There are times when this program pops up when you try to open some utilities on Windows. Nevertheless, it is most common when Microsoft Office programs like Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and others fail to start.
If you're facing this issue, you're not alone. We research, and you can find all the troubleshooting steps to fix this issue below.
This guide will help you determine why the 'Configuration Registry Database is Corrupt' error message pops up and how you can get rid of it.
User Experience
This error message is common with office applications. When it appears, the program exits automatically, and users usually cannot access the program on their PC without first addressing the issue.
Many users experience this issue, especially when running the DISM utility. Although it could be because of a corrupt file or other reasons, users usually have no idea how to deal with this issue when it pops up. It is an annoying error message that requires patience to get rid of.
Some users have shared concerns that this error causes all Windows apps to cease working. Other times, users experience this error message only when they try to open an office file. To improve user experience, we'll share all the methods you can use to eliminate this issue in the next section.
Several Different Causes that Trigger This Particular Corruption
Many things could cause the error message 'The Configuration Registry Database is Corrupt' to pop up in Windows. We narrowed it down to typical reasons below to help you determine which option triggered the error message on your PC and how you can fix it.
Cause 1: Corrupt Office Installation
One of the causes of this error message is a corrupt Office installation. It is a result of some type of corruption found in the registry. If you carried out an antivirus scan and quarantined some files or programs related to Microsoft Office, you might receive this message. Most times, repairing the file is the only way to remove the registry error if this is the cause.
Cause 2: System File Corruption
Another factor that could cause 'The Configuration Registry Database is Corrupted' error message to appear in Windows is system files corruption. This reason is common for most people. If that is the case, you might find that all Windows apps will become unresponsive. Other times, the system file corruption affects the applications on the Microsoft Office Package. Therefore, it will cause the error message to appear when you try to launch any file with the extension. Starting a system file checker scan might help fix the issue if this is the cause of the error message.
Cause 3: 3rd Party App
There are times when your files and programs are not corrupt. In such cases, you might be seeing this error because of a conflict between your system files and a third-party process. It could also be due to the corruption of the third-party app, causing it to interfere with the Microsoft Office process. If a third-party program is causing this error, then a clean boot or getting rid of the program entirely should resolve the conflict and eliminate the error message on your PC.
Methods to Fix Configuration Registry Database
Fixing configuration registry database error is not always easy. However, now that you know the likely causes of this issue, below are some solutions to help you deal with the problem effectively.
- Method 1: Run SFC and DISM Scans
Most times, the cause of this error is system file corruption. It usually affects the computer's ability to run office programs. If this is the case, running some scans should fix the issue. The System File Checker scan operates excellently without the internet and allows you to fix system file entries and other disk-related problems on your PC. Below are the quick steps you should take.
- First, launch the start menu and then enter 'command prompt' into the search bar.
- Tap to 'run as administrator' when it pops up in the search result.
- Next, in the command prompt shell, enter the command 'SFC/scannow' and hit 'enter.'
Once the process starts, you shouldn't interrupt it so as not to put your system at risk. After the system scan is complete, restart your PC and wait for the startup process to complete. Once the system is back up, you're ready to initiate a DISM scan.
This relies on several Windows Update components to download clean copies of the corrupt system files. Therefore, to run a DISM scan, you need a stable internet connection. After the downloads, restart your computer again, and the error message should be gone.
- Method 2: Perform a system restore
Another option you can try to fix the 'Configuration Registry Database is Completed' error in Windows is to perform a system restore. This solution works if a recent update or app is causing the error message to appear. If you don't know the exact app causing the issue, your best option would be to use the system restore option. Follow the quick steps below to restore your system to an earlier time.
- Firstly, click on 'start' and type' system restore' in the search menu.
- Next, click on the 'system protection' tab and click on 'system restore to proceed.
- Your next action is to click on 'show more restore points.' This would provide you with different points you can restore to. Choose your preferred option.
- Click 'next' to proceed.
- Once you do this, the restore process will start, and all you have to do is wait.
Once it is complete, click finish and try to relaunch the office file to see if the error message still appears. If it's not, then the third-party apps were the issue.
- Method 3: Use clean boot condition
When you see the 'Configuration Registry Database is Corrupted' error in Windows when you try using SFC, then maybe the problem is a third-party process. Like the System restore process, a clean boot can help you eliminate this interference. After a clean boot, many users reported that they no longer experienced the error message again. Follow the quick steps below to initiate a clean boot on your PC.
- Firstly, press the Windows + R key simultaneously to launch the run command.
- Type 'MSConfig' into the available text box and click OK to proceed.
- Your next option is to switch to the 'services' tab.
- Check the 'Hide all Microsoft Services' option and select the 'Disable All' button.
- Next, go to the startup tab and launch Windows Task Manager. Check the boxes next to all the programs and then choose the 'disable all button.
- After you make the changes listed above, try rebooting your device. This action should result in a clean boot.
If this clean boot operation is successful, you will have to reverse-engineer all the steps you took and then reboot in the normal mode.
- Repair the Office Application
If you're experiencing this configuration error while trying to open an Office file, it might be a corruption issue found in your registry box. Many users confirmed seeing this error after a virus scan that led to some of their Office Suite being quarantined. Follow the quick steps below to repair the office installation on your PC.
- Open the 'run' dialog box by pressing Windows key + R.
- Next, type' appwiz.cpl' in the text box and press 'enter' to proceed.
- This would open up the 'programs and features' menu in a new window.
- Scroll through the list of apps and locate Microsoft Office.
- Right-click on the app and choose 'change' from the options.
- On the next screen, choose 'online repair' and ensure you have a steady internet connection.
Once the repair process starts, don't close the windows. Simply wait for the program to be complete, and afterward, restart your PC to see if that fixes the issue.
If the Configuration Registry Database is Corrupted in Excel, Word, PDF, or PowerPoint, what's the Best Solution?
Sometimes, the 'Configuration Registry Database is Corrupted' error keeps appearing in Windows because your files are corrupt. You can use Wondershare Repairit to fix the problem in such a case. It is an effective solution and allows the repair of multiple file types simultaneously. There's also no limitation to the file size you can repair on this user-friendly tool. You only need three steps to fix your Office files and eliminate the error message.
Step One: Launch and Add Files
You have to install the Wondershare Repairit app on your PC. Afterward, launch the app and navigate to the 'file repair' section. Click the 'add' button right in the middle of the Rapairit page, and this would cause a browser window to open. Select the corrupt files and press enter; you can select multiple file types.
Step Two: Begin the Repair Process
Once you add the files, click 'repair' at the end of the page to start fixing your files. Repairit will notify you once the process is complete with a prompt.
Step Three: Save Files
Once the software completes the repair process, you can preview them to confirm your files are back in their original state.
Afterward, click 'save all' at the end of the screen, and from the browser window that appears, choose the location you want to save to.
That's all you have to do; you can now try to open your Office files. This should fix the corruption issues and eliminate the 'Configuration Registry Database is Corrupted' error message.
Bonus:
For cloud service lovers, the Repairit online file repair tool also lets you fix Excel, Word, PDF, or PowerPoint corruption problems and boost your office productivity.
Summing It Up
We hope this article explains why you're experiencing the error message and what to do. The solutions above will help you eliminate the 'The Configuration Registry Database is Corrupt' error message in Windows. You can try multiple of these solutions to determine which option is right for you. If you still have challenges after trying out the solutions, you should download Wondershare to fix all the corruption issues on your files and eliminate the error message.
