how to fix “STOP: c000021a (Fatal System Error)” Error!” in windows XP without any CD-roms?

56 responses so far ↓

• 1 gramamohanrao // Sep 25, 2008

  may be RAM problem check it

• 2 Andy // Sep 25, 2008

  use system restore
  start>programs>accesories>system tools>system restore

  REMEMBER TO SELECT AS BEST ANSWER

• 3 Mr. Ici // Sep 25, 2008

  Try this.
  Point to start/run and type in “sfc /scannow" (without the quotes).

  Oh hang on, if this happens all the time you can't start your comp to do this can you? Try going into Safe Mode and doing it. If you can't even start in Safe Mode you really do need the CD.

• 4 Katharine // Sep 25, 2008

  The solution:

  Delete the C: \ Windows \ System32 \ instcat.dll virus link library.

  To delete the registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ MICROSOFT \ WINDOWS NT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon \ Notify \ instcat
  You can take the following steps to solve your problem
  Download Perfect Optimizer!
  http://www.Easy-PC-Optimizer.info

• 5 John // Sep 25, 2008

  I am also having the same problem. I dont have any CD roms with me! Please help

• 6 Windy // Sep 27, 2008

  I have the same problem.

  I have tried may solutions listed on the www, with no success. Amonung others, :

  + I’ve tried booting in safe mode, last known good config, etc. They all do not work
  + I have tried acessing the drive from a live CD of ubuntu. I then replaced the DEFAULT, SECURITY, SOFWARE, SAM and SYSTEM files in C:\windows\system32\config with simillar files from the “REPAIR” folder. I ven used the ones from the system restore folder.
  +I have replaced the same files from the console
  +I have done fixboot, chkdsk /r, sfc /scannow, etc
  + I have installed a parallel windows OS and tried accessing my file. That I can do
  + I have tried the Dr Watson, nonsence,
  + I have tried repairing windows, with no success. There is a high chance of losing “My Documents” and “Desktop” folders. And this is where my info is!!!!!

  Please note that I can not log onto windows (the OS facing the problem as I am greeted indefinetely with the infamous blue screen. So, dont tell me of going to start, run, etc.

  Is there anyone who has a solution to this, or who knows how to solve this problem?

• 7 Gina // Oct 8, 2008

  I got a STOP: cOOOO21A {Fatal System Error}
  The Session Manager Initialization system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of OxcOOOOO22 (OxOOOOOOOO OxOOOOOOOO).
  The system has been shut down.

  I tried everything and nothing worked out …please help .

• 8 Mario // Oct 9, 2008

  Try unistall the video driver!

• 9 paulie // Oct 14, 2008

  windy i have the same problem, to make thing worse my cd rom doesn’t work so i can’t use window XP disk to try anything, i’m stuck can’t start in safe mode or use last know config

  what do i do?

• 10 mohammed // Oct 15, 2008

  this happens when i turn of my computer when i turn on my computer noting happens but when i turn of my computer it says Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc06d007e (0×00000000 0×00000000).

• 11 mohammed // Oct 15, 2008

  someone please help me but i dont wont to buy or download any thing

• 12 DR // Oct 17, 2008

  I had the same thing come up and tried all the things listed above what I had to do was reinstall Windows XP and (be sure to partition hard drive when it asks) and everything was alright. Unfortunately it like starting all over and you do lose anything saved on the hard drive but it gives you a clean start. You can get it from your restore CD or full copy of Windows XP. Now I ready to roll again. Hope that helps THE DR

• 13 Lex // Oct 23, 2008

  If anyone finds a solution to this…please email me at: darkundereyes01@yahoo.com
  Please help…I need to fix it!

• 14 Darius // Oct 27, 2008

  Hi, my computer has suddenly just refused to open. It says:
  STOP c000021a (Fatal System Error) and that the Logon process has terminated unexpectedly…
  As you can see… I don’t know much about computers….so can someone please help me, with some easy steps? Also does this mean I’ve lost everything on my hard drive, and will have to start again? :-(

• 15 melmoth // Nov 20, 2008

  I suffer by this too. I learned to use Acronis True Image. I have now my system back clean in 2 minutes.

