What’s causing these errors after updates?
Q
Following recent updates to Windows 10, whenever I start up my PC it shows a warning box headed ‘Another instance is running’. It also says ‘Configuration system failed to initialize’. The only button is OK. I click this and all seems to proceed as if nothing has happened, and I’m aware of no other problems. However, it is annoying. I’ve found apparent solutions online but they start by telling me to press the Windows key+x and to then choose the ‘Command Prompt (Admin)’ from the menu. Well, the menu appears but that option isn’t on it. So really, I have no idea what to do. Any help would be appreciated. Mike Mackenzie
A
This is probably caused by a system file being corrupted during an update, perhaps because the PC’S power was switched off unexpectedly. You should be able to fix it using Microsoft’s System File Checker tool (SFC), which is indeed run from the Command Prompt. This option used to be on the Quick Link menu that opens when you press Windows key+x, but Microsoft removed its entry with the release of the Fall Creators Update (FCU), back in October 2017.
Instead, click the Start button, rightclick Command Prompt and choose ‘Run as administrator’ (see screenshot above). If prompted, click Yes to allow it to open. Next, in the Command Prompt window that appears, type sfc /scannow (see screenshot left) and press Enter. SFC will now search for and automatically repair any corrupt files it finds, reporting its actions at the end. At this point, close the Command Prompt window, then restart your PC.