Windows XP SP3 BSoD Endless Reboot Loop with Stop c0000139 on GDI32.dll Error
Microsoft spent couple of weeks to fix endless and repetitive system restart loop issue when users attempt to Windows Vista SP1, but the computer cannot startup with continuous reboot loop problem spreads to Windows XP as well. After users installed Windows XP SP3 beta or RC release or a hotfix, and restart the PC, the computer will repetitively and automatically reboot suddenly nonstop, unable to log on to Windows desktop with the infamous BSoD (Blue Screen of Death) with the following error messages.
STOP: c0000139 {Entry Point Not Found}
The procedure entry point GdiGetBitmapBitSize could not be located in the dynamic link library GDI32.dll.
Or,
STOP: c0000139
The procedure entry point SMapLS_IP_EBP_24 could not be located in the daynamic link library Kernel32.dll.
The BSoD reboot loop may happen right after installation of Windows XP SP3 too without computer restarting. The computer cannot even to boot to Safe Mode, and hence has no way to uninstall the Service Pack 3 for Windows XP to try to restore to previous state to resolve the problem.
Shashank Bansal explained in TechNet forums that the issue happens when users install SP3 with build version v.3311 or v.3244 or earlier. A security update KB948590 (MS08-021) which contains updated and newer GDI32.dll stops installation of SP3 version of GDI32.dll on the system due to file version differences. Hence the system encounters conflict and stop halt. If users doesn’t disable the setting to reboot the computer on error, the Windows will force to restart.
The solution is to restore the GDI32.dll from the service pack into Windows system folder with the following steps:
- Boot from a Windows CD or BartPE.
- At Welcome to Setup screen, press “R” to start repair option and open up a Recovery Console’s command prompt window.
- Select the Windows installation to use, normally is C:\Windows and just one option. If so, press “1″ and hit Enter.
- If prompted for administrator password, enter the password (normally blank) and hit Enter.
- Make a backup of existing GDI32.dll in system folder with following command:
REN C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dll C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dll.origReplace “C” of the drive letter of your Windows installation drive if necessary.
- Then copy backup GDI32.dll from c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll to the system folder with the following commands:
copy C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\GDI32.dll C:\Windows\System32\GDI32.dllReplace “C” with your own system drive letter if applicable.
- Restart computer.
If you don’t have the original Windows XP CD, or been asked for administrator password which you don’t have or doesn’t set and hence unable to run restore options, try to boot from any other bootable floppy diskette, or bootable CD/DVD. If you’re on dual-boot system, it’s possible to boot from another OS to access the Windows XP installation, but make sure you use the proper path.
To avoid the reboot loop issue cause by GDI32.dll, and ensure that the system doesn’t expose to exploit vulnerability, install Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh v.5508, which has latest and updated GDI32.dll version 6.0.2900.3316 installed by KB948590.
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September 18th, 2008 08:11
Yes, that worked. Silly Microsoft screwing up yet another Windows update. I used NTFS DOS and system boots again. Right into the “do you want to turn on auto update option” - which caused the problem in the first place, ironic!
September 17th, 2008 04:33
[...] in a reboot loop reported by some users at the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP SP3 forums, check out this guide for repairing your [...]
September 5th, 2008 10:00
Thanks! Worked great. Had this issue with SP3 v.3264. Wonder what other surprises await me. :-()
June 23rd, 2008 16:51
BRILLIANT!!!
Just saved me a whold lot of time and effot with this simple fix.
Thank you
May 20th, 2008 01:30
I have the same problem with “No attached HDD found” error on the setup from the CD. how am i supposed to update my HDD drivers without being able to boot my PC properly? Any tips for that matter?
May 19th, 2008 23:17
I installed the official release of SP3 onto a friends XP Home (SP2) pc and experianced the GDI32.dll BSOD. Many thanks for the recovery tips - it worked a treat!!
May 15th, 2008 18:55
[...] [...]
May 12th, 2008 00:50
[...] dem Internet war die Lösungsstrategie relativ schnell [...]
May 10th, 2008 02:28
Just installed XP SP3 on 2 AMD based Computers, 1 HP 64 and 1 Gateway 64X2. Went to Safe Mode, did Run sc config intelppm start=disable, installed SP3 and everything works. Here is the link to the page with additional info.
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2008/05/08/does-your-amd-based-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx
Did not have to do GDI32.dll fix.
Hope this helps someone.
Thanks
May 9th, 2008 18:38
[...] Solução essa que que acabei por encontrar aqui. [...]
May 9th, 2008 17:22
Thanks a HOLE lot, fixed my OS.
May 8th, 2008 23:47
i start up my comp it loads fine till i get to windowxp screen it stalls there for about 20secs then my comp reboots its self over and over.
May 8th, 2008 04:15
I actually cannot get past the first few seconds of when the PC starts up. It does start up to destop and then it’s on there for like 20seconds then shuts off agian. But thats rare.. any idea’s?
May 7th, 2008 05:33
Thanx! Worked well, greetings from Austria (The Europe oone) ^^
May 5th, 2008 06:12
[...] Ergebnisse auf Foren beschränken in denen nur polemische Sprüche abgelassen werden, helfen die englischen durchaus [...]