[SOLVED] Windows 10 1903 -- The configuration registry database is corrupt.

[JamesP]

Hey there,

I could use a hand, it would appear that my driver registry hive is corrupt. I plugged in a USB device this morning and was told "The configuration registry database is corrupt." when I tried to get it to install the latest drivers (it popped up with a yellow ! in Device Manager which was already unusual). Then I looked at Windows Update and found it was attempting to install several drivers that have been around (and installed) for years, and noticed those drivers were no longer loaded up correctly in Device Manager.

Before beginning the instructions for posting, I wiped clean my CBS and DISM folders to get clean log files, but unfortunately when I ran them in Windows, they came back clean. SFCFix reported no errors either.

When I booted to the WinPE environment and ran them, I got the following:

sfc /scannow: "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operations."
dism /image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth: "Error 1009 The configuration registry database is corrupt."


I've attempted to do an in-place repair using a matching ISO for my version of Windows 10 (Pro Build 1903 with September 2019 updates except Feature Update to 1909). This is where things get interesting and where I've tracked the issue down to being the driver registry hive.

Modern Setup Host (Windows 10 Setup):

Spoiler: setuperr.log

2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 Failed DismGetDrivers
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 Failed to add driver store drivers
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 Failed to collect driver information
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 DeviceMap failed to collect driver information
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 Unable to initialize Device Driver Map
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 GetDeviceMap failed
2019-10-08 15:01:36, Error CONX 0x800703f1 CDevInventory::CreateDevInventoryToCache failed

DISM /Online /Get-Drivers:

Spoiler: DISM.log

2019-10-08 15:44:37, Error DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=10916 TID=9704 Failed to enumerating driver packages in the driver store. - CDmiDriverStore::GetDriverPackageCollection(hr:0x800703f1)
2019-10-08 15:44:37, Error DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=10916 TID=9704 Failed to generating the collection of packages in the image. - CDriverManager::GetDriverPackageCollection(hr:0x800703f1)
2019-10-08 15:44:37, Error DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=10916 TID=9704 Failed to get the out of box driver package collection from the driver store. - CDriverManager::Internal_DoListDriverPackages(hr:0x800703f1)
2019-10-08 15:44:37, Error DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=10916 TID=9704 onecore\base\ntsetup\opktools\dism\providers\dmiprovider\dll\drivermanager.cpp:532 - CDriverManager::ExecuteCmdLine(hr:0x800703f1)
2019-10-08 15:44:37, Info DISM DISM Driver Manager: PID=10916 TID=9704 Further logs for driver related operations can be found in the target operating system at %WINDIR%\inf\setupapi.offline.log - CDriverManager::ExecuteCmdLine
2019-10-08 15:44:37, Error DISM DISM.EXE: DriverManager processed the command line but failed. HRESULT=800703F1

I've attached my DRIVERS registry hive below.
Many thanks for any assistance you can provide.

Cheers!
-James

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Hello and welcome!

Step 1 - 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

 

[JamesP]

That did it, thank you so much!

 

[Sysnative Windows Update]

Awesome!

Thanks for letting me know!