SAM Failed to Initialize in Windows

Windows 2000 and its later versions use a database to store user’s passwords called Security Accounts Manager or simply SAM. The database is saved as registry file. Adding to some levels of protection to stored passwords, this database uses hash format. Now since it’s the part of Windows registry, if SAM file corrupts or is found to be missing user may need to reinstall Windows as a solution. Windows re installation causes no issues until valid backup exists or else Data Recovery applications will be required.

The corresponding error message when the file is missing or corrupt is:

“Security Accounts Manager initialization failed because of the following error: A device attached to the system is not functioning.
Error Status: 0xc0000001.
Please click OK to shut down this system and reboot into Safe Mode, check event log for more detailed information.”

The error is more specific in Windows XP Home and Professional Editions. As mentioned earlier, in order to resolve this issue we need to reinstall Windows. Usually registry file issues can be addressed through Recovery Console. But in this case password file is problematic, so user can’t authenticate when prompted for. However, if user has been using Backup utility to timely backup system state, SAM can be restored using backup through Restore Wizard. But if SAM is failing to be restored, we can copy it from C:\WINDOWS\repair and paste it to C:\WINDOWS\system32\config. In this case user loses all accounts and groups created.

But if Windows re installation lefts as the only option, we need to backup all the data of corresponding partition, reformat it and reinstall Windows. An extra caution is required when it comes to data backup. This is because if data backup fails to restore required files, may be due to partial file backup or media errors, Data Recovery Software are required. So log report and backup itself must be crosschecked after performing backup.

Data Recovery Software

By Data Recovery applications, we mean those tools that use scanning algorithms to logically extract lost data. These software have interactive interface plus added features to ease Data Recovery for users. To use Data Recovery Software, we need to install it on other than affected drive. Then we need to attach the affected hard drive to former one and simply follow the instructions.