Many a time, the WMI Repository gets corrupted, which results in Provider Load Failure. In this guide, we will share how to repair or rebuild the WMI Repository on Windows 11/10. For those who aren’t aware, Windows Management Instrumentation or WMI is a set of specifications from Microsoft to consolidate the management of devices and applications in a network. It is a database that stores meta-information and definitions for WMI classes. Only by using these the conditions of the systems can be known.
The repository is available here –
%windir%\System32\Wbem\Repository
In brief, it provides end users with the status of the local or remote computer system.
Note: Do not use this on Server 2012 Cluster machine
Repair or rebuild the WMI Repository on Windows
There are command line tools to fix or reset or restore the WMI repository. However, Microsoft suggests that its best that you verify if there is corruption.
Below is a list of errors and permission issues you might see-
- Unable to connect to root default or rootcimv2 namespaces. It fails with the error code “0x80041002” pointing to “WBEM_E_NOT_FOUND.”
- When you open Computer Management and Right Click on Computer Management (Local) and select Properties, you get the following error: “WMI: Not Found” or it hangs trying to connect
- 0x80041010 WBEM_E_INVALID_CLASS
- Trying to use wbemtest, and it hangs
- Schemas/Objects missing
- Strange connection/operation errors (0x8007054e).
The ultimate way to check is to run this command in an elevated Command Prompt.
winmgmt /verifyrepository
If the repository has an issue, it will respond “repository is not consistent,” if not then its something else causing the issue. Now that you are sure the corruption exists let’s follow these tips to repair or rebuild the WMI repository.
1] Reset WMI Repository
Open Command Prompt with elevated privileges.
Run the command:
winmgmt /salvagerepository
Then execute the command to see if it now comes back as consistent-
winmgmt /verifyrepository
If it says that Repository is not consistent, then you need to run:
winmgmt /resetrepository
It will help you fix the WMI repository. Here is what each of the WMI commands mean:
- salvagerepository: This option when used with winmmgmt command performs a consistency check. If an inconsistency is detected, it rebuilds the repository.
- verifyrepository: Performs a consistency check on the WMI repository.
- resetrepository: The repository is reset to the initial state when the operating system is first installed
Hope that explains what happens when you execute the commands.
2] Force Recover WMI
WMI comes with an inbuilt self-recovery process. When the WMI service restarts or detects any corruption, the self-recovery procedure will trigger automatically. It happens in two ways:
AutoRestore: Here it will use the backup images if the VSS (Volume Shadow copy) backup is turned on.
AutoRecovery: In this, the rebuilding process will generate fresh images of Repository based on registered MOFs. The MOFS is available in the registry here:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM: Autorecover MOFs
Note: Autorecover MOFs is a key. Double-click on it to check the value.
WMI Self-recovery does not work
If the self-recovery doesn’t work, you can always use the force-recovery process.
Check regkey value is empty or not here:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WBEM\CIMOM\Autorecover MOFs
If the above regkey is empty, copy-paste the regkey value from another machine. Make sure it’s from System which is equivalent to the computer in question.
Next, execute the command-
Winmgmt /resetrepository
If you get an error “WMI repository reset failed. Error code:0x8007041B. Facility: Win32”, then stop all Dependency Services on the WMI service by running the following commands:
net stop winmgmt /y Winmgmt /resetrepository
If both of the suggested fixes don’t work, its time you try an automated tool.
3] WMI Fixer Tool
This tool will fix Server’s WMI Repository when they’re corrupted or experiencing related issues. You can download the WMI Fixer Tool from Technet. This tool has now been taken down, but you can download its PowerShell version from Github.com.
Advanced troubleshooting is available here on microsoft.com.
Related: WMI Repository reset failed, Error 0x80070005, 0x8007041B, 0x80041003
How do I know if my WMI is corrupted?
If WMI is corrupted, you will receive some errors and permission issues with WMI. In such a case, you will see the following errors and symptoms on your computer:
- Unable to connect to rootdefault or rootcimv2 namespaces. Fails returning error code 0x80041002 pointing to WBEM_E_NOT_FOUND.
- When you receive the “WMI. Not Found” error or your computer hangs on opening the properties of Computer Management (Local).
- 0x80041010 WBEM_E_INVALID_CLASS.
- Schemas/Objects missing.
- Strange connection/operation errors (0x8007054e).
- Your system hangs every time you use the wbemtest utility.
The above errors are the symptoms of WMI corruption. Therefore, to confirm the WMI corruption, you have to run the following command in an elevated Command Prompt.
winmgmt /verifyrepository
After running the above command, if you receive the message “repository is not consistent,” WMI is corrupted. If you receive the message “repository is consistent,” the repository does not have an issue. In this case, there is something else causing the issue.
Related read: WMI is causing High CPU usage.
