Error 0x8007043c at Windows Update site

[Mike]

I get Error 0x8007043c on the windows update website and I set automatic
update to be on but the service won't start, when I try to start it manually
in services.msc, it says "Could not start the Automatic Updates service on
Local Computer. Error 1804: This service cannot be started in Safe Mode".
The same thing happens with Windows Installer Service. I tried sfc /scannow
from a cmd window since MowGreen recommended it but it give the error
"Windows File Protection could not initiate a scan of protected system files.
The specified error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is unavailable.]."

I posted about this earlier and didn't get much help and I have another
question. Since very nasty spyware/virus may have done damage I was thinking
of doing a Repair since everything else failed so far. The thing is this is
my parents' computer I brought to my place and I forgot their damn XP disc
and I don't feel like driving all the way there and back during the week. I
know I can use another for a repair but my disc is XP Pro SP1a, will that be
ok to run a repair with that (they have original XP Pro)?

Thanks for any help,
Mike

[MowGreen [MVP]]

Mike,

" Windows File Protection could not initiate a scan of protected system
files. The specified error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is
unavailable.]. "

This behavior can occur if the certificate for Verisign time stamping
has been removed from the computer. This certificate is listed as:
"Issued To: No Liability Accepted, (c)97 Versign, Inc.".

There is an MSKB article that offers a resolution
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296241
but is not going to help in your situation.

Apparently the system files have been critically damaged/corrupted by
the malware. Can't advise you to run the XP Pro SP1a in this situation.
You're going to have to get the CD from your folks and do a Repair
Install at this point.

MowGreen [MVP 2004-2005]
Windows Server - Software Distribution
Windows - Security

===============
*-343-* FDNY
Never Forgotten
===============

[Mike]

yes, I've probably already been to that page :) and another about loading the
No Liability Accepted certificate thing from another computer which didn't
seem to work either. Well thanks for your help MowGreen, now I know. I
guess I'll burn some more expensive gas tonight and probably be back with an
update.

[Mike]

all right, I got the disc, came back here and was running Repair, and after
it restarted early on, it says "Windows XP Setup cannot run under Safemode.
Setup will restart now." and it just loops. It does the same thing when I
try the various F8 options. Then after a few tries it starts setup from the
beginning and when I try Repair again, it said setup has already attempted
this, want to retry? If I retry it does the same thing. The reminds me of
all the errors for those services when the wouldn't start because they
thought I was in safe mode. It's not looking good.

[MowGreen [MVP]]

Yuck ... them's not the messages you want to be seeing.
Did you post this issue to windowsxp.setup.deployment, also ?
Did you try to edit the boot.ini using Recovery Console ?
Here's a link to the thread :
http://snipurl.com/dqa7

The error message you're getting is extremely rare if the boot.ini
file does not contain /safeboot.

[Mike]

Actually, I slaved the drive in my other computer and the boot.ini did not
have anything extra like that, just a /fastdetect. So I guess I'm famous
again. Yes I did post in that forum but I just ended up doing a clean
install... pain in the ass but it actually worked fine. Luckily I had done
Files and Settings Transfer wizard before and that was actually the first
time I tried it, works nicely, I'll have to remember it for *next time. I
also tried a stupid little way to save your activation for XP, but it was
actually easier to just activate it again. If this was my computer it would
not have been fun with all the programs, settings, tweaks I have (I'll never
mess with the startup screens again). I kept my folks' setup simple and it
hasn't changed much :) By the way, that music at the end of setup is pretty
cool, I'd definitely rate it as my favorite part, LOL.

[MowGreen [MVP]]

After the wait ANY music sounds good ;)
To help mitigate against future infestations download and install

Spyware Blaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Have a look at the FAQ'S
http://www.javacoolsoftware.info/kb/idx/2/0/
to learn how to enable it's protection, obtain updates for it, etc.
Also, create a System Snapshot so that you can restore the system's
settings to it's present clean state, just in case. The link to it is in
the left frame.

[jaybird]