Q. The WMI ExecNotificationQuery method fails with error code 0x8004100C when you run a WMI notification application at the same time that the Out of Box Experience wizard is running in Windows XP?

When you run a WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) notification application in Windows XP, in combination with system BIOS when the OBE (Out of Box Experience) wizard is running, the WMI ExecNotificationQuery method fails with error 0x8004100C.

This behavior occurs because WMI does not initialize the event sub-system if Setup is running.

NOTE: Setup is running if the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMSetupSystemSetupInProgress registry sub-key exists.

To workaround this issue:

1. Wait for the wizard to finish.

2. Logon onto to the computer with administrative privileges.

3. Open a CMD.EXE window.

4. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each line:

net stop winmgmt /ynet start winmgmtnet start sharedaccessnet start wscsvcexit