UPDATED BLOG INFORMATION FOR THIS ISSUE IS NOW LOCATED HERE: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2011/03/16/new-information-on-error-code-0xc0000034.aspx

This blog is being left up for information only

I've seen several reports now of the following error (or something similar):

!! 0xc0000034 !! 142/53007 (_0000000000000000.cdf-ms)

Note If you restart the computer, you experience the same error message.

If you're hitting one of these errors, you have a few options depending on the OS you're using.

http://support.microsoft.com/KB/975484

Option 1 (Win7 client only):  Use a system restore point to recover the system

  • This one is pretty self explanatory.  Boot your machine into WinRE and pick a restore point before the service pack was installed.  This should get you back up and running. 
  • This doesnt work on server

Option 2 (Win7 client and 2008 R2 server):  Delete the poqexec entry

  • Boot into WinRE and choose a command prompt then run the following commands and restart the computer:
    • Reg load HKLM\BaseSystem C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM
    • Reg Delete "HKLM\BaseSystem\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" /v SetupExecute
    • Reg add "HKLM\BaseSystem\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager" /v SetupExecute /t REG_MULTI_SZ
    • Reg unload HKLM\BaseSystem
  • If you're more graphically inclined, you can use this method:
    • Boot into WinRE
    • Open Registry Editor using regedit.exe 
    • Now you will have the WinRE registry loaded so you need to load the “ System ” hive
    • To do that : Highlight HKLM then  Click on File > Load Hive > Browse to C:\windows\system32\config (assuming C:\ being the system drive )
    • Name the Hive as TEST 
    • Browse to HKLM\TEST\select and check the value for “ Current “
    • Assuming the value as (1) browse to HKLM\TEST\ControlSet001\Control\SessionManager
    • Locate and double click the key “SetupExecute ” at the right panel 
    • Delete any value inside the key and click OK
    • Highlight TEST and then Click on File > Unload hive
    • Type exit at cmd
    • Reboot the machine and choose to start the machine normally

NOTE:  I've seen several people that have called in and said that they cant find the values referenced in this blog once they have booted into WinRE.  Please remember that when you are booted into WinRE you are booted into a RAMDRIVE.  This means that when you open the registry editor you are actually seeing the hives from WinRE and NOT the ones from Windows.  When you need to make sure you are loading the system hive from your Windows drive and not WinRE.

If this does not get your installation up and running there is another available workaround posted in the forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproinstall/thread/1c9a7151-b48c-4a98-aae7-a4b82682ea8e#bcabda57-7338-499f-aee2-d708e76df315

It is not recommended that you edit the pending.xml but this may get your machine booted properly.  If you are desperate, feel free to try this at your own risk.  I wrote about why you want to be careful with this here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2011/03/11/why-you-don-t-want-to-edit-your-pending-xml-to-resolve-0xc0000034-issues.aspx

If you're planning on opening an issue with SP1 for this, please try and gather the following information before you call, it will greatly help us in working on the issue:

• Registry hives. COMPONENT, and SYSTEM
• CBS log directory
• Sessions.xml
• Poqexec.log
• Pending.xml
• “Dir /s /b” Directory listing of c:\windows\winsxs

Additionally, I would like anyone who has a machine "in state" and can get logs off from WinRE to grab their \Windows\winsxs\FileMaps\$$.cdf-ms and the WindowsUpdate.log file.

Hope this helps.

--Joseph