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Windows XP Stop: c000021a during boot

All right. I went to boot up my laptop (running windows xp pro sp2 i believe) the other day. I'm savy with computers etc. But for some reason during the windows xp boot sequence..my laptop shut off. I then restarted it to get the lovely BSOD with STOP: c000021a fatal error and so on. Bear with me on this. The laptop is issued from college however their tech support consists of re-ghosting the machine regardless. So I would love to avoid this, Not to mention I have work due on tuesday. I tried the XP repair cd but it asks me for admin password even though I am the ONLY user on the machine as administrator but my password fails ( forget that way.) So I burned a copy of Ubuntu (from my external hd and a friends PC)d and booted the pc from that. I can access the laptops HDD via Ubuntu and back up what I need. What I am wondering is..how can I repair this problem via linux? I know I could just have them ghost the drive but I dont want to do this. I dont have another system at this time to work from. I know it has something to do with a corrupted file that was "corrupted" when the laptop pre-maturely shut off. Working with computers for 13 years, I've never had this problem. Any help would be GREAT. I know this is possible but I would like the steps via linux. Also, is there any linux software to diagnose problems etc on an xp drive?

Thanks,
Scott

I've looked at a few other posts and discussions regarding this but nothing related to "via linux" only.

Tobias

Dear Thegoo,

I don't think reinstall with ghost will repair the issue.

You could try to test your ram for bad ram with any Linux cd.

Best Regards

Jonvee

See previous thread >
Stop: C000021A fatal error
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23656434/Stop-C000021A-fatal-error.html

thegoo

ASKER

It has nothing to do with either. A re-ghost would work but I need to avoid this. They have a image file they re-ghost with that would bring this pc back to it's original state. They don't fix anything..they just re-ghost it. I know this and I don't want to deal with it. Id rather replace the corrupted files etc. The pc ran fine..matter of fact I just had it re-ghosted 2 weeks ago for a fresh start for the new semester. It has nothing to do with.NET or any of that. On startup, then abruptly shutting off corrupted one or many of the files used to boot windows.

And no my ram is not bad. It's been tested and I'm running linux on the same pc right now.

Jonvee

Then see if this MS article helps, while investigation continues ...
How to troubleshoot a "STOP 0xC000021A" error:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;156669

Jonvee

Have you considered a repair install >

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Jonvee

Also found this link in rather a hurry, but see if the comments (particularly by "guidway") will help>

Message on bootup - stop c000021a {fatal system error} the windows logon process system process terminated unexpectedly:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20885893/message-on-bootup-stop-c000021a-fatal-system-error-the-windows-logon-process-system-process-terminated-unexpectedly.html

thegoo

ASKER

Ok. Re-read the post. I tried a repair but for some reason it asks for admin password. HOWEVER i am the ONLY user on the PC and I am the ADMINISTRATOR but it wont accept my password. Invalid password everytime. I'm not sure if the school has a background password but that would be pointless and almost impossible considering there is one USER and it is ME..admin.. The invalid password could possibly have something to do with xp comparing the password using the "corrupted" file and just returning it as invalid.

thegoo

ASKER

I can access the XP drive via linux. I'm looking for possibly which files, dlls, etc would bring this error. ( csrss.exe, msgina.dll, etc)

thegoo

ASKER

c000021a and 0x00000034

SOLUTION

Tobias

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nobus

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SOLUTION

rionroc

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venom96737

Your sam file is the problem is system restore turned on in this machine? If it is you can get copies of the registry from inside the system volume file and replace them as sort of stated here
IDEA 1:
Boot to Linux, be sure windows OS partition is mounted with read/write access.
Go to \Windows\System32\Config
Delete Security, Software, System
Rename software.sav to software, system.sav to system
Leave the security deleted.

Only thing i would add to that is to replace the files from the system volume information folder. If you have never looked inside the folder it will be layed out in rp1 rp2 and so on with the largest number being the latest restore. Just look for one dated before the problem and replace the security, software, and system files. shouldn't have a problem after that.

The problem you are having now is directly related with the SAM because of what you stated here:
tried a repair but for some reason it asks for admin password. HOWEVER i am the ONLY user on the PC and I am the ADMINISTRATOR but it wont accept my password.
That is usually an indication that the sam is acting up.

thegoo

ASKER

ok this is where I stand. I've tried removing the security, software system etc..doing just errors saying cannot find software.sav etc. Just reading around the 0x00000034 code is Initialization of the Windows 2000 Executive failed during phase 1 (during phase 4 of system startup). There might be a problem with a device driver. Could possibly a device driver have been corrupted during the unexpected power off during boot up?

Any other ideas are greatly appreciated. I appreciate everyone's help and advice.

nobus

if you try darts, you can run a system restore from there...no problems

thegoo

ASKER

nobus: Alright. At the time this is the only system I own (have available). I tried running the msi ( to get the ISO) for Darts today but unfortunately this person was running ''wonderful'' Vista and it would not run the MSI. I'll get it burned to a cd one way or another. Thanks.

They should just provide the damn ISO file.

nobus

it is the old and proven ERD commander

thegoo

ASKER

Ok. Well I just ended up saving what I could and just re-ghosting the machine. It's fixed minus having to reinstall apps etc. I appreciate everyone's help. I know for a fact that some of the possible solutions would work. So I will award them as needed. Thanks!

thegoo

ASKER

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure if I had more resources the solutions would have worked ( I know they would've) Thanks again.

rionroc

Ops!

Also delete the pagefile.sys, before idea2.

Thanks.
Good Luck!

Great is our GOD.
:)
rionroc