Alex, thanks for continuing to pursue this for me. Unfortunately, it didn't work:
Code:
C:\Users\TStoll\Desktop>regdelnull hklm\software\ -s
RegDelNull v1.10 - Delete Registry keys with embedded Nulls
Copyright (C) 2005-2006 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com
Null-embedded key (Nulls are replaced by '*'):
HKLM\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Compon
entDetect\x86_microsoft-windows-mlang.resources_31bf3856ad364e35_0.0.0.0_zh-cn_0
*a302ef421ac626
Delete? (y/n) y
Error opening for delete:
The system cannot find the file specified.
Scan complete.
Earlier today, I looked for that key in regedit, figuring that it wouldn't be there because the SFCFix script said it had successfully deleted it, but it was still there. I tried to delete it, but regedit wouldn't delete or edit, giving a message similar to the one above about not finding the file. Don't know what file it is looking for. You already know this, but I just learned that these entries are embedded truetype fonts for Multilingual User Interface, which I really don't care about. I looked for an installed program for when these were installed (10/12/2011) but didn't find anything except Paint.net, which I've deleted. I'm sure that didn't have anything to do with the reg entries. I also found the zh-cn MUI files in a alpha-num directory on C:, but don't know what to do with them, if anything.
ANYWAY... I've left the computer on constantly, and I noticed something interesting. It actually auto-installed a few updates in the past couple days - clearly something you did (had me do) worked to break a logjam. SOOOO.... I tried the SP2 Update --- and it RAN!! It got thru the graphical part, then switched to the VGA "Installing Updates xx% complete", got to 100% on part 1, then 100% on part 2, then did the Shutdown, and froze.... I waited for hours, then pulled the plug and restarted. Got a Black screen with error 0xC0000034. Looking that up shows that is a known problem for Vista SP2 updates and has something to do with POQExec instructions in the Pending.xml file. You can find the articles about that error code, but here's a link to a MS bulletin about how to fix it for a Win7 SP1 update:
Your computer may freeze or restart to a black screen that has a "0xc0000034" error message after you install Service Pack 1 on Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2
After getting the BSOD, I booted to the DVD and restored - works fine. I then tried booting in Safe Mode and ran the standalone SP2 update - same result. Restored again. Now I'm wondering if I should try the POQ fix for Pending.xml on my situation. Can't hurt anything right? I'm not a script expert by any stretch, but this script looks simple enough. One thing I'm worried about tho is the Pending.xml file that SP2 creates is huge - I think it was 22Gb or so. Will this script handle that, or choke?
So, now I've two problems - the embedded null, and the fact that SURT and SFC find errors (perhaps others once we clear up this one); and 2) I still can't get SP2 installed. Clearly we're farther along than when we started this -
all thanks to you! But I'd sure like to get the update done and then decide if I need to even bother with the other errors or not. Any further assistance you can provide is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
Thanks,
Neil
