[SOLVED] Win11 - The configuration registry database is corrupt, cannot update anything and drivers broken

[arles]

Hi all and happy holidays,

I've had a very annoying problem suddenly sprung on my laptop during the last few days. All of a sudden my drivers started failing, with them refusing to update. Then I noticed through the windows update screen that none of the driver updates windows was trying were working, with any that managed to "install" rolling back after a restart. I've tried an in place upgrade from a clean image, that didn't work. After trying every troubleshooting step I could find nothing worked, with the same "The configuration registry database is corrupt" error appearing constantly.
Eventually I tried a reset keeping my files, but it wouldn't even let me do that, saying nothing was changed.

My system runs and my files are still retrievable, but I'd prefer to get this sorted through a non nuclear option, as this seems like an error this forum specializes in.

CBS.zip Here is my CBS.zip, as it was too large to upload, and the component scanner log is attached to the post.

If its of any use, the error codes shown in windows update are either 0x800703f1 or 0x80070103, I'm on build 22H2 22621.2715, and the update that keeps failing for windows is KB5033375.

Thanks in advance,
arles

 

[Maxstar]

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Upload your DRIVERS Hive

• Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config and locate the DRIVERS 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 DRIVERS.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.

 

[arles]

Hi, thanks for replying

Please see the requested file attached

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Replace Drivers Hive Manually

Warning: this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

1. Download DRIVERS.ZIP and save to your desktop.
2. Right-click on it and select Extract all.... Make sure the "Show extracted files when complete" is checked and click Extract.
3. Now we have the DRIVERS file that we will be using to replace your current one.
4. Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\config
5. Right-click on the current DRIVERS file and select rename. Rename it to DRIVERS.bad.
   Note: If you get an error that the file is in use, reboot your computer and then try again.
6. Take the file from the Drivers folder on your desktop and paste it into C:\Windows\System32\config

Afterwards reboot the system and attempt to update. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS logs.

 

[arles]

Thank you so so much! It looks like my problem is fixed, all the necessary driver updates went through as well as the windows one.

Again, thank you and this forum so much.

Kind regards,
arles

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

You're welcome. Glad to hear this issue has been resolved.