[SOLVED] Windows Update failing, drivers failing, BSODs, SFC and DISM failing.

[SparkleKitty]

Hi all,

First, let me thank everyone in advance for trying to help me with this, I'm absolutely at my wits end with this problem. I think I've Googled for the past 3 days anything and everything I can about these issues, but I feel like it's just getting worse. I REALLY don't want to reinstall Windows if my life can depend on it because I use my laptop for work as well, and it would be agonizing trying to set everything up again. Obviously I'll do that if I absolutely have to, but I'm hoping that's the worst case scenario.

Here's a quick run-down of what I've been experiencing so far:

1. My laptop is under a year old and has been working perfectly since I got it, but for about a month or so, Windows Update seems to have failed to work properly.
2. I first noticed an issue while playing a Steam game that the game would just randomly crash and close to the desktop without any error messages. That wouldn't have bothered me except that it started happening more often with different games I would play. No explanation as to why.
3. I thought maybe it was a game driver, so I updated it through NVIDIA, but the game crashing still happened from time to time.
4. Decided to check Windows Update, and realized there were 2-3 updates that were sitting at "failed". I have automatic updates on, so I don't know when this exactly started to fail. Every time I would try to download and install manually, it would just immediately fail the download.
5. The updates were related to the Windows 11 23H2 version, but after I tinkered with stuff (I'll get to that), it now only shows 1 failed download for 22H2, "2024-03 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5035942)".
6. I've also had a few random BSOD in the last week or so, but I have no idea what I'm looking for in the Event Viewer, or how to interpret the failures.
7. About 2 days ago, I turned on my laptop and it got stuck at "Please wait" for 5-10 mins. Booting into Safe Mode did the same thing, but I was able to get in finally. Did a few troubleshooting steps (can't remember which, there's been so many), but it didn't help. When I restarted the computer, it still sat at "Please wait", and when it finally loaded up, my screen just kept flashing on and off. I knew that had to be some type of driver issue, so I ended up using a restore point and was able to get back to some sense of normal.

Things I've tried, and probably messed up:

1. I ran Malwarebytes several times to confirm if there were any viruses. No issues.
2. I performed a 4 hours memtest86. No issues.
3. Checked the SSD. No issues.
4. Downloaded a driver detector to find out what drivers are out of date and it found 30. I think this is where I went wrong; I attempted to use the program to install updated drivers, and I thought some of the issues were resolved, but I think it created other issues. I know you're all probably cringing at this one.
5. I tried the SFC/ScanNow in CMD while running as Admin, but I get the error: "windows resource protection could not start the repair service."
6. Tried the DISM.exe approach, but get the error: "Error 0x80040154, Class not registered". This is the same error code that showed up on some of the Windows Updates that failed as well. I couldn't pin point what that error message means, though.
7. I tried doing the ISO method from Microsoft to repair/reinstall Windows over top of itself and even that failed.
8. I've tried manually downloading drivers, but nothing seems to work. I don't even know what's actually causing the issue other than Windows Update just doesn't work properly.
9. Currently I have an issue with my internal microphone not working. If I check in Device Manager, it's the only listed with an error and it just says "Windows cannot verify the digital signature for the drivers required for this device, etc". Sometimes the "Roll Back Driver" button is available and I'll click that and the mic works again, but when I restart the laptop, it reverts back to the 'bad' driver, and no working mic. Right now, there is no option to rollback the driver, so there's no mic.

I'm probably missing a ton of stuff that I've tried, but my brain has melted from all of this troubleshooting and I'm sure I've probably made things worse somehow. I've attached some screenshots of what I'm seeing on my end, but please let me know if there's anything else I can attach, post, or set fire to. I will be forever grateful if ya'll can help me figure this out before having to reinstall Windows completely.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Maxstar]

Downloaded a driver detector to find out what drivers are out of date and it found 30. I think this is where I went wrong; I attempted to use the program to install updated drivers, and I thought some of the issues were resolved, but I think it created other issues. I know you're all probably cringing at this one.

I tried the SFC/ScanNow in CMD while running as Admin, but I get the error: "windows resource protection could not start the repair service."

Tried the DISM.exe approach, but get the error: "Error 0x80040154, Class not registered". This is the same error code that showed up on some of the Windows Updates that failed as well. I couldn't pin point what that error message means, though.

Hi and welcome to Sysnative,

Using third-party tools is definitely not recommended, but could you please provide the following logs to look at.

Upload a copy of the CBS folder

• Open Windows Explorer and browse to the C:\Windows\Logs folder.
• Right-click on the CBS folder and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
• Now the message will appear, "Windows cannot create the Compressed (zipped) Folder here. Do you want it to be placed on the desktop instead?"
• Click on the Yes button here.

• Attach the file CBS.zip to your next reply. If the file is too large to attach, upload the CBS.zip file to www.wetransfer.com and post the link in your next reply.

 

[SparkleKitty]

Hey there, thanks for replying! Just a quick update; I was able to fix the driver issue for my microphone, but all the other issues still remain.

I've attached the CBS file as requested.

