I have also encountered this exact same problem. We started deploying the RU5 update (using the SEPM autoupdate feature) with a test deployment group of about 15 machines. Of those, 2 encountered the same issue. Just about every .exe file throws the same 0xC0000005 error.
Heading: xxxxx.exe - Application error
Body: The application failed to initialize properly (0xC0000005). Click OK to terminate the program
This also includes MMC windows, Regedit, CMD prompt, System Restore, and all Control Panel icons which makes it very difficult to troubleshoot.
Like
hvaliatti, the 2 systems in question are both Dell Latitude laptops (a D430 and a D620).
In safe mode, executable files worked correctly. To confirm it was an issue with Symantec, I was able to use the cleanwipe tool in Safe mode to remove all references of SEP 11 RU5 (although I had to run it twice). Upon reboot, the system worked correctly. I then did a manual push of the RU5 client from the SEPM using the 'Find Unmanaged Computers' task. It installed correctly and upon reboot, the same problem appeared.
The other system that experienced the problem was re-imaged using our in-house custom Corporate XP image. The latest Symantec client was pushed to it and is running without incident. Standard protocol is to put our corporate image on all new machines the moment they hit the door now... but ex-employees in the past would use the pre-loaded image that came from Dell.
Both of the machines in question were loaded with Dell's standard load which leads me to believe this is related to one of the 3rd party applications that Dell throws on their laptops.
The list of software in Add/Remove programs on this machine is very long but here are some that might fit the category you were looking for (any proprietary, encryption, or other security software).
- Broadcom Advanced Control Suite (which includes a TPM driver installer and ASF Management Application)
- EMBASSY Trust Suite by Wave Systems
Both machines were XP SP3 and both had those applications on them (all machines that completed successfully are XP SP3 as well and many were laptops that have our corporate image which does not include the programs above)
Can anyone else experiencing this problem check to see if the machines in question have either of those applications?