c0000221 error during Windows XP installation

[Guest]

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions. Data and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, but when booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of files loading, just before the installation choices would start appearing I get the well known and documented error messag

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Erro
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dl

This problem is mentioned in other threads - but with no real firm solutions! I understand it could be a memory problem and I will use MEMTEST86 to check that later

If I start Windows XP, then put the Win XP CD in, choose to re-install Windows, and choose a new installation (not an upgrade or recovery), then it DOES work and that error message doesn't occur. BUT - I am NOT given the option to reformat my C: drive

QUESTION

1. How can I wipe clean and reformat my C: drive and leave my D: partition intact? (presumably with floppy disks - but how?) I had a Win 98 startup disk but it didn't appear to see the partitions (perhaps because of NTFS formatting?)

2. Is there any workaround for the normal method of booting off of the Windows XP CD and getting that @#$%& error message from stopping the installation - which is stopping me from then reformatting the C: partition

Bud H.

 

[Len Segal]

Bud,

Have you looked at this Stop Message at MVP Jim Eshelman's webpage?
http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm

Go to 221 in the left column and see if the info that you find in the right
side is of any help in resolving your problem.

--

Regards,
Len Segal, MCP
Microsoft - MVP
--------------
My reply address is intentionally wrong to reduce SPAM Email.
NOTE: We do not respond to unsolicited Email support questions,
please post questions in newsgroup.

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions. Data

and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C:

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, but when

booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of files loading,
just before the installation choices would start appearing I get the well
known and documented error message

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

This problem is mentioned in other threads - but with no real firm

solutions! I understand it could be a memory problem and I will use
MEMTEST86 to check that later.

If I start Windows XP, then put the Win XP CD in, choose to re-install

Windows, and choose a new installation (not an upgrade or recovery), then it
DOES work and that error message doesn't occur. BUT - I am NOT given the
option to reformat my C: drive.

QUESTIONS

1. How can I wipe clean and reformat my C: drive and leave my D:

partition intact? (presumably with floppy disks - but how?) I had a Win 98
startup disk but it didn't appear to see the partitions (perhaps because of
NTFS formatting?).

2. Is there any workaround for the normal method of booting off of the

Windows XP CD and getting that @#$%& error message from stopping the
installation - which is stopping me from then reformatting the C: partition?

 

[mdp]

I got this error installing WinXP Pro on a Dell Optiplex GX110. The error
message went away when I replaced the original CDROM with a brand new CDROM
drive and redid the install.

I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions. Data

and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C:

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, but when

booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of files loading,
just before the installation choices would start appearing I get the well
known and documented error message

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

This problem is mentioned in other threads - but with no real firm

solutions! I understand it could be a memory problem and I will use
MEMTEST86 to check that later.

If I start Windows XP, then put the Win XP CD in, choose to re-install

Windows, and choose a new installation (not an upgrade or recovery), then it
DOES work and that error message doesn't occur. BUT - I am NOT given the
option to reformat my C: drive.

QUESTIONS

1. How can I wipe clean and reformat my C: drive and leave my D:

partition intact? (presumably with floppy disks - but how?) I had a Win 98
startup disk but it didn't appear to see the partitions (perhaps because of
NTFS formatting?).

2. Is there any workaround for the normal method of booting off of the

Windows XP CD and getting that @#$%& error message from stopping the
installation - which is stopping me from then reformatting the C: partition?

 

[Slyprey]

We had the same problem doing a reformat and trying to reload x
pro........After reading dozens of threads and not getting any rea
help till coming across a reply to yours to check out the link at 22
in left column at http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm gave us an idea t
unplug our slave HDD even tho its not a zip drive............voila n
more blue death screen with this error....we still reformatted but i
did give all options of normal recovery etc that u should have gotte
normally......if u dont have a slaved HDD then F***Knows, but ya gott
try wot ya gotta try.....hope ya get a solution 2 ya prob if our wa
isnt yours

*I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with the hard drive in two partitions.
Data and other files are on D:, Windows and programs on C:

I want to wipe the C: drive clean and re-install Windows XP home, bu
when booting with the Dell Win XP Home CD and after a minute of file
loading, just before the installation choices would start appearing
get the well known and documented error messa
ge

Stop:c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll

This problem is mentioned in other threads - but with no real fir
solutions! I understand it could be a memory problem and I will us
MEMTEST86 to check that later.

If I start Windows XP, then put the Win XP CD in, choose t
re-install Windows, and choose a new installation (not an upgrade o
recovery), then it DOES work and that error message doesn't occur.
BUT - I am NOT given the option to reformat my C: drive.


QUESTIONS

1. How can I wipe clean and reformat my C: drive and leave my D
partition intact? (presumably with floppy disks - but how?) I had
Win 98 startup disk but it didn't appear to see the partition
(perhaps because of NTFS formatting?).


2. Is there any workaround for the normal method of booting off o
the Windows XP CD and getting that @#$%& error message from stoppin
the installation - which is stopping me from then reformatting the C
partition?


Bud H.

-
Slypre