Error: Another instance is running Configuration System failed to initialize - Windows 10

Original Title: What the **** is wrong with this Company?!?

Several days ago I installed Office Professional Plus 2013 and right after that Windows 10. Ever since whenever I log in a window opens which says "Another instance is running   Configuration System failed to initialize" and the window has an "OK" button. After I press the "OK" button I am logged in but within seconds a blacked-out window opens and within 2 - 3 seconds closes up again. It does this every 20 - 30 seconds or so ALL THE TIME. Over the last several days I have wasted about 5 hours of my life in front of my computer waiting and waiting and waiting for a "Live Support" Tech to help me. I spoke to one "Live Chat" Tech who after asking me more than a dozen questions about my "issue" he then sent me a link to talk to another Tech who would help me! Really? Why the **** was I talking to this knuckle-head then if he couldn't help me? But, the Tech gave me a Ticket # I could give to the other Tech who would be waiting patiently for me when a clicked on the link. The Ticket # would allow the new Tech to view my previous conversation allowing that Tech to get right in and fix the problem for me. Kind of. Nobody was waiting patiently for me after I clicked on the link... In fact for 30 some minutes no body even acknowledged that I even existed. So back to the drawing board and waiting, waiting, waiting for some **** to answer me on Live Chat. This morning I gave the website my Phone Number so a Tech could call me -- A message window popped up and said it would only be 317 minutes for someone to get back to me, Ok. 7 1/2 hours later I get a phone call from an automated system which said all I needed to do was hang on and a Tech would get right with me, Ok. 30 minutes later still no Tech - so I tried the Live Chat again and immediately a Tech popped up and was ready to help me out. I gave her the Ticket # from Day 1 of this fiasco and after a few minutes she said that number did not help her locate my file and wanted me to give her another # - - well Sparky there was no other number for me to give her and so here I go re-explaining the issue. After a number of questions she finally sent me a link and told me to go there and re-install Windows 10. She sent me another link to contact her, if needed, after I re-installed. I hit the link several times and each time it said there was a problem and I should shut down the computer and try the re-install again. Yeah, No - didn't work. So I took the link which she said would get me right back to her and guess what?!??? It went right back to the main "Live Chat" request page and told me that all the Campers were way too busy to talk to me right now but damn if I had a couple of hours I could possibly talk to somebody - maybe - sort of... What the ****?!? I thought Microsoft was a professional business not a bunch of incompetents who actually could be replaced by spider monkeys. I am in no way shape or form a tech dude. I don't need some of idiotic complicated directions about going here and changing this and massaging that and deleting this and inputting that...  

I NEED SOMEBODY AT MS TO FIX THE DAMN PROGRAM THAT IS SCREWING UP MY COMPUTER! IS THAT REALLY SO DIFFICULT???

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Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

We apologies for the inconvenience.

  • Are you able to boot the computer to desktop?

If you are able to boot the computer to desktop, follow the steps below and check.

Method 1: Start the computer in safe mode and check if you still receive any message. If you do not receive any error message, place the computer in clean boot state and check.

Step 1: Start the computer in safe mode

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words Safe Mode appear in the corners of your monitor to identify which Windows mode you're using.

a. When you hit the power button in Windows 10ssss, hold down the Shift key when clicking the Restart button.

b. The next screen will present you with three options. Click Troubleshoot.

c. Next, hit Advanced options followed by Windows Startup Settings from the next screen.

d. Your PC will now be rebooted to enable the advanced parameters, which include Safe Mode as well. Once it restarts, you’ll get nine options whereby the following commands apply:

  • F4 for Safe Mode
  • F5 for Safe Mode with Networking
  • F6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Step 2:  Perform Clean boot to avoid any third party software conflict.

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

Placing your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows          

Note: Refer "How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting" to reset the computer to start as normal after troubleshooting.

Method 2: Run System File Checker tool 

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

Press Windows key + X and click Command Prompt (Admin)

Type the following command and press Enter

sfc /scannow

Note: Do not close this Command Prompt window until the verification is 100% complete. The scan results will be shown after this process is finished.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

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I did all this and it says there are no integrity issues; but I am still getting the same message: Another instance is running/Configuration system failed to intialize.

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Hi Linda,

Thank you for the update and I apologize for the delay in response.

If the issue persists, I suggest you to perform DISM from the below link.

The DISM or System Update Readiness tool may help you to fix some Windows corruption errors. 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/947821

Hope the information helps. Let us know if you need further assistance. We will be happy to help.

Thank you.

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Shame that the Microsoft Support Engineer didn't read the problem correctly.

The fault is with Windows 10 and the link to the fix he gives does not support Windows 10!!

I have the same problem and not able to fix it.

Another Microsoft problem to trouble people.

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It seems to be true that this response was worthless. I had the same result. Maybe there is a software engineer that can really get rid of this annoying error message somewhere in the universe!

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Hello,

Thank you for your response.

I appreciate your time and concern.

I would suggest you to install all available Windows updates and check if it helps.

Please also send feedback about Windows 10 using Windows feedback app.

I hope it helps.

Thank you

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Ratandeep

Yes, of course I have installed all the Windows updates - it was following one of those updates that  caused this problem.

I have posted feedback on the Windows feedback app - but what is the point?? Nobody will reply to me or give me an answer.

It just seems that Microsoft programmers don't want to help people with the problems that they have caused with their programming!!

Where do I and others go from here to get help??

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Hello Adrian,

Thank you for the reply.

I appreciate your concern and patience.

I would suggest you to check the issue in a new user account.
Refer:
Create a local user account in Windows 10
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10

I hope this information helps.

Thank you

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As it turns out a software named Ad Adware was causing the problem because I did not buy it maybe? Once I deleted it the error message went away.

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Hello,

Thank you for the update.

I appreciate your efforts.

It is good to know that you managed to fix the issue.

I hope that you suggestion may help other community members to resolve similar issues.

Thank you

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Last updated April 10, 2024 Views 109,232 Applies to: