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

91 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

• 57 the one // Nov 5, 2009

  The problem seems to have numerous variations, but i would like to post a little trick that might apply to a few of you out there.

  If you are getting the “STOP: c00002la FATAL SYSTEM ERROR” after attempting to log in to your computer, i have a round about way you might be able to access your files. what my clients computer is doing is this: its windows xp pro sp2 which loads into a log on screen with username/password. In standard startup, an error saying that a certain pointer cant read the block of memory it leads to will pop up. i click ok. i then log in, and the system slowly starts to cycle. It will not however load windows. Instead, it will stop with the desktop background and never actually finish loading explorer.
  Another error message similar to the first one will come up. This is the last error message that will occur typically, and if you click ok to this, the system will stay running idle for another 5-35 seconds before the BSOD comes up with the STOP message.

  IF however, you dont click ok on your last error, you can press Ctrl+shft+esc to bring up the task manager. From here, you can run programs by clicking the drop down menu and selecting start new task. if you need to run a basic, retarded mode of windows, first try running explorer.exe from the WINDOWS file in the C drive. then, there is another Explorer file that should be next to it, it might be called explorer .scq or something like that, i forgot already.
  When i do this windows loads in successfully and i am able to do basic GUI functions.

  should help some of you in dealing with this. On my clients system this was defintely caused by a rampant trojan of some sort, its completely destroyed the operating system at this point.

• 58 bernardgbailey // Nov 16, 2009

  Hey you guys,

  If you take the timeto read through this thread, you will there are successful resolutions. I had the same problem as described, “STOP: c00002la FATAL SYSTEM ERROR” after attempting to log in to my computer.

  I restarted into Safe Mode and Windows XP loaded correctlyin Safe Mode –> 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!

  Now if you haven’t been using a SystemRestorepoint, then thiswon’t help.

  Cheers

• 59 Pierre // Nov 17, 2009

  Hello all, and sorry for my poor english,
  i had the same problem with a client’s computer, here is the way i resolved that:
  client computer has Win xp pro with sp2, it wasn’t bootable even in safe mode.
  So i booted with a bartPE cd, and renamed the following files:
  csrss.exe –> csrss.exeold
  win32k.sys –> win32k.sysold
  winlogon.exe –> winlogon.exeold
  I took these files from a working computer runing window xp pro sp3 (i didn’t have a sp2 computer with me) and put them back in the bad computer.
  That worked perfectly, no idea why…
  Hope it will help some people.
  Bye

• 60 Fran // Nov 18, 2009

  Huge thanks to Iako #35!
  Take out battery and put battery back in - re-start computer and you’re all fixed.
  Thought I had lost everything on my laptop but thanks to Iako am back in business again!

• 61 Dave // Nov 21, 2009

  I had this problem over two years ago…still have the problem. I ended up buying a new laptop after Dell told me it was a hardware issue. Tried all these “solutions” but none worked. I don’t even care about losing all my data obviously. I would just like to have another computer strictly for songs, movies, pics, etc. without eating up space on my current laptop.

• 62 bill gates // Nov 24, 2009

  please when you repair this problem please help me, because i have a pc whit the same problem

• 63 WindowsSUKS // Nov 24, 2009

  FUCKKK I HATE WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 64 Scott // Nov 26, 2009

  Pierre - you are a lifesaver (or, at least, saved my pc and my sanity!) We had made a BartPE disc and could start the PC from it - of course, we could not access any of our files, etc. Using your method to replace those three files: csrss.exe, win32k.sys and winlogon.exe - we found that our winlogon.exe had been changed to winlogon.old WITHOUT any replacing winlogon.exe file! We copied that file over (and the other three - why not?!) and the computer started up perfectly!
  Now to make our recovery CD so this doesn’t happen again…
  Thanks!

• 65 jezile // Nov 26, 2009

  Guys,
  If u cant run Win in any mode (safe mode, last working config… etc.) i mean u cant run it AT ALL just forget about all these funny solution like ‘go to menu start’ or ‘take out battery’ (this one was really good… :D), do below:

  1) run PC from Win XP instalation disk
  2) on 1st screen of installation process choice ‘R’ and then choise path (default 1), confirm and type yr admin password
  3) go to Win XP instalation disk (default e: drive) and then go to e:\i386\ dir
  4) copy and replace files csrss.exe, win32k.sys, winlogon.exe and msgina.dll in c:\windows\system32 by these once in e:\i386\ dir (just remember that files in e:\i386\ dir have diff extensions, so to copy use comand eg. (when yr current dir is e:\i386\) copy msgina.dl_ c:\windows\system32\msgina.dll)
  5) after that its done, you can restart PC.

• 66 Nick // Nov 26, 2009

  I’ve been having the same issue as everyone else. It was frustrating but I finally got it to work. To begin, let me start with the fact that you will need a Windows XP disk.

