[SOLVED] Windows 8.1 - 6.3.9600 SFC can't fix, DISM also fails

[Jlang]

Hello everyone! Brief explanation about how I got here and what the problem is: After an unprecedented power outage it seems several system files of my system got corrupted and lost the ability to run certain programs like the Windows Media Player or change the input language for my keyboard while straight up not running select .exe files. Tried first with System Restore but the outage killed my few restore points saying the process couldn't be completed and that maybe they got corrupted. Ran chkdsk /r without a problem but still no dice. Ran SFC but it came back with a message that said found corrupt files but cannot repair some of them. Tried then with DISM via command /RestoreHealth but it came back with "error 0x800f081f The source files could not be found".

Have also used the DISM commands: /CheckHealth which ends in process completed successfully, component store is repairable.
/ScanHealth with process completed successfully, component store is repairable.
Also tried with /StartComponentCleanup before going with /RestoreHealth but still no luck.

Somehow after running DISM so many times it did download some updates that brought down the corruptions from 303 to 70 and another security update earlier this month brought them down to 40 according to the CBS logs. Along the way stumbled with SFCFix, which reports 82 corruptions instead (sometimes it says there are no corruptions before reporting them again on a later anaylisis) which made me doubt what was happening, so just as the tool recommends I came here to ask for further advice since I'm stuck.

Before posting this thread ran SFC, DISM, SFCFix in that order so the files I'm posting should be the most recent, except the SFCFix one since once again it says there's no corruptions so I used the latest one that reported the corruptions which should be a few days at most.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[PeterJ]

Hello and welcome,

Follow the instructions below please.

WARNING! The following fix is specific to the user's system in this thread only. No one else should follow these instructions, as it could damage your system.

• Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it on your desktop.
• Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
• Drag the SFCFix.zip file over the SFCFix.exe executable and release it.
  
  
• SFCFix will launch, let it complete.
• Once done, a file will appear on your desktop, called SFCFix.txt.
• Open the file, then copy and paste its content in your next reply.

 

[Jlang]

Thanks for the reply PeterJ!

Downloaded the file but it reports back the following:

ERROR: Zip file is corrupt or unreadable. This may be due to a bad download. Please re-download the zip file, try again, and see if the problem persists. If it does, let your helper know as it may be that the upload is corrupt, and that is something that only your helper can fix.

Tried redownloading the file a few times but it reports the same.

And for the SFCFix.txt:

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2021-01-25 18:47:48.913
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Update 3 - amd64
Using .zip script file at C:\Users\josejuan\Desktop\SFCFix.zip [5]
Failed to extract zip archive. Failed to unzip in location 1 with error code 0x80040154.




Successfully processed all directives.
SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro has completed.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2021-01-25 18:47:49.741
Script hash: 94Bzyc/wTG8y6CmqivAMOsnoNt/kQyprZx60wem+cxg=
----------------------EOF-----------------------

Will try in Safe Mode now just in case.

EDIT: Tried it just now but still the same error

 

[PeterJ]

I can open it here successfully. Attached a newly created zip.

 

[Jlang]

Tested with the new zip but still same error. Guess the problem wasn't in the zip files then.
By the way just out of curiosity and merely as a test created a new folder, uncompressed the zip there, tossed SFCFix there too and moved the .txt file over the .exe. It starts as normal with Processing directive 1 of 1 (PowerCopy) before saying that SFCFix crashed and showing the following

SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro.
Start time: 2021-01-26 16:19:08.002
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Update 3 - amd64
Using .txt script file at C:\Users\josejuan\Desktop\New folder\SFCFix.txt [2]




SFCFix version 3.0.2.1 by niemiro has encountered an unhandled exception.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2021-01-26 16:19:08.330
Script hash: Jzdew5uH2kpvlg/oqBySSCwXChOTMW08o0vaaUj3HXs=
----------------------EOF-----------------------

Don't know if it's because what I did doesn't make much sense or because there's an underlying issue and this is hinting at it but might as well throw it out there.

