Question

BSOD Session manager initialization system process error after SP2 upgrade (also problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license for this computer)

Asked by: stevekalu

Hi,

I'm working on a Dell Dimension 4400 / Pentium 4 / Windows XP.  I was called in after the pc was caught in a constant loop after the Windows startup menu (safe mode, last known good, etc).

I removed all partitions, loaded Windows XP Home from the original disc that shipped with the Dell (the maroon colored disc) ... and started loading all the Windows Security updates.  It was all good until I loaded SP2.  After the reboot at the end of SP2, it didn't come to the screen asking if you want to tun on the security features.  Instead it came to a window that said "Windows Product Activation.  A Problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license fort his computer.  Error code: 0x80004005".   The pc would then log out.  You could only get onto the pc by going into safe mode.  Some articles I found online mentioned that this error could be caused by an invalid (illegal) copy of windows, but this is a legit Windows disc that shipped with this PC right from Dell.

I found a Microsoft KB article that referenced a problem with cryptography ... and it recommended blowing away 2 registry keys.  This system didn't have the keys in the two spots located, but I did find the same key under HKLM ... so I deleted that key. The pc would then boot up fine, and the new icons for SP2 were in the control panel.

I then ran Windows update again, but got an error on the windows update site (something like 'updates can not be downloaded' or similar.)  Looking up windows update errors led me to register softpub.dll and 2 other dlls.  I could then successfully access and download the rest of the Windows updates (I think there were 17).  After it installed those updates .. now the pc just comes to a BSOD, STOP c000021a "fatal system error   The system manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly in a status of 0xc000026c."

The thing is, when I again blew away the partitions, and redid the XP install from scratch, the same thing happened again!!!

I've run spinrite to check the drive (no errors), and I ran Memtest86 for 2 hours, which turned up no memory errors.

Any ideas?  Thank you in advance.

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Asked On
2005-04-01 at 13:41:07ID21373494
Tags

manager

,

session

,

initialization

,

system

,

process

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Adobe Type Manager

Participating Experts
2
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Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: LeeTutorPosted on 2005-04-01 at 17:46:11ID: 13685889

This page has some advice you can try:

http://www2.geek.com/discus/messages/24/5354.html?1098295398

 

by: bullshooter5Posted on 2005-04-03 at 04:37:01ID: 13691249

<<"The thing is, when I again blew away the partitions, and redid the XP install from scratch, the same thing happened again!!!">>  (stevekalu)
===============================

Yup!  I had this same series of events happen with my wifes Dell as well.  And I just kept clean installing only to have these same messages appear.  And I found out the solution to it all.  

The problem is, we deleted some partitions didn't we?  And then we formatted and thought it all went away but it didn't.  Dell puts some diagnostics and product activation stuff on hard drives in hidden partitions.  That is my theory.  Anyway, what ever it is, it just won't seem to go away with a format.

So before reinstalling the operating system and expecting it to wipe the drive with a format, grab the Dell diagnostic disc and throw it in the drive.  Boot the computer.  The disc contains the old Win 98 FDISK program.  You need to debug with this program first and then reinstall.

I'll see if I can find the series of commands and switches you need for you.

bs5

 

by: bullshooter5Posted on 2005-04-03 at 04:58:32ID: 13691297

Here it is:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=TT1011054

Good luck, I think you will see a difference once this is accomplished.

Goood luck!

bs5

 

by: stevekaluPosted on 2005-04-05 at 19:50:21ID: 13713468

Very strange solution.  I was swapping out several of the components (trying to force the windows activation), and it turns out that using a PCI IDE hard drive card solved the problem.  When I switched to the built-in IDE connector, I got a BSOD.  When switching to the add-on card, it was fine.  Very Bizzare.  Thanks for your help and suggestions.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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