STOP c0000135 error after installing KB912919

Question

Today, after Windows Update installed the recently released KB912919 patch and I restarted my computer (a Latitude D810 laptop, running XP Prof SP2), it went to the dreaded blue screen and gave the following error message, not allowing me to proceed to the welcome screen:

STOP: c0000135 {Unable To Locate Component}
This application has failed to start because winsrv was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem

After spending hours looking for a solution, I'm at a complete loss. The microsoft knowledgebase has an article (Article 885523) describing this error, but the solution has nothing to do with my situation. Whereas that article talks about an adware (T.V. Media) conflict with upgrading to SP2, my computer came with SP2 and this occurred after installing a patch from windows update, not after trying to install SP2.

It will not boot into safe mode. I've run recovery console from the XP installation CD and copied winsrv.dll from cd to the system 32 folder. That didn't work. I ran chkdsk /r, and it said that it fixed one or more errors on the volume. However, at restart, I got the same error message.

I imagine that this is a registry problem. But, don’t know where to begin. Please help!

Message Edited by kiki91 on 01-06-2006 08:37 PM

RoHe · Answer

Did you ever install Critical Update 885523, the absence of which causes this problem according to that MS article (aside from that TV Adware)?

Boot the system and press F8 before XP loads. Select "Last known good". If that gets you to the desktop, run chkdsk /f to fix any HD problems then run sfc /scannow (space between sfc and /) to replace any missing-damaged XP files. Back up your files and then make sure you have update 885523 installed by looking in Add/Remove Programs control panel (put check in box "show updates" at top of the screen). If you don't have it, get that one, and any others you're missing before doing this latest one.

And if that doesn't work, you may have to do a Repair/Reinstall of XP which won't damage your personal files or added software but will require you to install all the XP updates/hotfixes again.

Ron

kiki91 · Answer

Indeed, I forgot to mention that I already tried the “last known good configuration” and, alas, it was no good -- back to the same ol’ blue screen. Also, automatic updates has been running ever since I got the computer in March ‘05. If 885523 were a critical update, Windows Update would have installed it when the fix was released, wouldn’t it have? That was a rhetorical question -- I promise!

Nonetheless, unfortunately, I can’t check to see whether 885523 is there or not. I have a suspicion that I will have to resort to a repair install and then load those endless fixes again. (I'll grab that 885523 while I'm at it) Ugh…

Well, thanks very much for your feedback, Ron.

RoHe · Answer

Sorry, I couldn't be of more help. Make sure you do a Repair/Reinstall rather than a Reformat/Reinstall. If you don't have broadband connection, maybe you can get someone to download the updates and burn to CD for you so you don't spend hours on a dial-up connection.

Here's link to Dell's useful Repair/Reinstall document.
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1056993&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=19&s=dhs

Good luck!

Ron

kiki91 · Answer

Hi, Ron.

Well, it turned out to be a complete nightmare. I did the repair install and then ended up with a different, but equally infuriating error -- an administrator password error -- that, again, did not allow me to get to the welcome screen.

It seems that my config/system was completely corrupted because not even an attempt in the repair console to copy from the repair\system was successful. All of the other copies were successful (sam, software, default, etc). I am at a complete loss as to what happened. I have always been meticulous in ensuring that all critical updates are on my machine (automatic update was always on), Norton autoprotect was always on, I ran virus scan religiously, etc. So, if it was a matter of needing that T.V. Media-related patch, auto update didn't do it's job...

Sadly, I hadn't backed up my computer in a couple of weeks (for shame), but the good news is that I was able to retrieve all of my important files (.pst, .doc, etc) but only after I spent a one-shot $150 for Winternals' Emergency EDR Commander 2005, the license for which expires in 7 days. I will have to reformat and reinstall everything now. However, I consider myself extremely lucky that (1) I was able to get my files and (2) my employer will reimburse me for the emergency software. Phew!

What's more, my registry, which I was able to access with the EDR bootable CD, appeared to be missing a lot of entries, and there wasn't any recovery point to revert to (probably because of my attempt to repair install, yes?). I even went into the password entry in the registry to turn on the ability for administrator to log on automatically, but, alas the password error still appeared when I rebooted...so, as you can see, my computer is in sad shape at the moment. But, it's okay, at least I was able to get my files. It seems that I'll just have to reformat, reinstall, and move on..

Thanks again!

K

RoHe · Answer

Yikes! Sorry it turned out that way but at least you got the files back. I don't want to make you feel bad (or worse than you already do), but your PC is only as good as your last data backup these days.

Does Norton Autoprotect include a firewall? If not, you need to get one. ZoneAlarm (free) is pretty good. And I noticed that you didn't mention doing scans with Adaware and Spybot Search and Destroy (both free). Even with firewalls and antiviral protection, spyware and malware can still sneak into your system and you need to run these extra scans with their latest updates regularly too.

Hope the reformat/reinstall goes smoothly and that's the end of your problems.

