A blue screen rapidly appears and then disappears with the error c000021a (0xc000012f)
Tried a repair; restore isn't an option
I can't execute an in place repair because I can't boot into Windows
I can't run sfc /scannow from the Recovery section of the DVD setup
any ideas on how to get this system up and running again without a Windows reinstall ?
Check your hardware (cpu, disk, memory) to make sure it passes basic diagnostics. You don't describe the PC, so its hard to say which self booting tools to use (some boot to DOS, Some Linux, some will not work with UEFI). Newer PCs pretty much are all setup to boot UEFI. Some allow you to change that in the bios config, so do not.
Lazesoft suite has a stable of tools to help repair Windows start up issues. Download it to a good PC, it will allow you to create a bootable USB or DVD/CD. The latest version gives an option to create a UEFI bootable or Legacy bootable device -- select wisely. Then you can try those tools on the failing PC. It boots into a windows environment, so you have some of those capabilities (like windows explorer) available as well. It does NOT include hardware diagnostics, but if it boots up, that's an indication CPU and memory might be OK.
If you create a bootable USB, you can add a few diagnostics on the USB. Just add a Tools folder to the USB that Lazesoft created, then place any windows portable apps like memtest and cpu stability test or others in that folder. Later, when booted from the lazesoft disk, you can access those simple tests and run them.
Nope safe mode blue-screens as well
thanks Andre