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Boot err: File: \WINDOWS\system32\config\system Status: 0xc0000225
Debugging a Windows 10 system where windows were opening randomly and characters were being entered randomly, I put the system into Diagnostic boot mode then rebooted, and the fun began. Turns out PIN doesn't work in Diagnostic boot mode and the owner doesn't remember his login password. I was not smart enough to activate the built-in Administrator account before doing this (important lesson learned) so I've spent the last day trying to get the system out of Diagnostic boot mode.
After futzing with it (technical term) I used Macrium fix boot problems which would have put the machine back to normal boot, but now I'm getting a blue screen at boot:
The Operatting system couldn't be loaded because the system registry file is missing or
contains errors.
File: \WINDOWS\system32\config\system
Error code: 0xc0000225
I tried booting a install flash drive and opening a Command prompt and running (in case it was a BCD problem):
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd
When I tried to run bootrec /fixboot I get Access denied. How can I resolve this? Also, when I ran /scanos it reports
Total identified windows installations: 0
which is not right.
There are no backups other than the one I just created so I can't restore a good registry or import SYSTEM. Is my only fix to do a clean install then restore data from the backup I created yesterday?