Error 0x8000FFFF, all found solutions don't work

Lady Jel · 20 Apr 2016

For a few days now I've been searching the internet like a madman and trying every tip or advice to solve this error, but nothing helps. I'm a student and really need my laptop, so I would reaaaaaly appreciate all the help I could get, I'm really frustrated and stressed because of this

I have a HP Probook 4530s laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium 64b, and since the beginning of April it begun crashing and shutting down randomly. At the beginning I could turn it back on, but last few times I couldn't. I thought that the only reason was overheating (and probably partly it was), so I cleaned it and replaced the thermal paste and thought problem was solved.

Even so, Windows won't start up (fireflies come and the flag shines a few times, then it freezes), but I can boot into Safe mode. I have tried System repair (gives error 0x8000ffff), restore (won't restore to any point nor the last known good configuration), tried cleaning the disc from junk and malware combined with restore and repair (junk cleaned, no malware), updated my drivers with Driver Reviver, executed all the tests for memory, battery, hardware (everything's ok), tried everything I could find, but nothing helps.

I don't have Windows CD because I bought my laptop in the shop with Windows already installed. I don't know if there is a solution to this, but the last thing that I would want to do is to reinstall Windows...

Thanks in advance :)

mjf · 21 Apr 2016

A priority should be to backup your data (as a student I imagine assignments etc...). One way to do this is boot a lightweight CD/USB linux distro. You boot this independent of Windows. Guidance is given here
Lucid Puppy way to recover files from a non-bootable computer

You suggest you have the ability to reinstall Windows. How are you planning to do this if necessary?
If you need to reinstall you need to run some diagnostics on your PC after installing - particularly on the HDD. You also should be keeping some system images using a program like (free) Macrium Reflect. A system image is the best way to get you out of trouble even if your HDD fails.

Someone may be able to address your 0x8000FFFF error but it sounds like you've researched it a fair bit already.