Solved Windows 11 Home - BSOD Critical service died, Deleted Catroot folder


GamerMan

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Windows 11 Home
Hello i deleted the CatRoot folder in system32 on 10-3-2022 as a cumulative update failed that day, now i have the blue screen "Critical Service Died". I have some Games For Windows Live games that have no remaining key activations and i do not want to lose my installed windows apps and settings, so i do not want to do a reset or refresh. I tried all things like sfc etc with no luck. I found this thread: BSOD reboot loop "CRITICAL SERVICE FAILED" - Windows 10 Help Forums that says that you can boot with driver signatures disabled if you copy the files from a working system with the same OS and do an inplace upgrade. I tried copying the CatRoot folder from a windows 10 home pc, windows 8.1 pro pc and the X:\windows\system32 folder but i get BSOD error 0x0000021a when i try to boot with signatures disabled. I do not have another pc that can install windows 11 and recuva did not see my old catroot files since overwrote them. Is there any way to fix this without losing my apps and settings?
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 Home latest version from 10-3-2022 except for the cumulative update from that day.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
Could someone send me the default Catroot folder of windows 11 home please?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
You cannot just copy a catroot folder from one PC to another. First of all, if you were having trouble with an update, the normal route is to rename that folder rather than delete it and then windows update would establish it again. When you deleted it, did the troublesome update then apply? If so, then the catroot folder was re-established at that time.

If you deleted this folder in Oct. and your system has been running ever since, it is doubtful it has anything to do with your current blue screen. The blue screen can be caused by your software as well as defective hardware and drivers. I suggest you enter this thread into the BSOD Analysis category of this forum along with the applicable logs.

As far as installing windows and retaining your games, if you can boot into Windows, you can do a repair install. Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

If you cannot boot into windows, you can do a system reset using the "keep personal files and folders" option which should retain everything you downloaded from the Windows store.

I would like to suggest that once you get this worked out that you establish some sort of backup plan to protect you in the future. When it comes to software failure, backups can save you.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
You cannot just copy a catroot folder from one PC to another. First of all, if you were having trouble with an update, the normal route is to rename that folder rather than delete it and then windows update would establish it again. When you deleted it, did the troublesome update then apply? If so, then the catroot folder was re-established at that time.

If you deleted this folder in Oct. and your system has been running ever since, it is doubtful it has anything to do with your current blue screen. The blue screen can be caused by your software as well as defective hardware and drivers. I suggest you enter this thread into the BSOD Analysis category of this forum along with the applicable logs.

As far as installing windows and retaining your games, if you can boot into Windows, you can do a repair install. Repair Install Windows 11 with an In-place Upgrade Tutorial

If you cannot boot into windows, you can do a system reset using the "keep personal files and folders" option which should retain everything you downloaded from the Windows store.

I would like to suggest that once you get this worked out that you establish some sort of backup plan to protect you in the future. When it comes to software failure, backups can save you.
Hello, thank you for responding. I deleted catroot this week on March 10th, and when i restarted i got this blue screen. I am not able to boot into windows sadly so i do not think it is possible to do an inplace upgrade. Will resetting while keeping my apps restore the catroot files? And from the thread i posted it seemed that copying the catroot folder from a different pc would let your pc get to windows while driver signature check is disabled which is a sacrifice i am willing to make lol.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
Deleting catroot folder should not cause Windows 11 have BSoD error. Catroot is Windows system folders required for Windows Updates. Deleting this folder has been known to fix Windows Update errors or problems.

Post a picture of the blue screen error message.

If there are any attached memory dumb files (.dmp) created by BSOD you can find the dump files at C:\Windows or C:\Windows\MiniDump folder.

