“Bad system config info” is one of the blue screen of death errors many Windows users encounter. In case you are one of them, do not despair. We will offer you with a range of methods to fix the problem.
The issue is not new. Ever since Windows 7 was released, the operating system’s users have been encountering this error on different occasions. It has appeared during and after Windows logins, after working some time on their computers, after certain peripheral devices like the keyboard or the mouse stopped responding, and other occasions.
Sometimes users were “greeted” with the message “A problem has been detected and windows has been shutdown to prevent damage”. In other cases, the BSOD read “Your PC ran into a problem that it couldn’t handle, and now it needs to restart”, prompting them to search online for the “BAD_SYSTEM_CONFIG_INFO” error.
As with many other Windows-related problems, there are several ways in which it can be fixed. Usually, the error results from corrupted system files or registry entries. However, memory and disk partition problems could also lead to the aforementioned problem.
BSOD errors are not always easy to fix. However, if you’re good at guessing the reason behind your particular problem, it makes the issue so much easier to resolve.
The following are our proposed methods for fixing the error:
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StartUp repair
This is usually done automatically when Windows boot fails several times. It initiates Startup repair and prompts you to attempt fixing common problems.
In case you can’t access Windows, you would need a bootable Windows media such as a disk or a bootable flash drive.
The steps to take for StartUp repair are as follows:
- Insert your bootable Windows media and restart your PC
- Press F8
- Choose the option to repair your PC
- Go to Troubleshoot and then to Advanced Options and Startup Repair
- Follow the repair wizard to the letter. It will attempt to fix common problems preventing Windows startup. Hopefully, it will also fix the “bad system config info” error.
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Last Known Good Configuration
Windows 7, 8 and 10 users can try this option by going through the following steps:
- Restart your computer
- Press F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Options menu appears
- Choose “Last known good configuration (Advanced)” by scrolling up and down with the arrow keys
- Restart the computer
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Bootrec Commands.
If the previous repair methods are unsuccessful, you can try this solution. Once again, you will need your bootable Windows media but instead of choosing Startup Repair, try Command Prompt. You can reach it through Troubleshoot => Advanced Options => Command Prompt.
After you run Command Prompt, try the following commands – “bootrec /fixmbr”,” bootrec /fixboot” and “bootrec /rebuildbcd”.
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Fix corrupted registry entries
Corrupted registry entries can also be the reason for our error. You can repair the registry with the following steps:
- Boot your PC with your bootable Windows media
- Go through Troubleshoot => Advanced Options => Command Prompt
- After Command Prompt opens, enter the following commands, pressing enter after each one:
- CD C:WindowsSystem32config
- ren C:WindowsSystem32configDEFAULT DEFAULT.old
- ren C:WindowsSystem32configSAM SAM.old
- ren CWindowsSystem32configSECURITY SECURITY.old
- ren C:WindowsSystem32configSOFTWARE SOFTWARE.old
- ren C:WindowsSystem32configSYSTEM SYSTEM.old
- copy C:WindowsSystem32configRegBackDEFAULT C:WindowsSystem32config
- copy C:WindowsSystem32configRegBackSAM C:WindowsSystem32config
- copy C:WindowsSystem32configRegBackSECURITY C:WindowsSystem32config
- copy C:WindowsSystem32configRegBackSYSTEM C:WindowsSystem32config
- copy C:WindowsSystem32configRegBackSOFTWARE C:WindowsSystem32config
These commands will replace the previous registry entries with the registry backup. After you are done with the commands, restart your PC and see if this fixes your problem.
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System Restore
Restore your computer to an earlier date by going through the steps below:
- Restart your PC twice to begin the repair process.
- Go through Troubleshooting => Advanced Options => System Restore.
- Choose a username and go through the proposed instructions.
- Decide which restore point you wish to use. Then click next.
- Wait for the restoration process to complete.
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Update your drivers
If you are able to start Windows, you can try to update all your incompatible, outdated and in general all drivers. They may be the cause for the BSOD error.
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Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic
Go through the following steps:
- Left-click the Windows start button and type “memory”
- Choose “Windows Memory Diagnostic”
- Choose “Restart now and check for problems (recommended)”
This is all you need to do. Your PC will restart and try to detect problems. If it finds any, contact the manufacturer of the faulty hardware for a solution to the problem.
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Repair corrupted hard disk sectors
Damaged hard disk sectors may also lead to this error. Thus, checking your hard drive or problems is also a viable solution. To do so, follow the steps outlined below:
- Click Windows key + X and choose Command Prompt(Admin).
- Press “chkdsk /f” and press Enter
- If it prompts you to restart the PC as seen on the picture, do so.
The process will attempt to fix your problems automatically and hopefully resolve your error too.
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Use bcdedit
Your PC system’s configuration can be yet another reason for the BSOD error. When the system is not configured correctly, this can be a problem. The following steps explain how to use the bcdedit command:
- Restart your computer and while it boots, start the automatic repair
- Go through Troubleshooting => Advanced Options => Command Prompt
- Enter the following lines in Command Prompt:
- bcdedit/deletevalue {defult} value numproc
- bcdedit/deletevalue {defult} truncatememory
- Close the Command Prompt window and restart the computer.
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Fix a damaged BCD file.
When these files are damaged, you will very likely face the “bad system config info” error. This will also more often than not prevent you from accessing your PC.
In order to attempt this solution, you will need to restart your PC with a disk or a bootable USB flash drive and do the following:
- Go through Troubleshooting => Advanced Options => Command Prompt
- Once you’re in Command Prompt, enter the following commands:
- bootrec/repairbcd
- bootrec/osscan
- bootrec/repairmbr
- Stop the Command Prompt and restart our PC
We strongly recommend that you go through these methods until you find the one that solves your problem.
