Domino Effect...STOP: C0000221

[Guest]

I know what some of you are thinking, why is this guy posting this when there
have been so many people asking this question?

My error message is happening in VISTA! (Not XP or 2000) I'm running Vista
Premium Home Edition

Here is a brief summary of what has happened:

1. Working on computer, took a break, came back and found that computer had
rebooted with a BIOS checksum error.
2. Followed the Mobo Manufacturer's instructions to a possible solution
which was disconnect from power, remove all PCI cards, SIMMS, and battery.
Replace all items, and restarted computer.
3. No image.
4. After lookin through Mobo forums, found suggestion to remove 1 SIMM and
move the other to a different slot.
5. Image returns, BIOS starts. Reset system clock and verify all settings,
save and exit.
6. Goes to "Widows did not start (or shut down) properly" screen, no matter
which choice I make it just re-starts the computer.
7. I did manage to get it to boot from the Vista installation disk but
before I gets to the repair screen I get the blue screen with the STOP:
C0000221 Unknown Hard Error\SYSTEMROOT\ SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll error message.

8. Just now I was able to get the Windows Diagnostic Tool to run and it
stated there were Hardware Problems Detected and ended with Oxc0000017
message.

Anyone have any ideas? Suggestions?

I would try to contact Microsoft via chat or on the phone directly but some
genius decided that in order to contact them you need your product code which
would be awesome to use if I COULD GET INTO MY COMPUTER TO GET IT!!!

Thanks!

VS

 

[Chad Harris]

HI VS--

Usually the error you got is due to this in Vista/or XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314474

I don't know what hardware/ or hardware drivers (as opposed to software
drivers) if any you've installed lately, but I'd try this in case you have a
software error as opposed to a hardware error or a hardware + software
problem:

you can try a restore point to before this happened or
you try the steps below if you have a Vista DVD:

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.

You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx


System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.


How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449

Good luck,

CH

 

[Guest]

No good.

I can't even get to the startup repair menu on the dvd when it starts. When
booting from the DVD I get the Windows is loading files... status bar, then
it starts to load Vista with the green bar at the bottom and then somewhere
in there it goes to blue screen with the STOP error message.

When I get to the safe boot mode, no matter which one I choose it just
re-boots so none of those are working.

Thanks for the suggestion but still no dice...

 

[Guest]

New DEVELOPMENT:

I just tried to start up the computer again booting from the cd and it went
to blue screen and I got this message:

STOP c000021A {Fatal System Error} The Initial session process or system
process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0x00000000 (0cx0000221
0x0010034c) The system has been shut down.