You can open File Explorer by typing notepad.exe command at Command Prompt and from Notepad click File --> Open.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
:( It says "File too large" but the code is CRITICAL_SERVICE_FAILED

I do not see any dump files even after setting save as to "all files" instead of just .txt files.
I have deleted the catroot2 folder in the past, but this time i deleted the catroot folder aswell and apparently deleting that one makes your pc bluescreen while catroot2 will not.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
Deleting catroot folder should not cause Windows 11 have BSoD error. Catroot is Windows system folders required for Windows Updates. Deleting this folder has been known to fix Windows Update errors or problems.

Deleting catroot2 is used for troubleshooting Windows update.
Deleting catroot often causes failure to boot.

See this link:


Code:
if exist "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\Catroot2.bak" rmdir /s /q "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\Catroot2.bak"
if exist "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\Catroot2" (
    attrib -r -s -h /s /d "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\Catroot2"
    ren "%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\Catroot2" Catroot2.bak

 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation
To answer your question, Yes, a reset will restore catroot
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
A reset save files if it can be performed will result in the loss of drivers and applications.



A custom install will also result in the loss of drivers and applications.



Boot to a Windows 10 iso > perform a system restore to the oldest restore point

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation
Maybe the Cryptographic does not work, is there a way to run services.msc from the windows pe cmd? Currently it says interface not supported.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
It won't work because you've deleted the CatRoot folder, this is where all your cryptographic hash information is stored for the signed files on your system. The operating system isn't able to verify the integrity of any of files on your system now and therefore will refuse to run anything. You'll going to have to either attempt a repair install using an .ISO of the same build or do a complete clean install. Those are your only options I'm afraid.

Deleting catroot folder should not cause Windows 11 have BSoD error. Catroot is Windows system folders required for Windows Updates. Deleting this folder has been known to fix Windows Update errors or problems.
That's simply incorrect. The CatRoot folder is one of the most important directories and should not touched under any circumstances unless you have a strong understanding of what should be there and what shouldn't. The catroot2 folder is one which many people suggest people delete to resolve Windows Update problems, even though there is very little reason to do so.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Windows 10, Linux Fedora Cinnamon
I don't know if copying CatRoot folder from Windows 11 Pro will help your problem but it won't hurt to try it out.

Here is the download link for CatRoot: CatRoot.zip
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
You can't copy a CatRoot folder from another system; you're going to have completely different packages.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Windows 10, Linux Fedora Cinnamon
You can't copy a CatRoot folder from another system; you're going to have completely different packages.
That is why i said i don't know it will work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
It's a protected folder; you can't just copy packages over even if they were the exact same. The user has to either attempt a repair install (highly doubt it will work) or do a complete clean install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Windows 10, Linux Fedora Cinnamon
I don't know if copying CatRoot folder from Windows 11 Pro will help your problem but it won't hurt to try it out.

Here is the download link for CatRoot: CatRoot.zip
I copied these to my system32 folder and now my system works again :D thank you so much! I didn't even have to disable driver signature checks. Also thanks to everyone else, i am very happy my PC is working again!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
Btw when it started it said "updates are installing" and then it just loaded up normally.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCentre 510-15ICB 90HU005EMH
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Graphics Card(s)
    1050 TI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
This is hard to believe since it is a protected OS file and even a different version of Windows. But, weird things sometimes work. I would certainly followup with sfc /scannow from command prompt and a manual 'check for updates"
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
I copied these to my system32 folder and now my system works again :D thank you so much! I didn't even have to disable driver signature checks. Also thanks to everyone else, i am very happy my PC is working again!
We are glad to hear your issue has been resolved, thank you for letting us know that all is now well!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    Erica6
    Memory
    Micron Technology DDR4-3200 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC671
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster U28E590
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG MZVLQ1T0HALB-000H1
This is hard to believe since it is a protected OS file and even a different version of Windows.
I agree, I assume that the user has taken ownership of the directory? DISM will probably be better than SFC in this circumstance. I would be curious to see what happens when the next cumulative update is released, however, they may get lucky and experience no problems for some time.

I still firmly stand on my point that a repair install or a clean install were the safest options.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11, Windows 10, Linux Fedora Cinnamon

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