If you see the error C34 (below) on Win7 when installing SP1 there is no need to panic:

Fatal Error c00000034 applying udpate operation 282 of 119016

Fatal Error c00000034 applying udpate operation 282 of 119016

What you need to do is tell Windows to install Service Pack 1 by itself and what that means, is you need to tell it NOT to install other updates at the same time as SP1.  Fortunately Microsoft has created a script to do this for you:

  1. Copy the script (at the bottom of this post) to a new text file and call it repair.vbs
  2. Copy that script to a USB/Thumb/Flash drive
  3. Start the “damaged” Windows 7 PC and press F8 repeatedly before the operating system starts to get into the Safe Mode menu
  4. Select REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER from the top of the list
  5. Wait for WinPE to boot and use an account with admin privaledge to sign in
  6. Select COMMAND PROMPT
  7. At the command prompt, figure out which drive is the “damaged” Windows 7 (almost certainly D: as C: is the WinPE) also figure out which drive is your thumb drive (in my case it was F:\)
  8. CD to the thumbdrive location (where the script is)
  9. Type the following command: repair.vbs D:\Windows\winsxs\pending.xml
  10. Wait about a minute for this popip: 2 POQ nodes removed. Script Completed
  11. Reboot and let SP1 complete its install
  12. Run Windows Update to get your other updates
  13. Have a nice day

 

Dim xmlDoc, node, nodeList, fileName, backupFileName, numberOfPOQNodes

Set xmlDoc = CreateObject(“Microsoft.XMLDOM”)

If Wscript.Arguments.Count = 0 Then

WScript.echo(“Error! No XML file specified.”)

Wscript.quit

End If

fileName = WScript.Arguments(0)

backupFileName = Left(fileName, InStrRev(fileName, “.”) – 1) & “_backup.xml”

If Not xmlDoc.load(fileName) Then

WScript.echo(“Failure loading XML file ” & fileName & “.”)

Wscript.quit

End If

xmlDoc.save(backupFileName)

Set nodeList = xmlDoc.documentElement.selectNodes(“POQ”)

numberOfPOQNodes = nodeList.Length

For Each node in nodeList

xmlDoc.documentElement.removeChild(node)

Next

xmlDoc.save(fileName)

Set xmlDoc = Nothing

WScript.echo(numberOfPOQNodes & ” POQ nodes removed. Script completed.”)

 

For more information see: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;975484 and http://www.myfriedmind.com/techBlog/CategoryView,category,WSUS.aspx

 


17 Comments

Waqas Aslam · June 19, 2019 at 3:22 am

Mostly the blue screen issu is the issue of some missing system files during updating the windows it is not only the error of window 7 but it is also the error of windows 10 as well. The above description is well briefed and can also be done with some settings in the system. To configuration also consider the link given below
How to Fix Fatal Error c0000034 While Applying Windows Updates

Robin Waqas · April 13, 2019 at 3:23 pm

Usually comes in Windows 7 version while updating the windows updates i found the solution here
how to fix fatal error c0000034

Wendell · November 16, 2013 at 10:27 am

I am fixing a friends computer with this issue but the command prompt in step 6 is nowhere to be seen and the person who screwed up his computer has no password and neither does he… tried safemode.. same error.. any other ideas?

    Ian Matthews · December 23, 2013 at 3:45 am

    Other than using a Windows Passwords cracker (several good and free ones around the internet which come on boot disks) or wiping, reloading, I have no other suggestions.

Wayne · May 2, 2013 at 3:31 pm

Hi Ian
I’m still stuck with this one, I’ve not only copied and pasted (seems to give me incorrect ansi characters which cause the script to fail) but I’ve also painstakingly typed the entire script into notepad on the computer I’m trying to fix, saved as ANSI but it still comes up with an error on line 20 character 75. Expecting a ‘)’ symbol, but that line is actually blank.
I’ve tried removing blank lines, checked that there are no hidden characters etc with no luck. Any Ideas?
Thanks
Wayne

Brandon · January 18, 2012 at 1:25 pm

If I already deleted the checkpoint (the easy fix), can I still restart it again and run your fix?

    Ian Matthews · January 18, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    I don’t know for sure, but if you are stuck, I would certainly try.

Bryan · August 14, 2011 at 8:11 pm

what if i went into safe mode and formatted the hard drive. (i put in an original Vista restore disk). then when i tried to restore the hdd, it said there is a file missing. so, what do i do?

    Ian Matthews · August 15, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    You FORMATTED the Hard Drive? That would wipe out all the data. If I did that (and yes, I have helped people who have done that before), I would use GetDataBack from http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm (call them to confirm the tool is what you needl; they are very helpful) or some similar tool.

Josh · July 25, 2011 at 4:05 pm

What do you mean by step number 8?

    Ian Matthews · July 28, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Change Directory to your flash drive

    i.e. type e:

Josh · July 25, 2011 at 3:39 pm

Also what is WinPE? And did you follow the same exact steps for your thumb drive F?

    Ian Matthews · July 28, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    WinPE is Windows Pre-executable Environment. It is a stripped version of Windows with a miminal interface which allows you the fix or load Windows and not much else.

    It does not have Direct-X or IIS or Paint or WordPad but it does have a Command window (CMD) and Notepad and mouse drivers. As such WinPE is radically better (and more full featured) than DOS, much faster and smaller than full Windows, and more compatible than Linux boot disks.

    PE is AWESOME and Microsoft updates it with every version of Windows. WinPE on Windows 7 is WinPE v3 and as stated it is great.

    I hope this helps/

Josh · July 25, 2011 at 3:37 pm

What do you mean by cd to the tu=humbdrive location and how do you know what drive is damaged? I mean in my pc im not being able to log in.

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