"!! 0xc0000034 !!" When Vista Boots

ReeceH92

Member
Hello all,

I am experiencing an issue with an old HP 530 laptop. I have owned it for many years but I have not used it frequently for the past 2 years or so until now. It was working fine (albeit slow) until I booted it the other day after a Windows Update. It may be worth mentioning too that the laptop's battery has become very weak with age. If the laptop's charger is removed or it is unplugged, it turns off immediately.

Every time I boot, it goes to a black screen where I assume it is installing updates, but it gets stuck and flickers and shows the error code: "!! 0xc0000034 !!".

F11, which is I understand the recovery on-boot shortcut for HP systems, does not work. It simply goes to the Windows Error screen. Safe Mode, Last Known Config and Start Windows Normally do not work. It goes onto the aforementioned error screen.

I have tried a Windows Vista recovery disc. The disc loads, but I have had no luck with the options available on it.

Startup Repair:
- It scans, and then says to reboot to see if it successful. It is not.

System Restore:
- There is only one restore point, which is very recent (most likely the Windows Update that caused this). I tried it and received the error message "System Restore did not complete successfully".

Command Prompt:
- I have tried "bootrec.exe /fixmbr" and "bootrec.exe /fixboot". Both state "The operation has completed successfully." but there is no difference.
- I have tried "sfc /scannow" and "sfc /verifyonly", and for both received "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation".
- I then tried "chkdsk /f C:" (chkdsk on the C drive). The scan found 0KB in bad sectors, and ended with the message "Failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50". (Again, I can provide a screenshot if further details are required).
- In the F10 boot menu, I ran a HDD Self Test and a Memory Check, and it passed both with no issues.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool:
- I ran this, and it said it found no problems. There was no difference after reboot.

Installing Vista:
- I do not have a valid product key, so I skipped inputting it. It then gave me an error message: "Windows cannot open the required file D:\Sources\Install.wim".

Other:
- I also used a Seatools disc to run a long scan. It passed both the short and long tests, so there is no issue with the hard drive or other components as far as I can tell. (I have a screenshot of this too).

I am out of ideas and would greatly appreciate any assistance. Please don't hesitate to ask me for further details, and I also have some photos that I can provide if needed. I will update this if I try anything else or find anything new.

This is the second time in a matter of weeks I have encountered a failure after a Windows Update. Does anyone know if there is currently an issue with these updates on Vista machines? I also updated my Windows 7 laptop but this was unaffected.

Thanks in advance!
 

My Computer

Which Service Pack (if any) do you have?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion s3700y (PC)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+
    Motherboard
    Pegatron Acacia
    Memory
    3GB Micron Technology (PC2-6400)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 8400GS
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Compaq WF1907
    Screen Resolution
    1360x768
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 320GB
    Case
    Slimline
    Cooling
    A little fan
    Keyboard
    eMachines Enhanced Multimedia
    Mouse
    Logitech M305
    Internet Speed
    2703 kbps

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
Which Service Pack (if any) do you have?

If you mean the update that caused this, System Restore says its Service Pack 1.

How do you have Vista installed without a valid key?

You might look at what Microsoft gave Brett111111 in this thread in regards to SP1 installation problems-

System halts in boot after installation SP1: !! 0xc0000034 !!

As I said, the laptop is old, possibly around 4-5 years old. Therefore, the Windows key on the label has expired.

Thank you for the link, and to both of you for your responses. Unfortunately, I can't perform a clean boot as I am unable to access Windows and the Start menu. If I manage to fix the laptop though, I will be sure to try this installation method rather than let this happen again!
 

My Computer

When you say expired, do you mean it's unreadable? Your key should never expire otherwise.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
If you can boot into Safe Mode with Networking, launch whatever browser you use and go to SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala. Download and the install the free version of SIW. Once installed open it and on the left side look for Licenses and click it. On the right side of the window all Windows licenses registered in you computer will appear. Look for Windows Product Key. That's the number you need to enter at logon.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion s3700y (PC)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5000+
    Motherboard
    Pegatron Acacia
    Memory
    3GB Micron Technology (PC2-6400)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDEA GeForce 8400GS
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Compaq WF1907
    Screen Resolution
    1360x768
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital 320GB
    Case
    Slimline
    Cooling
    A little fan
    Keyboard
    eMachines Enhanced Multimedia
    Mouse
    Logitech M305
    Internet Speed
    2703 kbps
can you post a video of this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Memory
    15 PB internal hard drive, 500 TB RAM
    Screen Resolution
    9001x5000
    Hard Drives
    15 PB internal hard drive
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Just to update you guys, I think it'd be quicker if I directed you here than explain everything that's happened since: "!! 0xc0000034 !!" When Vista Boots - Tech Support Forum

Also for anyone who's experiencing the same problem as I did and is stuck, go to that link and try following Jenae's steps, she's very helpful.

Or to get quickly to the point, I've got to a stage where I'm experiencing a new error: I am missing the file "ntoskrnl.exe" when attempting to re-install Vista. I have ordered a new Windows Vista installation disc which will hopefully solve this issue, and I will post back soon with the results.
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
Okay. Let us know how it turns out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
I'm happy to report that my laptop is fixed, with Vista successfully re-installed. From now on I'll be sure to remember the difference between a "recovery" and a "re-install" disc.

I'd just like to add (and you may have read this already in the other forum) that you're right, the key had not expired. I think I must have typed in wrong the first time, the label was a bit faded.

Thank you wither3 and markaz for your suggestions. :D
 

My Computer

Fantastic!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Operating System
    Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP2
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyberpower
    CPU
    Intel Quad CPU Q6700 2.67 GHZ
    Motherboard
    NVIDIA 780i
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 560 TI Twin Frozr
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster SB Audigy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Viewsonic VG2436
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080p
    Hard Drives
    Samsung HD 105SI
    WDC WD20
    Case
    Apevia XJupiter
    Cooling
    air
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX 3200
    Mouse
    Logitech MX 600
    Internet Speed
    30 Mbps
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