Windows 10 (version 10.0.19041) fails to load with infinite rotating dots after registry editing

krua · Apr 23, 2023

Hello, I am back to this forum after a couple of years.

My notebook runs Windows 10 (version 10.0.19041) according to the command-line "ver" command.

Recently, after uninstalling a network monitoring software, my Wi-Fi adapter disappeared from the system, and my notebook stopped connecting with the internet. Upon diagnosing the problem I discovered that all of the services related to the network connectivity were disabled. I have also noticed that most of the other services got disabled as well.

I have manually followed the trail of which network connectivity services failed to start and enabled them one by one (I don't remember which ones any more). And got internet running.

Then I decided to reset the running of all of the services to their defaults. On some forum I have found a collection of registry files with such default settings. And decided to apply them. My error was in not making a registry backup before that.
I can get the registry files I have applied off that PC.

Now, after reboot I only get a black screen with rotating dots.

There is no registry backuped\backups.
There are no system restore points.
I cannot boot into Windows to try a refresh install while saving the installed apps.
I don't want to reinstall Windows from scratch.

I have tried to roll back the latest system update from the System restore menu, but that did not help either.

So, my theory would try editing the registry offline on a live system with correct default settings for the services which settings were altered. Is there some resource where I could look that up (not that forum I have used before)? Or maybe I am following a wrong trail.

Thank you for any assistance.

Corday · Apr 23, 2023

Even though you can't boot into windows, since you got to System Restore, you can also get to the Command Prompt from Recovery Mode. Try an SFC check from there.

krua · Apr 23, 2023

Yes I can do that. Should I use DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth as well?

Corday · Apr 23, 2023

Probably a good idea to do that first, then SFC.

krua · Apr 23, 2023

/online for dism does not work for WinRE

krua · Apr 23, 2023

SFC /scannow results in
Verification 100% complete

Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.

Corday · Apr 23, 2023

Looks like a Catch22 since that message usually tells a person to run the SFC Scan. Try running the startup repair. If that gets you into Windows proceed with running the DISM and SFC.

krua · Apr 23, 2023

Nope, startup repair fails...

Corday · Apr 23, 2023

I don't have to tell you the alternative.

xilolee · Apr 23, 2023

Hi!

Check if c:\windows\system32\config\regback exists (if you changed the registry setting to create it, by chance).
And if it's not empty...

Also c:\windows\system32\logfiles\srt\srttrail.txt could be useful, if present...

krua · Apr 24, 2023

Hi,
c:\windows\system32\config\regback exists but it is empty, there are no files in it

On the other hand, I have found an image of the Notebook's partition before I have installed all the software (it was in summer 2022). I could try and export all the registry settings related to the services which were changed and import them to the registry hive of the current system. Will take a while, but I think worth a try.

I will check the srttail.txt as well.

Corday · Apr 24, 2023

Here's hoping.

xilolee · Apr 24, 2023

krua said:
Hi,
c:\windows\system32\config\regback exists but it is empty, there are no files in it

On the other hand, I have found an image of the Notebook's partition before I have installed all the software (it was in summer 2022). I could try and export all the registry settings related to the services which were changed and import them to the registry hive of the current system. Will take a while, but I think worth a try.

I will check the srttail.txt as well.

Ok, we will wait your news here.

xrobwx71 · Apr 24, 2023

xilolee said:
Hi!

Check if c:\windows\system32\config\regback exists (if you changed the registry setting to create it, by chance).
And if it's not empty...

Also c:\windows\system32\logfiles\srt\srttrail.txt could be useful, if present...

I don't know why MS killed that function (automatic regback) after ver 1809. The only reason I can find was to reduce Windows footprint on the disk.

To re-enable this task:

To enable Automatic Registry Backup in Windows 10,

Open the Registry Editor app.
Go to the following Registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Configuration Manager
On the right, modify or create a new 32-Bit DWORD value EnablePeriodicBackup.
Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
Set its value to 1.
Reboot

Now your PC, in the background, backup your registry automatically.

SOURCE

krua · Apr 24, 2023

Srttrail.txt

Looks like the last update did not get uninstalled?

krua · Apr 24, 2023

The registry values for the default services which I have applied...
Now I note that the files' dates are from 2020.

xilolee · Apr 24, 2023

Did you give up on your previous plan?
If yes, proceed with the next instructions.

Load the hive system.
Then launch the following command from an elevated command prompt, zip the file you'll find on your desktop and upload it here.

Code:

reg query HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services /s /t reg_dword /v start > "%userprofile%\desktop\services-start-values.txt"

NB: You have to change "system" with the name you gave to your loaded system hive.

If something isn't clear, ask!

krua · Apr 24, 2023

No, I didn't, I was currently tediously exporting the services settings one by one into the reg-files, from the working system's image.

I will do what you ask though.
I will do that for the registry which is on the non-working machine.
Should I do the same for the image when the machine was working?

Also which file should I load from the config folder - SYSTEM ?

P.S. I am working on a Windows 8 machine, as this is the only one which works and is at my disposal.

krua · Apr 24, 2023

This is from the "bad image" and from the "good image"

xilolee · Apr 24, 2023

Let's try to change samss from 4 to 2.

I.e.:
- load your bad system hive
- go to SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SamSs
- change the start value from 4 to 2
- unload the bad system hive
- try to start windows

Windows 10 (version 10.0.19041) fails to load with infinite rotating dots after registry editing

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