Solved Several problems since installing five updates

I installed five updates on 15/09/2014. (Updates: KB2995004, KB2993100, KB2990532, KB2979582, KB2975719)
When I tried to print a document today I noticed that my default printer was missing. It appeared in the list of installed Printers (Control Panel) but not the dialog box. I restarted my computer to resolve this issue.
I then noticed that my audio was not working. I clicked the Audio taskbar button and it started to detect and resolve problems however this was unsuccessful. I tried to manually start the Windows Audio service which gave me the following message: "Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on Local Computer. Error 0x800706cc: The endpoint is a duplicate."
I had a feeling that it could have to do with the recent updates I've installed. I tried to open Control Panel but here's the strange part, it says 'Adjust your computer settings' like usual and then the Control Panel freezes and it becomes blank (all text below the navigation disappears). The only way to get rid of the Control Panel window is to restart Windows Explorer through Task Manager (In PC Settings, similar things happened). Then I did a Whole Computer scan with AVG and it found two threats (.exe files related to EID_pe_iscorrupted, not sure if this has any relation).
I booted up safe mode and Control Panel worked fine, I repeated all the steps above with no success. I went to Windows Update and tried uninstalling the updates one at a time, when it restarted it said 'Failure configuring Windows Update Undoing changes'.
Then I went to Computer > Properties (of the C drive) > Tools > Check. I checked for errors and it told me, 'Windows has found errors on this drive that need to be repaired. Close the dialog box and repair the drive'. Then I tried chkdsk /scan in Command Prompt. It told me to do an offlinescanandfix. I did this and restarted the computer. It was checking the disk and started up in safe mode with no sign of successful checking. I checked Event Viewer and there was nothing reported.

I attempted System Restore in Safe Mode, fortunately there was a restore point created on 12/09/2014. Unfortunately when I tried to attempt this it only restarted again, telling me that it failed and gave me the error code: 0x80070570. I attempted this again after a clean boot and going into Properties of Block Level Engine Backup Service. It still gave me the same error code.
I went back into the normal mode and attempted System Restore and Check drive. This time Windows said there were no errors with the drive and System Restore failed once again (same error code). Thankfully networking features are intact but Control Panel, Audio and System Restore are not.
I did an offline sfc and was told that 'Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and was unable to fix them.'
I found the CBS.log file and attempted the Findstr command. After completing the command, it created a file called sfcdetails.txt. The problem is that it is blank. There was no [SR] in the .log file either. After looking at the .log file I think sfc didn't complete successfully and basically gave up.

I downloaded and used the Windows Update troubleshooter to solve the error 0x80070003. Tried it in Safe Mode and Normal Mode; was stuck at Checking Registry Keys for over an hour.

I've posted this in several forums but I really need useful responses asap.

Another thing which may be useful is that my computer no longer shuts down completely. Every time I start it back up the Up Time (in Task Manager) has not reset. I can only shut it down completely when I restart. Restarting the computer is now taking a really long time.

System Details:
OS: Windows 8.1
Manufacturer: HP
Model: Pavillion 15-n270ea

I can't upload the CBS in .log or .txt because it's 4MB so I've uploaded it on Evernote:
https://www.evernote.com/shard/s102...36be66caf331/c0aa1fcd18b629e11b81e691a7d7b829

I'd first suggest that you have the people in the Windows Updates & Activation forum have a look at your CBS logfiles.
Here's the link to them: Windows Updates & Activation - Windows 8 Forums

Also try this to see if it helps:

Then please run the following DISM commands to see if there's any problems with the system (from an elevated (Run as administrator) Command Prompt). Press Enter after each one:

Code:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Code:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Code:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

FYI - I have repaired systems using the last command even though problems weren't found with the first 2 - so I suggest running them all.

From this article: Repair a Windows Image

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Then, I'd suggest checking the hardware using these free diagnostics: Hardware Diagnostics

There's lot's more that we can do, but I'd like to see the results from the Windows Updates & Activation forum along with the results of the DISM scans before proceeding further.

Finding failures/errors in the CBS.log file

I ran a SFC offline scan yesterday and tried to get the sfcdetails from CBS.log. The sfcdetails.txt file was blank after I typed in the appropriate command.

