Windows 10: BSOD reboot loop "CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED"

Hi there,

I am in an unpleasant situation and I hope you can help me.

First, I appreciate you need the correct information to diagnose - my system does not boot up anymore, not even in safe more, so I am unable to run the log collector app you require.

This is what happened: I was diagnosing another PC which had issues with Windows Update. I followed a tutorial and deleted the content of the CatRoot2 folder but I unintentionally deleted the content of the PC I was remoting from instead! (yes I know, don't say anything!)
In fact, I may have unintentionally deleted the CatRoot folder instead.
PC was still fine but I was unable to run mmc.exe (to change partitions). I tracked the problem down to the a digital signature in the CatRoot folder I tampered with so I decided to apply a System Restore.

I rebooted and that was the last time I saw Windows up and running.

The system is in a constant BSOD loop. Error is "Critical Service Failed". It does not show a STOP code.

I tried the following:
- Safe mode - ends with stop 0xc000021a
- Disable driver signature enforcement - the boot proceeds a bit more but then ends up with a stop code 0xc000021a
- chkdsk
- sfc /scannow
- automatic startup repair
- Apply other restore points (they all failed and eventually they all disappeared?)
- Run DISM via command prompt. I get a "the component store is repairable" but it doesn't like my source apparently.
- Tried boot logging but I cannot find the log file afterwards...

I appreciate that in these cases a reinstall is the best solution but I really would like to resuscitate the system - I'd like to recover my apps for now. I'm ok if this is not the best/fastest solution.
I also understand that to run a 'repair install' I need a working Windows installation.

I am not sure I can find the dump file, I found the attached which has today's date. I managed to open it with a dump file analyzer even though it has a TMP extension.

My system (apologies if not too detailed, I would need to access Windows to check!):

Computer name: should be ENTERPRISE
Windows version: Windows 10 , 1803
Windows dir: C:\WINDOWS
Hardware: MSI P67A G65 MB
CPU: intel 2600K
RAM: 8GB Crucial

I've always been so impressed by this forum - you have all my trust guys!
Please do let me know what you require from the system and I'll try to grab that.

Thank you!

:)

 

Windows 10 BSOD loop - CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED

I have exactly the same problem that you described. My minidump is
here. My PC is a TOSHIBA SATELLITE P50-C-17C

The windows only boot in disabled driver signature enforcement mode.

Thank you

 

Windows 10 BSOD loop - CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED

Hi guys, I'm really hoping someone can help.

My laptop is a few years old and was updated from windows 8 to 10 within the last 2 years.

Ive had a few problems recently with it freezing up, but never the BSOD. It generally reboots and continues on working. I try to keep drivers updated as often as they come out.

Now it is stuck in a BSOD with the stopcode CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED.

In the BSOD:

- reset the PC doesn't work

- system restore doesn't work

- system image recovery won't work due to no images saved.

- startup repair doesn't work

- nothing works in startup settings (safe mode, etc)

- command prompt will open

the minidump and memory.dmp files are in the windows folder, but I'm unsure how to get them saved, able to be uploaded for someone to view.

Can anyone give me a hand? Much appreciated!

Thanks.

 

Windows 10 BSOD loop - CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED

After a few error messages (btTool.exe) my pc got a BSOD and rebooted. The pc was unable to boot and kept throwing a BSOD: CRITICAL SERVICE FAILURE. The only way I could boot Windows was by booting with the option "Disable driver signature enforcement".

I tried a lot of things: memory tests, sfc, bcdedit options, ... . Unfortunately without luck.

I fixed this issue by doing a repair using a Windows 10 .iso and just doing an installation of Windows overriding the current version with keeping files and apps. This repair took two hours and the system is working and booting fine now. Good luck.