repaired them.
Ran SFC /scannow a 3rd time and this time it found no problems. :)

Windows updates seems to be working now, it downloaded and installed some updates. Asked to reboot. Rebooting.... says "Getting Windows Ready - Don't turn off your computer" with circling dots🤞
 
Nope. Am still getting errors in Windows Update.

I ran DISM again, with a source this time pointed to a thumb drive made with Media Creation Tool, DISM /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth /Source:d:\sources\sxs, but got the same missing sources error. I'm attaching the DISM and CBS logs.
 

Attachments

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Step 1. Download
67139f7e69a58-SFCFix-ico.PNG
SFCFix and save it to your desktop.

Warning: This fix was written specifically for this system. Do not run this fix on another system.
  • Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
  • Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it to your desktop.
  • Drag the SFCFix.zip file over the SFCFix.exe executable and release it.
67139f52b3c1e-SFCFix-Zip-Eng.gif

  • SFCFix will launch, let it complete.
  • Once done, a file will appear on your desktop, called SFCFix.txt.
  • Post the logfile (SFCFix.txt) as attachment in your next reply.


Step 2. Run the following DISM command and post the result. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS log.
Code: 
DISM /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth
 

Attachments

I gave up trying to chase down the last few minor gremlins and just performed an in-place upgrade of Win10 using the thumb drive, keeping files and apps. System is now working perfectly again.
 
Maxstar said:
Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Step 1. Download
67139f7e69a58-SFCFix-ico.PNG
SFCFix and save it to your desktop.

Warning: This fix was written specifically for this system. Do not run this fix on another system.
  • Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
  • Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it to your desktop.
  • Drag the SFCFix.zip file over the SFCFix.exe executable and release it.
67139f52b3c1e-SFCFix-Zip-Eng.gif

  • SFCFix will launch, let it complete.
  • Once done, a file will appear on your desktop, called SFCFix.txt.
  • Post the logfile (SFCFix.txt) as attachment in your next reply.


Step 2. Run the following DISM command and post the result. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS log.
Code: 
DISM /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth
Click to expand...
Thanks @Maxstar. I appreciate you taking the time to make that fix. I unfortunately performed an in-place upgrade of the OS late last night. Your guide on repairing the SYSTEM hive was a lifesaver though :)

I did make a backup prior to upgrading, so I might throw that on just to experiment with your SFCFix. (Time permitting)

And if anything positive came out of this, it's that I found this great site that I'm sure I'll visit again countless times.
 
Hi,

You're welcome. Glad to hear you've managed to resolve all the issues..(y)
 
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