session manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly

[Ztruker]

BSOD: The session manager initialization system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc000003a (0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I'm getting this on a shop system running Win 7 Home Premium 32 bit. The last thing I did was shutdown before going home and I believe it installed an update then shutdown, so I'm suspecting the update caused the problem.

I can't get into the F8 Safe Mode screen to try Last known good configuration so I think I'll try a System Restore from the install DVD. Does that sound like a good approach?

Any other suggestions?

Sorry I don't have the specs with me but I think it's a 2.8Ghz Dual core Intel with 4GB RAM and two SATA drives. It's been running fine for about a year.

 

[Layback Bear]

If you can boot into the computer by what ever means just delete the last update and re boot and see if that helps.

 

[Ztruker]

So far I've not been able to boot to Safe Mode so I don't think that's an option. System Restore should do the same thing and I can run that from the System Recovery Options menu from a booted Win 7 install DVD.

 

[Jacee]

Rich, does the system have Norton on it?

 

[Ztruker]

No. I use MSE and MBAM, no Norton (or McAfee). I saw the threads about Norton being a possible cause though, thanks.

I'll find out tomorrow morning (Monday) what will and will not work. My preference would be to boot to Safe Mode and uninstall the latest update but I don't think I can get to Safe Mode so a System Restore from the DVD "should" fix this.

If not then what? From what I've read, you can't do a Repair Install unless you can boot the system.

I do have a System Image but it's about 8 months old. I kept meaning to update it but never seemed to find the time. I'll use it rather than do any kind of reinstall though.

 

[Jacee]

You can make a Rescue CD with Trinity Trinity Rescue Kit | CPR for your computer

Trinity Rescue Kit or TRK is a free live Linux distribution that aims specifically at recovery and repair operations on Windows machines

 

[Ztruker]

Well, nothing worked.

I tried running Startup Repair 3 times, nothing.
Tried a System Restore but it said there were no restore points available which is wrong as I know for certain I had enabled System Restore on the boot (C: ) drive.
Finally tried restoring from a Macrium Reflect backup image but when I booted the Macrium Recovery disc, neither the mouse or keyboard worked, so I had to create a BartPE PEBuilder iso with Macrium on it. That worked and i was able to restore but it did not fix the problem, still getting the BSOD.

Finally bit the bullet and did a clean install, deleting existing partitions and creating a new one then do a normal install and it worked fine. I had everything I needed backed up so nothing islost but why didn't Macrium restore work?

Now I can't seem to get Automatic Update to offer me SP1. I've installed 70+ updates, including upgrading to IE9 but AU still doesn't offer me SP1.

Once I'm done I'll create a new Macrium backup and hope it will be of some use in the future if needed.

Jacee - didn't see your post till after I'd already nuked the existing installation. Would have been interesting to run it and see what happened.

 

[Layback Bear]

Have you figured out which update put you through this hell?

 

[Jacee]

Well, nothing worked.

I tried running Startup Repair 3 times, nothing.
Tried a System Restore but it said there were no restore points available which is wrong as I know for certain I had enabled System Restore on the boot (C: ) drive.
Finally tried restoring from a Macrium Reflect backup image but when I booted the Macrium Recovery disc, neither the mouse or keyboard worked, so I had to create a BartPE PEBuilder iso with Macrium on it. That worked and i was able to restore but it did not fix the problem, still getting the BSOD.

Finally bit the bullet and did a clean install, deleting existing partitions and creating a new one then do a normal install and it worked fine. I had everything I needed backed up so nothing islost but why didn't Macrium restore work?

Now I can't seem to get Automatic Update to offer me SP1. I've installed 70+ updates, including upgrading to IE9 but AU still doesn't offer me SP1.

Once I'm done I'll create a new Macrium backup and hope it will be of some use in the future if needed.

Jacee - didn't see your post till after I'd already nuked the existing installation. Would have been interesting to run it and see what happened.

Pay attention Rich!

I would have liked to see if it worked for you too. lol

 

[Ztruker]

Yes, I figured it out

The install had not activated yet, even though I chose Activate when connected during the install. Apparently you cannot get SP1 or MS Office XP SP3 until you do. That was not mentioned in any of the articles I found on the problem so I wasted hours of download and install time figuring it was a prerequisite update that I needed.

What a PITA!

 

[Mike Connor]

Don't know if this will be any use to you now, but you can get complete update packs here and a special software which keeps them up to date;

Update Pack für Windows 7, Windows Vista und Windows XP - WinFuture.de

This is apparently quite legal, and it works well. The site is in German, but the packs etc are standard.

This saves a massive amount of time if you are forced to reinstall etc.

There may be an English speaking site which offers this as well? I don't know of one offhand though.

The WinFuture Update Pack is a collection of the most important patches, Microsoft has made available for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 for download.

These updates close loopholes in the operating system that may be exploited or could adversely affect system stability.

With our Update Pack, you have the ability to download all the patches at once and can then install automatically in turn.

»What versions are there and how do these differ?

Our update packs are available in two versions. These differ only by the number of patches and set the system requirements.

Full version - it includes all relevant patches that Microsoft has been available for download. Ideal if you want to bring one or more newly installed Windows operating systems on the most recent state without downloading the updates separately.

Upgrade - There are only released by Microsoft on the last patch-day updates included. This variant is ideal for systems that are installed, the latest edition of our Update Pack and you can get them from here.

Even if the patches were recorded in the previous month appeared on another path, you should choose this version. So Windows can be made without downloading the much larger full version to date.

»What conditions must be met?

To install our Update Pack, you must be in possession of a 32-bit Windows XP or Windows Vista operating system. For Windows 7, we offer jeweilse a 32-bit and 64-bit edition of. Please note that Windows XP must be installed at least Service Pack 2. Should this not be the case, denied the fix pack to start. However, we recommend that you install Service Pack 3 and then install from our Update Pack for Windows XP SP3.

Download for :

Windows XP SP3

Windows XP SP2

Windows Vista SP2

Windows Vista SP1

Windows 7 x86, x64

Source : winfuture.de

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Ztruker]

Thanks Mike. I looked a the site but being in German I can't read it so would not be comfortable using it.

If I had successfully activated, I could have installed SP1 right away and save downloading and installing 72+ updates and saved a couple hours of time.

 

[Mike Connor]

Thanks Mike. I looked a the site but being in German I can't read it so would not be comfortable using it.

If I had successfully activated, I could have installed SP1 right away and save downloading and installing 72+ updates and saved a couple hours of time.

You can run it through Google Translate;

Google Translate

Gives pretty good results. Without such update packs( which of course also work "offline") I would waste hours and days trying to reinstall things on various machines.

Surely there is an English speaking site which offers such packs?

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[jeffery6803]

Old thread, but here is the answer I found

I had recently bought a used laptop off of eBay and was constantly getting this error. So I decided to pop in a Linux CD since windows would not load. While loading Linux Mint the computer shutdown and said critical temperature reached thus giving me a clue to the problem. After applying new thermal paste and making sure that all the screws were tightened I again tried to load windows and it loaded right up. So I say look at your temps.