I had always prided myself on being quite tech-savvy, but there are moments when even the most experienced among us find themselves tangled in a web of digital confusion. That’s exactly what happened to me recently when I encountered a perplexing error related to Credential Manager on my Windows system. The error code was 0x80090345, and it was causing a significant headache.
It started on an ordinary afternoon while I was working on a critical project. My system suddenly prompted me with a notification indicating that there was an issue with Credential Manager. This wasn’t a standard warning; it was an error code that I hadn’t encountered before. A quick search on the internet revealed that 0x80090345 is associated with issues in the Credential Manager, which is a tool used by Windows to store credentials like usernames and passwords.
Initially, I was unsure how to tackle this problem. Credential Manager is vital for managing passwords and other security-related information, so its malfunction could potentially disrupt my workflow or even compromise security. I decided to dig deeper into the issue and find a solution.
My first approach was to restart the Credential Manager service. Sometimes, errors like these can be resolved by simply restarting the associated service. To do this, I went to the Services application by typing “services.msc” in the Run dialog box (Win + R) and hit Enter. In the Services window, I located the Credential Manager service, right-clicked on it, and selected “Restart.” After doing this, I hoped that the issue would be resolved. Unfortunately, the error persisted, and the same notification kept reappearing.
Next, I tried to clear the stored credentials to see if that would resolve the issue. I accessed Credential Manager from the Control Panel, navigated to “Windows Credentials,” and then removed all the saved credentials. My thought was that a corrupted credential might be causing the problem. After clearing the credentials, I restarted my computer to allow the changes to take effect. Sadly, this approach did not solve the issue either.
At this point, I considered the possibility that there might be an underlying corruption in the system files. To address this, I ran the System File Checker (SFC) tool. I opened Command Prompt as an administrator and typed the command “sfc /scannow.” This command scans all protected system files and replaces corrupted files with a cached copy. The scan completed successfully, but it did not detect any integrity violations. Despite this, the Credential Manager error was still showing up.
I then turned my attention to the Windows Update component. Sometimes, issues with system components can stem from outdated or faulty updates. I checked for any available Windows updates and installed them, hoping that a recent update might address the problem. After updating, I restarted my computer, but the error code 0x80090345 persisted.
Given that these methods hadn’t worked, I decided to delve into the Windows Registry, as Credential Manager settings are sometimes managed through registry entries. I used the Registry Editor to navigate to the specific paths associated with Credential Manager. However, modifying the registry is risky and should be done with caution, so I made sure to back up the registry before making any changes. After reviewing the registry entries related to Credential Manager, I found nothing amiss, and making any changes did not fix the error.
Frustrated but determined, I looked into another potential solution: resetting the Credential Manager database. This involved stopping the Credential Manager service, deleting the Credential Manager database files, and then restarting the service to recreate the database. To accomplish this, I stopped the Credential Manager service again through the Services application, navigated to the location where the database files are stored, and deleted the files. After restarting the Credential Manager service, I hoped that a fresh database would resolve the issue. Unfortunately, this method also did not work.
Finally, I considered performing a system restore. This option involves rolling back the system to a previous state when everything was functioning correctly. I accessed System Restore through the Control Panel and chose a restore point from a date before the error began occurring. The restoration process took some time, and I crossed my fingers that it would solve the problem. Once the system was restored, I checked Credential Manager, but the error code 0x80090345 was still there.
With all these attempts failing to resolve the issue, I decided to reach out to Microsoft Support. Their assistance proved invaluable. A support technician guided me through a series of advanced troubleshooting steps, including re-registering Credential Manager-related DLL files and applying specific patches that were not publicly documented. After following their instructions carefully, the error code 0x80090345 was finally resolved.
Reflecting on this experience, I learned that some issues can be more intricate than they initially appear, and sometimes professional assistance is necessary. Credential Manager errors, especially ones like 0x80090345, can be caused by a variety of factors, including service corruption, credential issues, system file corruption, and even registry problems. While many solutions are available and worth trying, knowing when to seek expert help can save a lot of time and frustration.