Ron

mgarcia0802 · Answer

Just wanted to let you know this problem is NOT isolated to the above instance.  I am trying to help a buddy of mine who is having the same exact problem as stated above...EXACTLY the same symptoms.  I know he has the most current AV, Firewall, and Adaware software with current definitions of each.  He has a Sony Vaio (I know, don't shoot me,  this is a Dell site, but I work on several Dell's too.  :smileyhappy:   Anyway, this system does not have the T.V. Media adware installed, which is where MS would have one search and destroy.  According to the Windows Update Log the last activity was 'successfully' installing KB912919, resulting in error c0000135 upon reboot.  I also cannot boot to SAFE mode.  However, I can boot with BartPE and see the user's files so my first goal is to do a complete backup of his data to an external drive.  Then attempt to do an XP repair, but based on the above threat, it doesn't appear this will work.  So I'm going to prepare the user for the inevitable, which is a complete reinstall...unless someone can come up with another recommendation.  Thanks...

kiki91 · Answer

Hi, Everyone. Ron -- I'm realizing how easy it is to forget adding details. And, of course, you are extremely astute to pick up on all of the necessary items of concern! Yes, I have Ad-Aware and run it weekly, BUT, although I have Norton Firewall on my home computer, I'm not running firewall software (other than Norton's worm-blocking that comes with Antivirus) on my work (now kaput) computer. Perhaps I've been lolled into a false sense of security by having a company firewall at work and a router at home acting as a physical firewall. I suppose this is something to add to the list of security items for after the dreaded reformatting ritual that I must perform. I am also considering installing Ad-Aware professional edition, which I believe has an autoprotect feature. mgarcia0802 -- The only thing in retrospect that I've decided I could've tried is to uninstall SP2 instead of attempting my repair install. I think it would've stripped out the KB912919 fix and permitted me the opportunity to make sure the computer was completely free of adware, malware, viruses, etc. and then maybe, albeit unintuitively, to add the T.V. Media thing. I too had a 'successful' update of the newest patch, but it evidently that was a lie! :) The thing is that the repair install eliminated the c0000135 error but caused a new error that didn't help either (the administrator password problem described above)! So...that's all I can suggest. Although I'm not a complete novice with this, my knowledge is limited -- I'm not an IT person. Ultimately, if I had everything backed up, I could've taken the computer somewhere for the professionals to deal with. But, it was IMPERATIVE that I get those files off the machine pronto! So, I ended up with this predicament. :( Good luck! K

kiki91 · Answer

Hi again, Ron.   Before going doing the repair install, I went into the repair console, which, indeed, let me get through the admin password by hitting return. However, after the repair install, the administrator error came up, and I could not just hit return in the repair console to get to the c:/windows> prompt. It gave me a message indicating that the password was invalid. I tried setting it null when I used the EDR commander program. However, that didn't work either -- I still got the error when I rebooted. I then went into the registry and changed the password value to 1, which would allow allow access without entering a password. Although this worked in getting into the repair console, it did not eliminate the adminstrator error that appeared at reboot into windows. Does this make any sense whatsoever?   Perhaps this jumper you speak of would help, but I'm really at my wits end with this and will probably just reformat...   I should've contacted MS first!!!   K

RoHe · Answer

kiki91,
Not sure I understood the issue with the Adminstrator's password. If you were asked for one during the reinstall but one was never set, all you needed to do was press Enter. If it was asking for it somewhere else, then that's a different issue. And depending on your model PC, there's probably a jumper on the motherboard that can be removed to clear any passwords and (after reinstalling the jumper) all you to proceed. There are some software tricks too:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

mgarcia0802,
Have you tried contacting MS through their update website? They were extremely helpful when I had problems with updates in 9-05. Help with update failures is free as long as it's a legal copy of Windows. I received 2 potential solutions for my problem via email within 24 hrs. The first one worked for me, and the other one worked for someone else with similar symptoms.

Ron

kiki91 · Answer

mgarcia0802, Ron's suggestion to contact MS is something that I wish I had done. :) I'm afraid that I've probably reached the point of no return myself. Good luck! K

RoHe · Answer

Mario,
When you contact MS via the web, give them as much info as you can, including entire and exact wording of the Stop Error you got, version of Windows (eg, home, pro, SP1, SP2, etc). If you can get to it on that HD, send them contents of WindowsUpdate.log file which is text file in c:\windows folder. That file has complete history of what happened with Windows updates and may give them clues about a fix. That's how they found my problem and fixed it.

Please be safe over there, and thanks for doing what you guys have to do!

Ron

kiki91 · Answer

Wow, Mario -- in Iraq and helping your pal with a computer problem to boot. Given that combination, I find that my situation is far less complicated than it felt previously (as a matter of comparing perspectives). Best of luck with everything! -- K

mgarcia0802 · Answer

Ron, K, thanks for the input. I'm writing from Iraq (Army!) and I've knocked off for the eve. I'll start fresh on this in the AM. I'll give MS a try. First order of business is copying off the user's files while I can still access the drive with ERD. Will keep u posted. -Mario

kiki91 · Answer

Hi Ron,

I just wanted to thank you again for trying to help me. I was hesitant to contact MS, but I'll follow the instructions that you laid out for Mario in your previous post if this type of thing happens to me again (and now I have no illusions about the possibility)!

The upshot is that I did get to save my files and will definitely take your statement seriously: "Your PC is only as good as your last data backup these days" -- no more being lax about backups!

In the end, I have spent so many frustrating hours trying to salvage my computer without reformatting that, ironically, reformatting it with a clean slate may very well be good for my psyche!

With all that said, the information and time that you've provided is extremely appreciated.

Well, thank you again!!!

Best,

K

kiki91 · Answer

Hi again, Folks. Ron -- I found something that describes the exact password problem I was having. http://www.mcpmag.com/columns/article.asp?EditorialsID=1081 However, after resolving the password problem illustrated in the article that the above link points to, the solution that should've given me access to my computer (Microsoft KB article 312149) didn't work for me because one of the items (system) would not copy in the repair console from windows/repair to system32/config/system. Mario -- This is where the road of repair install led me. I hope that the MS folks can make it work for you! All the best to both of you!   K

Windows General

STOP c0000135 error after installing KB912919

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