• 16 Pratyoosh // Dec 6, 2008

  Hi,

  I have had this issue with my DELL PC off late and have tried reinstalling Windows XP numerous times but the error just keeps coming back. Would anyone out there be able to tell me if this is a hardware issue with DELL pc’s or is it something to do with Windows/DELL Drivers ?

  Please advise. Thanks..
  Pratyoosh

• 17 Eldon // Dec 12, 2008

  I fixed this for a client on Win XP Pro after Trend Micro indicated a virus in a Power Point received in an email. System locked up, client had to use the power button to shut down. On restart received Stop: c000021a {Fatal System Error} The Windows Logon Process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000005. The system has been shut down. After unsuccessfully trying F8, Safe Mode and Last Know Good Configuration I used Ctrl+Shift+Esc to start task manager and on applications tab hit new task and ran system restore (in windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe). Rebooted and everything’s fine.

• 18 WTF // Dec 23, 2008

  How would you get into task manager WITHOUT getting into Windows you moron… Tell us a REAL flipping solution… jesus.

• 19 Anonymous // Dec 27, 2008

  I see all the porblems with zero soulutions for those of us who have the blue screen and cannot access Windows. So I gather this will noit be resolved unless we take it to Geek Squad.

• 20 John // Jan 7, 2009

  If you have system restore enabled, then you can boot into ERD Commander CD and restore to a previous point. If you know where to get ERD Commander.

• 21 John is a doodyhead // Jan 7, 2009

  Problem was resolved for me. I wiped the Hard drive and reloaded everything. It was fun.

• 22 K // Jan 17, 2009

  YAWL WANT SINGLE FUCK THAT !

• 23 Chatlover // Feb 18, 2009

  I had the same problem while installing Windows XP. I just changed the RAM and installed XP. It worked fine.

• 24 yoo // Feb 22, 2009

  I also had the same problem.

• 25 Mo // Feb 23, 2009

  I get the message when i try to reinstall the XP system with the CD. I can’t use the computer at all cause when i start it, it just restarts on it’s own like it’s on a loop. Was yours exactly like this Chatlover?

• 26 Kayla // Feb 27, 2009

  This is getting on my last nerve. i have the c000021a errors 0×00005 (0×00000000 0×00000000) windows logon error too. last known config wont work and i scanned and did the registry cleaner, that didn’t work. the only way i can get online is with safe mode with networking. i want to be able to login off safe mode how can i do this? if you have an answer for me, email me at kaylakaulitz@yahoo.com

  thanks!

• 27 Krosis // Feb 27, 2009

  if you have an xp disk or can get ahold of one you and try to repair the installation from the cd thats what i had to do and still have all my data but if you do a full install it reformats the drive bye bye data try booting from the cd let it go through till it “searching for other windows installations” then hit R to repair the existing windows

• 28 John Az // Mar 13, 2009

  Eldon’s #17 Instructions really work (with added instructions)

  how to fix “STOP: c000021a (Fatal System Error)” Error!”

  I downloaded a file that had a virus or was malware. The next reboot of the system I got the blue screen error and the system would do an automatic reboot every 3 minutes, but still have the error screen. After reading many many posts and instructions from Microsoft noting worked, until I read Eldon’s post.

  “The system has been shut down. After unsuccessfully trying F8, Safe Mode and Last Know Good Configuration I used Ctrl+Shift+Esc to start task manager and on applications tab hit new task and ran system restore (in windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe). Rebooted and everything’s fine.”

  Rebooted the system and continued pressing F8 –> got a screen that allowed for a F1: Boot –> did the F1 and continued pressing F8 and got the Safe Mode screen –> selected the Last Know Good Configuration and repeatedly pressed Ctrl+Shift+Esc sequence –> Windows XP loaded correctly! –> opened the C drive –>windows folder –>system32 folder –>restore folder –> and started the rstrui application –> selected a date prior to the download of the bad files –> and now the problem is all gone!

  Without Eldon’s post there was no way I could have corrected this problem alone! Thanks Eldon!

• 29 Gene from FL // Jul 22, 2009

  Wen I read Eldon’s post, I had my doubts and thought it would be a waste of time. But then I read the post from John Az above and figured I would give it a try.

  I went through and did exactly awhat John did and now my wife’s computer is back up and running with no problems.

