Windows issue reported.
Windows issue reported.
I cleared CAM and restarted the PC, but it still fixed itself without reinstalling. If you reinstall Windows, it will create a fresh installation, so your files should remain safe. Let me know if you need more details.
You can restore Windows and maintain your data via the recovery options. This usually requires rebooting the system three times, letting it attempt a failure each time (which might trigger automatic recovery), or generating a recovery disc or USB with the Windows Media Creation Tool. In the recovery menu, you’ll find the chance to reinstall Windows while preserving all your files. Keep in mind, I strongly advise backing up your data to another device or external storage beforehand.
Sfsync04.sys is a Starforce 4 game and DRM software. Microsoft has completely prohibited Starforce from Windows 10 because it is viewed as a rootkit, exposing serious security vulnerabilities that the company never addressed. Programs running with StarForce 4 cannot be compatible with Windows 10. The error you encounter occurs when Windows rejects the DRM driver component. Since it lacks digital signing and Microsoft will not approve it, the system refuses to boot. To resolve this: Make sure SecureBoot is activated in your UEFI. This is essential to prevent boot-level rootkits. Use a Windows 10 installation USB or disk, boot from it, and choose the "EFI" option for your drive. After selecting your language, pick the "Repair" option and follow the prompts to perform a System Restore. This will revert your system to a previous stable state without impacting personal files. You should resume normal operation afterward. Other DRM solutions Windows 10 offers include SafeDisc and Securom (updated). StarForce provides a patch for its DRM system to function as a driver-level solution for Windows 10. If correct, there are no uninstallers available for StarForce 4. After installation, consider a clean install with a drive format or perform a system restore before using the software.
Perform a fresh setup with formatting, removing everything in C:\. Clean install without formatting will erase all data assuming sufficient space. It will gather all files from C:\ and move them into a folder named Windows.OLD in C:\. Install Windows will later remove that folder after 30 days. I suggest making a backup just in case. Having a backup protects your information, and it safeguards you if something goes wrong. Activating Secure Boot stops rootkits from activating. If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to delete extra recovery and EFI partitions during setup. The C:\ formatting should remove the two small partitions and the Windows partition, merging them automatically. You’ll select available space, click Next, and it will suggest creating new partitions for boot and recovery. This process seems simpler than it appears. A System Restore might help restore your system if needed. I don’t understand how it was installed—it could be a paid program or an older game, but newer StarForce versions should work with Windows 10. It’s unlikely to come with a driver, so there’s probably no real benefit.
I attempted to repair the windows and revert it to an older version, but it returns an error stating it can't restore. How can I transfer my files from the M.2 SSD where Windows is installed? Is there a clean install option without formatting available? Can this process copy only old files to the C drive? If so, can I move old programs from the old Windows installation to the new setup and they should function properly? Additionally, how can I back up my data if I can't open Windows at all? My original Windows is stored on the hard drive, but when I open UEFI, only the SSD appears, preventing booting from the HDD.