  1. Turn on your computer and put in the Windows XP disk.
  2. Press F12, or whatever key gets you into you boot options. Choose the option that allows you to boot from a CD-ROM.
  3. Once you get into the next screen, you should have two options. One is to repair, and one is to Reinstall Windows. Although this sounds crazy, click Reinstall windows.
  4. On the next screen you will find another option which you will be able to Repair again. Choose this option.
  5. Follow the prompts from here on in, it’ll probably take a while for the disc to do its thing.
  6. After it repairs windows, you should be able to get back into windows.
  7. From here, you can do whatever, you’ll be back to the way your computer was before.

  Just to end with, this worked for me. In your particular situation it might not work, but I am just letting you know what happened to work for me. If worse comes to worse, you can always partition your hard drive. Although this sucks, at least your computer will work again.

  If this doesn’t work for you, I’m sorry….Keep looking out for a solution.

  Adios,

  Nick

• 67 Werebear // Nov 27, 2009

  Thank you, thank you, thank you to Pierre!

  After reading numerous descriptions, most of which were impossible to do when you cannot log on, I was getting desperate. I was thinking about replacing the two files specified in an earlier post when I saw what Pierre said about replacing the csrss.exe, and win32k.sys files plus the winlogon.exe file. I removed the hard drive and installed it in a different computer as a secondary drive, then went in to replace the files.

  When I was doing the renaming I discovered the winlogon.exe file had already been renamed (!?!?!?!?) to winlogon.old. I have no idea why and perhaps just renaming the file may have corrected the problem, but I continued with renaming the other two and transferring the files from the system I had loaded the drive into (also an XP with SP3).

  I reinstalled the drive back to the original PC and brought it up, and everything loaded perfectly! If someone else finds something similar, you may want to try renaming the winlogon.old file back and trying that again (or if you install it on a system with a different OS and don’t have the correct files available).

  Thanks for the help.

• 68 Shekhar // Nov 30, 2009

  Mr. Eldon, thanks a bunch. CTRL+SHIFT+ESC did worked for me. Thanks very much.

• 69 skybluerock // Dec 3, 2009

  I got the same error but there is some differences in the situation..

  the error ONLY occurs when Windows is SHUTTING DOWN..
  it happen to my pc during the process of shutting down..
  which means im unable to use system restore and stuff that require me to reboot the system

  i have tried safe mode, bring it to last known good config, chkdsk, DrWatson. during safe mode and last known good config mode, the error happen once again during the shutting down

  i think its something to do with my msgina.dll, but im unable to do anything about it (cant unregister or delete or replace) and i cant find it in the registry..

  i guess it happen after i downloaded a virus exe file.. but i alrdy deleted the file and i dont find anything installed by the exe. anti virus didnt detect anything too

• 70 Dale // Dec 3, 2009

  I tried what DeathNacan says and it WORKED!!!!

• 71 WebWeaverWorks.Net // Dec 4, 2009

  Solved the problem. C21a or C21e is caused by an update / hotfix from microsoft. Used system restore in safe mode to go back before the installation of the update.

• 72 balakrishna // Dec 10, 2009

  Thanks for your solution its worked fine while booting the os press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC . Thanks very much.

• 73 erik // Dec 16, 2009

  i have the same problem, but i cannot boot to the winXP CD. it stops while loading with an error…

  STOP: 0×0000007B (0xF7802524, 0xc0000034, 0×00000000, 0×00000000)

• 74 NinjaKadet86 // Dec 16, 2009

  Did what Nick Said about using the XP disk to press “Install” on the first screen and then using the repair option on the second screeen. Thanks

• 75 BadCompDay // Dec 17, 2009

  Have this same problem on my work computer with needed files trapped there, you would never see this kind of shit with Linux. Windoze sucks, plain and simple.

• 76 Sam // Dec 17, 2009

  Actually taking out the battery and power cord did work on my girlfriends laptop.

• 77 Sangameshwar.K // Dec 18, 2009

  I prepared an NTFS DOS bootable CD and for DVD also with SATA support.
  u may contact me at
  mail2sangameshwar@yahoo.com

• 78 hmmmmmmmmmm // Dec 18, 2009

  I guess Visa sales are not performing as expected…

• 79 Ryan // Dec 21, 2009

  jesus, i have the same dam problem as every one, im 15 and know quite alot about computers but i dont have A clue what the hell im doing here
  i went to F12 (boot Setup) and tried all 3 safe modes and last known config but nothing works at all.
  i had to press F12 then it comes up with…
  1. HDD
  2. CD/DVD
  3. FDD
  4. LAN

  What one do i press on? ive tried the top 2 but these dont work… please help?
  If you have a solution please email me Ryan_f11@hotmail.co.uk
  thanks in advance all

• 80 Matt-H // Jan 11, 2010

  Hello all,

  I had this exact same issue but only on shutdown - basically the system would not shutdown properly only to the BSOD.
  This is on a system at work installed with a very expensive active anti-virus.
  It detected a Trojan and cured it but it did not fix the BSOD.