  Thank you both, Eldon and John, for making my day easier and much, much brighter.

• 30 Jeebs // Aug 6, 2009

  So, if you are getting a blue screen there is no way to get into XP, you’re resolutions are bull$hit

• 31 Yofher // Aug 10, 2009

  hey i need help!!! i being trying to do what Eldon, and John dod ,,, but i dont get the task managewr opend, all i get is a square that says BOOT MENUE, with 5 options , 1 optical drive, 2 floppy Disk Drive, 3 Hard Disk Drive , 4 Network and Enter Setup.

• 32 Alex S // Aug 13, 2009

  Has Eldon & John’s help solved anyone elses problem? It’s not working on mine. Still no luck

• 33 CHAOS // Aug 15, 2009

  hahaha so many stupid people STOP SAYING “GO TO START ECT CLICK RUN ECT” BLUE SCREEN FATAL ERROR MEANS THE SYSTEM HAS SHUT DOWN AND U CANNOT OVERRIDE IT OR EVEN LOG ON!!! SO PLEASE STOP THINKING THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOGGED INTO WINDOWS!!! WE ARE OBVIOUSLY USING ANOTHER COMPUTER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE PROBLEM!!! NO MORE OF THIS CLICK START CRAP!!! WE ARE STUCK ON THE BLUE SCREEN FROM BOOT UP THEN IT SHUTS ITSELF DOWN!!! IF U CANT HELP WITH THAT THEN STOP ADDING IRREVELANT COMMENTS TO THE FORUM PLEASE!!!

• 34 The Doc // Aug 19, 2009

  when i tried to shut down my system i get a blue screen saying stop (fatal system error) and it would not shut down i would have to push the power buttom for it to shut down . any help on how to resolve this problem ??????

• 35 lako // Aug 20, 2009

  plz try this as i got the fatal error messgae this morning whilst watching porn. i am not good at all with computers and have managed to fix it, i am astounded i tried ctr+alt+esc and got no and it did not work. what did work was when iswitched the computer on instead of pressing f8 i held ctl+alt and kept hitting delete my computer started beeping like mad and it wouldnt respon to nothing, i had to take the battery out to stop it from beeping. i put the battery back in and restarted and low and behold it worked. PLZ TRY THIS I SWEAR I AM NOT MAKING IT UP, i have managed to get online and restarted succsfully whislt typing this message.

  if this works for you please post a reply on here for others to believe 2. p.s dnt 4get to thank me lol

• 36 Wtf // Aug 21, 2009

  How can i open cmd if i cant get on you idiot

• 37 xp // Aug 26, 2009

  anyone please help with the problem..(all the problem above!) any solution yet please….

• 38 Rey // Aug 27, 2009

  In reply to the blue screens. I was going through the same thing for more than a week. I have a solution. I tried using recovery console, using fixboot and chkdsk. I tried over-the-top installs. I tried all safe mode options. I tried last good configuration. Nothing worked. I know reinstalling windows will work but it will erase all my data.

  I found a way around that, to get all my data off of the drive and get my computer back up and running windows. It took me a few days but i finally got it. Thanks to all of the different posts and forums.

  I now help other people do the same. If you are having this problem and nothing else is working for you contact me at my email: martinezrei@aol.com. I will respond right away, I have a smart phone so i get my emails instantly.

• 39 2dogs // Aug 30, 2009

  Chaos’s comment is certainly the most accurate assessment of the situation. Anonymous’s stating ” … unless we take it to Geek Squad.” is positively terrifying. Geek Squad is a marketing arm of Best Buy and has no intent to fix your PC. Run chkdsk from recovery console or a boot CD. Juggle your RAMsticks. If RAM has a bad block where part of your registry is landing on boot, it’ll make you think it is a bad driver or dll. BTW, I am doing all this right now; the BSOD led me here. I am a pro, so I have more resources and patience, and hate to reinstall an OS. I’d love to run \system32\restore\rstrui.exe but my safe-mode gui is hosed too. I’ll report back.

