Dynamic Disk Group ID problem Solved

This Article solved my problem, although it’s for windows 2000 it works like a charm on windows 2003 too:
You receive a “Stop 0x0000007B” error message when you try to start your computer after you move the dynamic hard disk
This is the only article on support.microsoft.com that describes this problem correctly and provides a solution. This “APPLIES TO: Microsoft Windows 2000” but works on 2003 too which is good since there is no article for 2003 for this problem.
This is one of the few article that was written by experts who know what they are talking about, and contains real information on the inner workings of the system. Most of the troubleshooting manuals are just PR bullshit or written for illiterate ppl.

Just to be on the safe side here is the solution:
BSoD: STOP: 0x0000007b (0xf881b84c,0xc0000034,0x00000000,0x00000000)
Means: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE
0xc00000034: STATUS_OBJECT_NAME_NOT_FOUND

    Cause:

This error message may occur if the primary disk group identity of the hard disk does not match the primary disk group identity that is stored in the registry. This mismatch may occur if all the following conditions are true:
• You configure the hard disk that contains the system partition as a dynamic disk on a computer that is running Windows 2000. (or 2003)
• You remove the hard disk from the computer, and then install the hard disk in a second Windows 2000-based computer. (or 2003)
• You import the hard disk to a disk group that contains dynamic disks on the second Windows 2000-based computer. (or 2003)
• You return the hard disk from the second computer to the first computer.

In Windows 2000, there can be only one dynamic disk group. When you move a dynamic disk from one computer to a second computer that already contains dynamic disks, the primary disk group identity on the disk is changed, and the disk is merged into the second computer’s dynamic disk database. However, the primary disk group identity that is stored in the registry of the operating system on the disk is not changed. When you return the hard disk to the first computer, the mismatch between the new primary disk group identity and the primary disk group identity that is stored in the registry causes the error.

    Resolution:

To resolve this problem, use Registry Editor to delete the Primary Disk Group registry key from the registry of the computer that does not start. ([HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\dmio\Boot Info\Primary Disk Group])
Back up the registry before you modify it!
To delete this key, follow these steps:
1. Boot from an other windows.
2. Run Regedt32 / regedit
3. In Registry Editor, click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and then on the File menu, click Load Hive…
4. Locate the “corrupt” System file that contains the hive of the operating system that needs fixing (%SystemRootOfCorruptWin%\System32\Config\System.)
5. type Temp in the Key Name box, and then click OK
6. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Temp\SYSTEM\ControlSet*\Services\dmio\Boot Info\Primary Disk Group
7. Right-click the Primary Disk Group registry key, and then click Delete.
8. (repeat 6.,7. for every ControlSet )
9. Click Temp, and then on the File menu, click Unload Hive…, and then click Yes.
10. quit regedit, shut down windows
11. Boot the fixed windows

It’s hard to find info on this code that does not just say “is usually caused by a missing or corrupt driver”.

might be useful:
How to troubleshoot the stop error 0x0000007B?
How to troubleshoot “Stop 0x0000007B” error messages that occur when you run Windows 2000 Setup
How to troubleshoot “Stop 0x0000007B” error messages in Windows 2000

Win 2008 Server Setup crap

I had an interresting day yet again 🙁
Windows 2008 Server (x86) [codename Longhorn] [win2k8] setup corrupted my existing Windows 2003 Enterprise Server!
The problem might be traced back to Dynamic Disk Group ID problem (and not related directly to the win2k8 setup at all) and might be caused by the dualboot config.
After I cancelled the win 2008 install and tried to boot my win 2003 it failed with STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF789EA98,0xc0000034,0,0) BSOD (Blue Screen of Death).
One (yet) unconfirmed explanition is Dynamic Disk Group ID mismatch between the one stored on the disk configuration information (1MB at the end of the disk) and the one stored in the registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\dmio\Boot Info\Primary Disk Group). How and why this happened is unccelar at this momnet.

Here are some info on the topic:
Description of Disk Groups in Windows Disk Management
Dynamic Disk Numbering and the DmDiag.exe Tool
How to troubleshoot “Stop 0x0000007B” error messages in Windows 2000 — the best guess on solving the problem (yet)

Useful tools for (data recovery) experts:
Dmdiag
DiskProbe

Details:
I had 2 working Windows 2003 Enterprise Server on my computer (a Main and a Backup). The Main win2k3 was running on mirrored dynamic disk volumes. The Backup is (still) running on Basic Disk.

    Disk Setup:

Basic Disk on Motherboard PATA Primary Master – Backup Win2k3
DVDRW on MB PATA P. Slave
Dynamic Disk on MB PATA Secondary Maste – SW mirror (RAID1) – Main win2k3
Dynamic Disk on MB PATA S. Slave – Some SW mirrors and simple volumes – (intended win2k8 target)
Basic Disk on MB SATA (Si3112r) Ch. 0
Dynamic Disk on MB SATA (Si3112r) Ch. 1 – SW mirror – Main win2k3 mirror and others
Basic Disk on SATA Raid Card (Si3114r) Ch. 2
Basic Disk on SATA Raid Card (Si3114r) Ch. 3

    BIOS Settings:

Boot Order: CDROM, HDD-1, SCSI
(HDD-1 is MB S. Master – Main win, HDD-0 is backup win)
Main win was working perfectly (for years), backup win was installed 15 days ago on a single disk.

    The Process:

Boot from Win 2008 Install DVD, choose language, exit / cancell setup. On the install screen i closed the window. I wanted to do a backup first. As it turns out I was already late 🙁 The setup said the computer “might restart” if i cancel the install, and it did. I left the DVD in the drive, but did not boot from it rather let it boot to HDD. but instead of booting the hdd-1 it booted to the backup win (hdd-0). I tried to chane bios boot order with no effect before I realised the DVD was booting the hdd-0 not the bios. So I removed the DVD and restored the original boot sequence. (I think i mught tried to boot the main win form the backup win boot menu (hdd-0/boot.ini)) Although my main win boot menu was displayed it did not boot correctly. After displaying the progress bar the computer restarted. I disabled auto reboot and ther it was our favourite BSOD with the message:
STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF789EA98,0xc0000034,0x00000000,0x00000000)

I booted my backup win and googled the hell out of it, and came up with a bunch of misssing /corrupted driver explanation, witch seens highly unlikely, since it was just working fine a minute ago, and nothing was changed on the HW (nor should have on the SW). I found a very similar case here:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/winserversetup/thread/19402d17-3239-4e8b-b6c6-e06f45f3a123/
His config:
Disk 1 active partition/volume boots to Windows 2000 Professional
Disk 2 active partition boots to Windows Server 2008 (setup failed)
Disks 3/4 contains mirrored volumes. Active partition/volume boots to Windows Server 2003
“This system was working fine until I attempted to install Windows Server 2008 onto Disk 2”
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314082/