The CBS.log file is here: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s102/...81e691a7d7b829

I am currently running the SubInACL tool as I noticed that I can't register some .dlls due to error: 0x80070005


In case you need background information here's the other thread with more detail:
http://www.eightforums.com/bsod-cra...l-problems-since-installing-five-updates.html

UPDATE:The SubInACL tool apparently modified a lot of things in the registry but also failed with many other things too. I still can't access Control Panel or Windows Update in normal mode.

The error I've been recently getting for both System Restore and resetting Windows Update components is 0x80070005.

I've tried the DISM commands but they seem to hang in normal and safe mode. I left each command running for about an hour and the only lines that were there was the version no. of the DISM.

I haven't tried the Hardware Diagnostics yet but my computer's coming to the point where it's hanging when opening folders and the desktop seems to be frozen. I have to restart Windows Explorer every 15 seconds to get it working properly. Would a refresh be the best option? I am aware that there could be missing files but I don't have any recovery media to assist with that. The recovery USB I was given by Currys/PCWorld/KnowHow has somehow gotten rusty so therefore I can't use that any more.

A Refresh would be OK, but you may have to reinstall some programs.
You can create a new recovery drive like this:

(Win7)
​

You can do this by going to Start...All Programs...Maintenance...Create a System Repair Disc (don't forget to test the disc to make sure it works).
​

(Win8)​

Creating a System Repair Disk is a bit different in Win8 tho - go to the Start Screen and type "recovery drive" (without the quotes) and select the Settings charm in the right sidebar. Then select/run the "Create a recovery drive" app. You can insert a USB drive to make a USB recovery drive. If you don't have a USB drive, then don't insert a USB drive and click the "Next" button. At the bottom left corner of the next screen will be a link that says "Create a System Repair disc with a CD or DVD instead". Click on that and follow the instructions to make a System Repair disc.

​

(Win8.1)​

You cannot make a CD/DVD repair disk in Win8.1 - it must be a USB drive .
Go to the Start Screen and type in "recoverydrive" (one word, without the quotes). That will start the recovery drive process. You will need a USB drive of at least 512 mB - and all data will be erased off of it. If copying the recovery partition the drive size will be much, much larger (16 - 32 gB drive required).
​

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If you're infected, it's possible that none of the usual steps would fix it.
If that's the case, then I'd suggest posting over in the System Security forum: System Security - Windows 8 Forums

It seems like a few people have been getting the exact same issue as me and it seems like it has to do with AVG, not totally sure though.

Windows 8 audio service issues : techsupport

I just checked the AVG Virus Vault and it seems like they also removed PrintConfig.dll because of a general behavioural detection which seems to explain why I couldn't print normally on 15th Sept. When I restarted my computer it seems like Windows corrected the issue itself.

Thanks for letting us know!
I've avoided AVG for the last couple of years due to similar issues.
Now I'm starting to suspect issues w/Avast
At this point I'm sticking with Windows Defender and the Windows Firewall

Good luck!

Hi again

It seems like I've solved everything by doing one simple thing. Restoring the .dll file that AVG thought was harmful in the Virus Vault (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\X64\3\OLD\1\PRINTCONFIG.DLL). When I restored it, it asked me if I wanted to overwrite several things in not only the system32 but also the registry. After I clicked yes on each option, I restarted and everything went back to normal (Control Panel, Sound, everything!!).

I'm really concerned over the number of people who have faced this issue and are not sure why, or what. AVG really messed up here.


Thanks for your help and the consistent replies

I'm a BSOD specialist so I didn't do anything helpful here.
You solved this by your research.
Nice work!

tty1307 said:

Hi again

It seems like I've solved everything by doing one simple thing. Restoring the .dll file that AVG thought was harmful in the Virus Vault (C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\X64\3\OLD\1\PRINTCONFIG.DLL). When I restored it, it asked me if I wanted to overwrite several things in not only the system32 but also the registry. After I clicked yes on each option, I restarted and everything went back to normal (Control Panel, Sound, everything!!).

I'm really concerned over the number of people who have faced this issue and are not sure why, or what. AVG really messed up here.


Thanks for your help and the consistent replies

Click to expand...

Thanx for reporting back ..

usasma said:

I'm a BSOD specialist so I didn't do anything helpful here.

Click to expand...

... good support nevertheless.