[Win10] The configuration registry database is corrupt.

[thewonderyears]

Hello! Good day! A friend of mine asked me to help with his PC because the start menu doesn't show up.
I went to search this kind of issue and I tried the SFC but it shows that "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation." I also tried the DISM method but it stops at 4.5% telling me that the "Configuration registry database is corrupt."

I tried to use CCleaner thought it might work because I've read a post from reddit which the user only used CCleaner and worked.

I want to tell my friend that having a clean install of Win10 would solve the problem but another thing is he doesn't have the necessary storage to backup his files.

I am asking if there's a way to solve this problem without losing the data. Much appreciated. Cheers.

System Specifications:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz
7 GB of RAM
no graphics card
Windows 10 Pro Version 1803 (OS Build 17134.165)

SFCFix.zip
SFCFix.zip - Google Drive

CBS.zip
CBS.zip - Google Drive

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Hello and welcome! Apologies for the delay! Do you still require assistance?

 

[thewonderyears]

Hello and welcome! Apologies for the delay! Do you still require assistance?

Yes, I'm quite stuck trying not to reformat my friend's hard drive.

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Since this error may indicate a hardware issue, let's start with that:

GSmartControl
Follow the instructions below to test your hard drive health with GSmartControl:

• Download GSmartControl and save it on your Desktop;
• Execute gsmartcontrol.exe; Let the install complete and launch the programme.
• Identify your drive in the list, and double-click on it to bring up it's window (usually you'll find your drive by it's size or it's brand name);
• Go in the Perform Tests tab, then select Extended Self-test in the Test type drop-down list and click on Execute (this test can take a few hours to complete);
• Once the test is over, the results will be displayed at the bottom of the window. Please copy and paste these results in your next reply;
• Also, go in the Attributes tab and if you have any entries highlighted in red or pink, take a screenshot of the GSmartControl window and attach it in your next reply;