ConfigMgr : WinPE5 / Windows 8.1 “CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION”

In testing Winodws 8.1 deployment I’ve encountered numerous BSOD’s with “CRITICAL_STRUCTURE_CORRUPTION” errors in both Windows PE 5 and he full Windows 8.1 Operating System.

Solution is pretty simple if you’re running VMware ESX 5: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2060019

In sumary, this is resolved in ESXi 5.0 Update 3, but as a workaround:

Manually create a CPUID mask for the affected virtual machines:

1. Power down the virtual machine. 
2. Right-click the virtual machine.
3. Click Edit Settings. 
4. Click the Options tab. 
5. Select CPUID Mask under Advanced. 
6. Click Advanced. 
7. Under the Register column, locate the edx register under Level 80000001. 
8. Paste this into the Value field:
   —-:0—:—-:—-:—-:—-:—-:—-
9. Click OK. 
10. Click OK to close the virtual machine properties.