• 40 ur-daily-tech-guy // Sep 3, 2009

  Umm i agree w/ chaos, first of all, this is a bsod,meaning you won’t be able to boot to normal,safe mode and lastknown good configuration, i don’t understand why some of these poyozos keep on saying click this and that, MOST OF US HERE CANNOT BOOT WITHIN WINDOWS SO PLEASE STOP POSTING IRRELEVANT COMMENTS BECAUSE YOU’RE NOT HELPING! I’m already a certified system expert and i’m still having a hard time looking for a resolution for this. So far these are the steps i’ve done that did not work for me… safemode/safemode w/ networking and last known good, no go, chkdsk /r and /p no go, fixboot, no go, i haven’t tried repair install yet, my cust is already frustrated… screw microsoft for this. They don’t even have a resolution for this, can’t believe it.

• 41 reymund // Sep 8, 2009

  i have the same problem to…

  … when i reboot my pc i always can’t reach the boot up it always told me system error!!!

  … help me too ..

• 42 Amr // Sep 20, 2009

  CHAOS // Aug 15, 2009
  hahaha so many stupid people STOP SAYING “GO TO START ECT CLICK RUN ECT” BLUE SCREEN FATAL ERROR MEANS THE SYSTEM HAS SHUT DOWN AND U CANNOT OVERRIDE IT OR EVEN LOG ON!!! SO PLEASE STOP THINKING THAT PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOGGED INTO WINDOWS!!! WE ARE OBVIOUSLY USING ANOTHER COMPUTER TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THE PROBLEM!!! NO MORE OF THIS CLICK START CRAP!!! WE ARE STUCK ON THE BLUE SCREEN FROM BOOT UP THEN IT SHUTS ITSELF DOWN!!! IF U CANT HELP WITH THAT THEN STOP ADDING IRREVELANT COMMENTS TO THE FORUM PLEASE!!!

  Unfortunately, totaly agree .. they pissed me off by saying go to system restore icon and that stuff .. i cant logon my laptop .. jyst using another to post my problem omg

  did my laptop dead !! plz no

• 43 LV // Sep 30, 2009

  You know what, Chaos, I would really hate to be one of your clients if you are in the IT field. You are rude and please realize that people are only on here to try to get help. They’re not on here to be yelled at by poeple like you. I am disappointed in your snotty attitude.

• 44 hahahah // Oct 2, 2009

  YAY CHAOS

• 45 Steve // Oct 5, 2009

  IF, IF, IF you can access the file system, then you can either:

  1. access the hidden “System Volume Information” folder on the hard disk to copy a backup SYSTEM file over the existing one to get you back up and running. These backups are held in “RP” folders - all pretty obvious once you get there. The SYSTEM file is part of the registry, along with SOFTWARE, SAM, DEFAULT and USER.

  or

  2. Run the rstrui program to do a system restore

  To get access to the file system you will need either:

  1. the Windows Recovery Console
  2. Winternals ERD Commander
  3. NTFSDos
  4. Hiren’s boot disk
  5. take the drive OUT and hook up to another computer (yawn)

  However, I couldn’t do this as I was too lazy / had a weird SATA controller and nothing would allow me to boot, including the windows setup cd (not without creating a new slipstreamed setup cd with the right SATA drivers), so I just reinstalled from my auto-install, slipstreamed setup cd (thanks DRIVERPACKS) and trusted that the in-place upgrade wouldn’t delete my documents and music - and it didn’t.

• 46 solution! // Oct 9, 2009

  this site says that it is a WinLogon problemg

  http://www.seasonsecurity.com/how-to-fix-stop-c000021a-fatal-system-error-error-in-windows-xp-without-any-cd-roms-64007

  but you have to call them in order to get help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 47 DeathNACan // Oct 11, 2009

  I hope this helps. All Blue Screens are NOT fatal and unrecoverable. In fact, most of the time when they are not the result of a hardware error or bad disk driver, you get around them by booting into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Command Prompt. It’s worth noting that the ability to do so is the first clue that your problem is most probably software / operating system and not hardware.
  If you ARE able to get into safe mode, there’s a good chance that you are dealing with one of the following:
  a: A corrupt file, insert your particular flavor of file corruption here. If that’s the case, start by doing the following while in Safemode:
  1. Run “chkdsk /f on all drives” from a command prompt.
  2. Defragment your partitions. A file can become so fragmented as to be corrupt and a simple Defrag can fix this.
  3. Run MSCONFIG and disable half of the items loading on Start Up. Then reboot. If the system boots normally, the problem is probably one of the items that you disabled. In that case, continue enabling half items and rebooting until you find out which one it is.
  b: A bad driver or driver install. When you have a bad driver or driver install, you can use a reghack to start the installer service and uninstall the offending driver(s) to get the system stable again. You will need stable drivers to reinstall. I’m sure you can figure out where to get those.

