Critical
Operating Systems
✓ Solution Verified by Community (0+ upvotes)
How to fix error 0x00000074 in Windows 11
Bug Check 0x00000074: BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO — Bad system configuration information.
Fix based on community reports and expert analysis. Last verified: 2026-08-12
· How we verify fixes
| Error Code | 0x00000074 |
|---|---|
| Affected System | Windows 11 (Microsoft) |
| Difficulty | Critical |
| Estimated Time | 60 min |
| Requires Admin Rights | ⚠️ Yes |
| Requires Reboot | 🔄 Yes |
Solution Steps
- 1 Boot into Safe Mode: Try to boot into Safe Mode using the methods described. If successful, you can attempt repairs from within Windows.
- 2 Run Startup Repair: Use the installation media to boot and select 'Repair your computer' → 'Troubleshoot' → 'Advanced options' → 'Startup Repair'. This can fix boot issues related to registry corruption.
- 3 Use System Restore: In the recovery environment, select 'System Restore' and choose a restore point before the error occurred. This will revert the registry to a previous state.
- 4 Restore registry hives manually: If you have a backup of the registry (e.g., from C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack), you can copy them back. In the recovery environment's Command Prompt, use commands like 'copy C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack\SYSTEM C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM' (repeat for other hives like SOFTWARE, SAM, SECURITY, DEFAULT). This is advanced and should be done carefully.
- 5 Run DISM and SFC: If you can access the command prompt from the recovery environment, run 'DISM /Image:C:\ /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth' and 'sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=C:\Windows' to repair system files.
🔍 Didn't work? Enter your GPU and CPU for hardware-specific advice:
🔧 Still having issues?
Describe your exact problem to Error Buddy and get a personalized fix in seconds.
🛠️ Try Error Buddy — It's Free