  I’ve finaly fixed it using Malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org
  It took 37 minutes to run a “fast scan” and found 4 trojans in all and deleted 3 straight away, the 4th needed a reboot.
  The systems back to normal now and I have a happy boss.
  Good luck.

• 81 bimble // Jan 16, 2010

  k guys , i had the bsod and my problem was service pack 3.I don’t no why but it was.I picked up the bug by a microsoft update.They really are dodgy by allowing shit like this to freeze your machine,UBUNTO here I come !!!to fix it you need to remove the service pack.Just follow this guide http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/uninstall-sp3-from-recovery-console/169701.html and your machine will start again.You need the xp recovery disc which you can download free from various places.Google is your friend.Microsoft ain’t.
  Good luck and try this FIRST it may save you time,money and releave that headache !!!! peace ……

• 82 David // Jan 23, 2010

  Hello. Did read carefully. Same blue screen problem. No safe mode, etc.
  I really would like to try the Eldon’s CTRL+SHIFT+ESC thing to start the task manager, that seems worked for some people, but WHEN DO I DO THAT? While booting? I tried all around! It does NOT OPEN ANY TASK MANAGER! I can get into boot menu, and also into the setup menu
  (some nice solutions with CDs, but dont have a reader…)
  Gonna try everything.
  Remeber your former desperation? please help!

• 83 poket // Jan 24, 2010

  Hey..
  I don\’t know much about laptops at all.
  I have a Dell Inspiron Mini (Windows XP Edition)
  As soon as I turn it on, it goes straight to the blue thing that says \”The system has shut down\”
  I just got this laptop for christmas, and my parents would be mad to know i couldn\’t keep it good for a whole month..
  I don\’t know how to fix it, but I want to be able to fix it, and i don\’t know any of the words anybody is talking about.. So i need it really explained well..
  If you can help me, which i really hope some one can..
  Please email me at -
  shiloh_girl565@yahoo.com
  Thank you..

• 84 Levin // Jan 25, 2010

  I have the same problem with error C000021a at windows XP Pro.
  Safe mode does not work. System rebooting by cycle.
  I have found that winlogon.exe does not present and \system32 .
  After restore winlogon.exe to \system32 the system has been logged in, but reboot after minute. and reboot cycle has been started again. winlogon.exe again disappeared from \system32.
  I guess that it is a virus. but anti-virus did not find any virus at the hard disk.
  Do anybody has idea how to repair the system? thanks!

• 85 Damo // Jan 26, 2010

  I had this issue. I had restored the Laptop from an image and then it would not boot completely. The source laptop for the image had a higher amount of RAM. I upgraded the RAM to the equivalent and it worked!

• 86 CraigNYC // Jan 29, 2010

  Here is a fix that I had done to get my pc back working…. boot up in safemode….Click the Start Button.. then Run…. type in msconfig….go to services tab….. hit the disable all services button….. reboot your computer…. start window normal… this is what got me back into windows…. if it works for you…. restart your services one by one to see which service is is at fault.

  Hope this helps

• 87 Eldon and John can suck a // Jan 31, 2010

  I can’t boot in safe mode either. Suck on that Eldon and John

• 88 PC Friendly, Inc. // Feb 1, 2010

  Ran into the same problem after battling a relatively “mean” set of viruses. I was able to scan the drive from another computer to remove the viruses using Malwarebytes Anti-malware (as recommended by Bleeping Computers). However, I could not boot in safe mode or normal mode afterward. It would login and immediately log back out. There were no restore points as the virus destroyed them, I’m assuming (don’t know what the client’s settings were) so manually copying SAM, etc. was not an option. After trying replacing several files (userinit.exe, etc.) per website instructions from multiple sources, I finally gave up and did a repair install from a XP Pro CD. It ended up actually doing an upgrade install. I was then able to boot into safe mode with networking support. Websites would not function but I was able to copy over combofix, and Malwarebytes and install them. Went into MSCONFIG and disabled all startup items as the timing of the error led me to believe that it was something in startup. Ran Malwarebytes scan locally (in safe mode) and found one of the files that I had previously replaced (wsaupdater.exe) reinfected…hmmm. I let Malwarebytes delete it again and rebooted. I was able to go into the registry and check pointer changes to the wsaupdater.exe (everything was normal - still pointing to userinit.exe). Booted off a XP Pro image and went into Recovery mode, replaced userinit.exe, winlogon.exe, and csrss.exe. Part 1…to be continued.

• 89 solution // Feb 5, 2010

  now I use windows 7 no problems no more

• 90 wizard of st aug // Feb 5, 2010

  MY situation was like this and I determined the system was getting to hot and shut off…. Thus the power supply was no good anymore…. replaced the power supply and all is well. Too bad I initialized the system prior to this idea…. Don’t always react without deducing or thinking for yourself…. my philosophy.

• 91 Heera puri // Feb 6, 2010

  stop : c000021a [fata] system error] the window loogin process system process terminated unexpected with a status of 0×80000007 (oxoooooooo 0×00000000) the system has been shutdown.

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