ERROR_SAM_INIT_FAILURE 0x8007215D

Error code 8541 · HRESULT 0x8007215D

WINDOWS

Security Accounts Manager initialization failed because of the following error: …. Error Status: 0x…. Click OK to shut down the system and reboot into Safe Mode. Check the event log for detailed information.

Windows troubleshooting diagram: Device Manager warning and a system file scan
Windows errors: check drivers, system files and Event Viewer, in that order.

What it means

ERROR_SAM_INIT_FAILURE is a Windows error code (system error 8541, returned as HRESULT 0x8007215D) reported by Windows. Its official message is: “Security Accounts Manager initialization failed because of the following error: %1. Error Status: 0x%2. Click OK to shut down the system and reboot into Safe Mode. Check the event log for detailed information.”

How to fix ERROR_SAM_INIT_FAILURE

  1. Reboot once — many one-off system codes disappear with a clean restart
  2. Repair system files: 'sfc /scannow' then 'DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth'
  3. Find the source in Event Viewer → System: filter for this exact code and open its provider link

Related errors

ERROR_DS_SRC_AND_DST_OBJECT_CLASS_MISMATCHERROR_DS_DRA_SCHEMA_INFO_SHIPERROR_DS_SRC_SID_EXISTS_IN_FOREST0xC004C0030xC004C0080xC004F2130x803F70010xC1900101

Source: Microsoft WinError.h

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