 

[PeterJ]

Follow the instructions below.

Move the downloaded file SFCFix.zip to your desktop.
Click on the Start button and in the search box, type Command Prompt
When you see Command Prompt on the list, right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
When command prompt opens, copy and paste the following commands into it, press enter after each.

CD C:\Users\josejuan\Desktop

SFCFix C:\Users\josejuan\Desktop\SFCFix.zip

Tell me if SFCFix runs fine or if it crashes again.

 

[Jlang]

Yes it sadly crashes again, this popped out as soon as it finished

SFCFix version by niemiro has encountered an unhandled exception.
Currently storing 0 datablocks.
Finish time: 2021-01-26 17:19:21.333
----------------------EOF-----------------------

 

[PeterJ]

FRST Scan:

1. Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:
   64-bit: Downloading Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
   
2. Right-click to run the tool as administrator. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
3. Note: Ensure that the Addition.txt check box is checked at the bottom of the form within the Optional Scan area.
4. Press the Scan button.
5. Please wait for the tool to finish. It will produce two logfiles called FRST.txt and Addition.txt in the same directory the tool is run from (which should be the desktop)
6. Post the logfiles FRST.txt and Addition.txt as attachment in your next reply.

 

[Jlang]

Logfiles

 

[PeterJ]

Open WINRAR.
Click on Options - Settings. Then click Intergration.
Uncheck the ZIP extension.
Perform the instructions in message #2 again and report the result.

Your drive C: is almost full !
Is Avast still installed ?

 

[Jlang]

Just tried, still comes back with the zip file is corrupt or unreadable message.
Ah my drive, yes I can free up a bit of space if it's needed for urgently though (I had DISM fail in the past due to this), was planning on pruning stuff soon.

I don't have Avast installed anymore, neither Chrome but it seems there's still some leftovers of both.

 

[PeterJ]

Follow these instructions to remove Avast: Avast Uninstall Utility | Download aswClear for Avast Removal
Please report back when done.

 

[Jlang]

It said the process was successful. After that tried the instructions from #2 with the same error message as before, but this time it somehow was slower and managed to see a couple of extra lines that said:

Failed to read script or malformed script.
Successfully processed all directives.

Don't know if relevant but posting them just in case.

 

[PeterJ]

Make sure the tool

SFCFix.exe is on your desktop. Do not create a shortcut.

 

[Jlang]

Yes can confirm both the .zip file and the .exe are on the desktop, and both dragging the .zip and the steps on message #6 still fail

 

[PeterJ]

FRST File Search

1. Right-click on the file FRST64.exe and choose Run as administrator.
2. Copy and paste SFCFix.* into the Search box and click the Search Files button.
3. When the scan is complete, a message will display that 'Search.txt' is saved in the same folder FRST was started from. Notepad will open this file also.
4. Close Notepad and attach the file 'Search.txt' to your next reply.

 

[Jlang]

Sure, here it is.

 

[PeterJ]

Delete these 2 bolded files:
C:\Users\josejuan\Desktop\SFCFix.txt
C:\Users\josejuan\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\SFCFix.lnk

Disable the real-time protection of your antivirus program.
Perform the instructions in message #2 again.

If SFCFix still fails uninstall WinRAR and reboot the machine.
Perform the instructions in message #2 again.

 

[Jlang]

Deleted files, tried but it still failed. Uninstalled WinRAR, rebooted and tried again but it also failed.

 

[PeterJ]

WARNING! The following fix is specific to the user's system in this thread only. No one else should follow these instructions, as it could damage your system.

• Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it on your desktop.
• Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
• Drag the SFCFix.zip file over the SFCFix.exe executable and release it.
  
  
• SFCFix will launch, let it complete.
• Once done, a file will appear on your desktop, called SFCFix.txt.
• Open the file, then copy and paste its content in your next reply.