Thanks!

 

[Maxstar]

2024-04-11 08:56:05, Info                  CBS    Failed to create CBS worker - waiting for a second and trying again [HRESULT = 0x80040154]
2024-04-11 08:56:06, Info                  CBS    Failed to create CBS worker, crashed? [HRESULT = 0x80040154]

Please do the following to get some more information about the Servicing Stack.

Download the

Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your Desktop:

Download the 64 bit version: - Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Link

• Download the attachment fixlist.txt and save it to your desktop.
• Right-click on FRST.exe and select "Run as administrator".
• Press the Fix button.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally.
• When finished, a log called Fixlog.txt will appear in the same directory the tool is run from.
• Post the logfile Fixlog.txt as attachment in your next reply.

 

[SparkleKitty]

I ran the program as admin, and the Fxlist.txt file and FRST.exe program are both on my desktop, but I get this error:

 

[Maxstar]

This error message will only appear when you create an empty Fixlist.txt yourself.

1. Please download the attached Fixlist in post #4
2. Start FRST again and perform the previous instructions.

 

[SparkleKitty]

I downloaded the Fixlist from the attachment the first time and it gave me that error. I just redownloaded it and performed the steps again, and it's still giving me the same error.

EDIT: I just realized the file you attached was missing the letter 'i' in 'fix' so it was listed as 'fxlist' not 'fixlist'. I just renamed the file and it worked. I've uploaded the document.

 

[Maxstar]

Hmm, please copy and paste the following in the current Fixlist.txt file and save it:

StartBatch:
dir /s /a %systemroot%\servicing\version
dir /s /a %systemroot%\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35*.*
EndBatch:
CMD: reg query "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0823B6F8-F499-4d5e-B885-EA9CB4F43B24}" /s
CMD: reg query "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{75207391-23F2-4396-85F0-8FDB879ED0ED}" /s
CMD: reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{0823B6F8-F499-4d5e-B885-EA9CB4F43B24}" /s
CMD: reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{0823B6F8-F499-4d5e-B885-EA9CB4F43B24}" /s
CMD: reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Version" /s
CMD: reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide\Winners\amd64_microsoft-windows-servicingstack_31bf3856ad364e35_none_4a207b402ad93a1c\10.0" /s
CMD: reg load HKLM\COMPONENTS C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\COMPONENTS
CMD: reg query "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\COMPONENTS\ServicingStackVersions" /s

Run FRST again and press the fix button. When completed attach Fixlog.txt to your next post.

 

[SparkleKitty]

EDIT: I just realized the file you attached was missing the letter 'i' in 'fix' so it was listed as 'fxlist' not 'fixlist'. I just renamed the file and it worked. I've uploaded the document.

 

[Maxstar]

You're Servicing Stack is out of sync, I will look into this tomorrow to fix this issue...

 

[SparkleKitty]

Thank you, I appreciate it!

 

[Maxstar]

Please provide the following as well.

Export CBS (Component Based Servicing) ans SBS (Side By Side) hive through the command line

• Open the Start menu of Windows and type CMD.
• When you see Command Prompt on the list, select the option Run as administrator.
• Copy and paste the following commands one at a time into the command prompt and press enter after each.

REG Save "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing" "%userprofile%\Desktop\CBS.hiv"
REG Save "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SideBySide" "%userprofile%\Desktop\SBS.hiv"

• ZIP both *.hiv files and attach this file as attachment to your next reply.

 

[SparkleKitty]

Attached, thanks!

 

[Maxstar]

Hi,

Download

SFCFix and save it to your desktop.

Warning: This fix was written specifically for this system. Do not run this fix on another system.

• Save any work you have open, and close all programs.
• Download the attachment SFCFix.zip and save it to your desktop.
• 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.
• Post the logfile (SFCFix.txt) as attachment in your next reply.

 

[SparkleKitty]

Attached, thanks!

 

[Maxstar]

Please reboot the system and run the following DISM command and post the result. If it fails attach a new copy of the CBS log.

DISM /online /cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

 

[SparkleKitty]

Well the fact that DISM even ran this time is fantastic! Here's the log:

 

[Maxstar]

2024-04-12 10:00:29, Error                 DISM   DISM Package Manager: PID=4640 TID=4860 Failed finalizing changes. - CDISMPackageManager::Internal_Finalize(hr:0x800f081f)

Please attach the latest CBS logs, the DISM log is not very helpful.

Upload a copy of the CBS folder

• Open Windows Explorer and browse to the C:\Windows\Logs folder.
• Right-click on the CBS folder and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder.
• Now the message will appear, "Windows cannot create the Compressed (zipped) Folder here. Do you want it to be placed on the desktop instead?"
• Click on the Yes button here.

• Attach the file CBS.zip to your next reply. If the file is too large to attach, upload the CBS.zip file to www.wetransfer.com and post the link in your next reply.

 

[SparkleKitty]

Oops sorry, I didn't realize I attached the wrong file. Here's the CBS log:

 

[Maxstar]

I'll need to remove some updates on my VM to provide a next fix, so this this could take some time.