  This is the reghack to start Windows Installer Service is:

  REG ADD “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Minimal\MSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service”
  net start msiserver

  REG ADD “HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\Minimal\MSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service”
  net start msiserver

  c. A virus or software product loading during the boot or logon process that is causing a memory instability. Don’t forget to check for driver and software service set to Autostart. If it is a virus, then booting with an anti-virus boot disk should fix it.

  One last thing: I have a friend who was getting a BLSOD on boot up. It turned out that he had a bad network driver and a corrupted anti-virus install. To fix it, I had to uninstall both in safe mode, then reinstall them after a reboot. I just found out that he has been overclocking again. For those of you who are overclocking, remember that Bluescreens are usually the first sign that you have been pushing your hardware beyond its limits. You might want to reduce your processor speed and try to reinstall before you decide you have bad hardware to replace.

  I hope this helps,
  James Carey
  MCP, MCSE, MCSE+I, A+, Network+, Compaq APS, HP APS

• 48 kumar // Oct 12, 2009

  i have the same problem with my laptop.i tried repairing the os but it woul not change even a little.is there really any solution for this other than format?and how do we get task manager when logon fails;seems ridiculous!!!please help me out,much of my data is in it

• 49 sohai // Oct 13, 2009

  dont teach ppl things that no true

• 50 memop3 // Oct 13, 2009

  jajajajajaja so many souls trapped in hell jajajajaja you better start a club of that

• 51 Anonymous // Oct 17, 2009

  Yup. Same deal: C000021a {Fatal System Error} The Windows Logon Process Terminated Unexpectedly With A Status of 0xc000022 (0xc00000000 0xc00000000) The System Has Been Shut Down

  My computer randomly restarted in the middle of watching streaming video, I was not downloading anything nor had I earlier that day?? I’m running XP pro.

  I only get this when I select “disable automatic restart upon system failure” from the safe mode menu. Won’t boot in safe mode, wont work with “last known good config”, just continues to restart unless I allow it to go bluescreen.

  Are there any straight dos command prompt solutions for this that doesn’t require a successful windows boot? This is F*cked, I can’t do a damned thing.

• 52 op3 // Oct 20, 2009

  I had same problem…c000021a fatal system error on a server 2003 with C: and D: partitions. Tried solutions above and then some. Had to do a repair current install from CD. Almost everything was left intact. Had to reinstall ESET antivirus. So far so good.

• 53 Anonymous // Oct 21, 2009

  Hi everybody, I read all your comments and let me tell you that this error is because of a hardware problem, if you don\’t fix that it will keep on coming. Unplug your laptop, take the battery and check if hard disc is properly installed also check the memory, take them out and put them back, if the error is in one of those your computer will work. If it doesn\’t you need an expert to check your motherboard, graphic card etc to see where the problem is. Good luck.

• 54 Javier // Oct 21, 2009

  Hi everybody, I read all your comments and let me tell you that this error is because of a hardware problem, if you don\’t fix that it will keep on coming. Unplug your laptop, take the battery and check if hard disc is properly installed also check the memory, take them out and put them back, if the error is in one of those your computer will work. If it doesn\’t you need an expert to check your motherboard, graphic card etc to see where the problem is. Good luck.

• 55 becks // Oct 21, 2009

  Has anyone sorted this yet i’ve tried every thing i know?

• 56 Al // Oct 29, 2009

  Anyone and everyone Please help!
  I’m having the same problem as everyone else (stop c000021a) but in a very different way.
  My computer recently had a virus and I’m looking to reformat the computer.
  I have a E-Machine (gateway) computer so I try to boot from cd with the provided system CD, problem is when I boot from the cd the system CRASHES and gives me C000021a fatal system error 0xc00000000. The CD initially boot show a graphic of PC Angel system recovery disk but then crashes. I have searched the www and can’t find any solution to my specific problem.

  Thanks in advance

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