Stop 0xc000021a error

[Jeff]

I have a Windows XP Media Center PC that is giving me a STOP: 0xc000021a
error every time I try to boot it up, either in Safe or Normal Mode. The
error says "The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly
with a status of 0xc0000020 (0x00000000 0x00000000). I have tried booting
using Last Known Good Configuration, but that does not help. Norton
Partition Magic I believe caused this error, as I was trying to move some
free space from one partition to another on my PC. I can access the data on
the drive, but it just will not boot. I have looked at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;156669 but I am not
sure that will help me, as I cannot boot the PC, therefore I cannot set Dr.
Watson as the default debugger or use the userdump.exe tool either. Any
ideas as to what I can do to figure out how to fix this? The PC is a Sony
Vaio that did not come with recovery disks, just a recovery partition that
will restore the PC to factory condition, which I really do not want to do if
I can help it. From what I am reading, it appears to be a problem with the
winlogon.exe failing, but I am not sure how I can fix this. Any ideas would
be appreciated. Thanks for any help.

jeff

 

[Gerry]

Jeff

Background information on Stop Error code:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms797159.aspx

This occurs when Windows switches into kernel mode and a user-mode
subsystem, such as Winlogon or the Client Server Runtime Subsystem
(CSRSS), is compromised. Security can no longer be guaranteed. Because
Win XP can't run without Winlogon or CSRSS, this is one of the few
situations where the failure of a user-mode service can cause the system
to stop responding. This Stop message also can occur as a result of
malware infestation or when the computer is restarted after a system
administrator has modified permissions so that the SYSTEM account no
longer has adequate permissions to access system files and folders.
http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

Do you have data you wish to recover. Do you have acces to a second
computer preferably a desktop? Putting the problematic drive in the
second computer as a slave may be the best way to backup your data. You
can then use the recovery partition to restore the PC to factory
condition.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jeff]

I do have access to a 2nd PC, but I was hoping that there was a way to avoid
a reformat/restore. I would think that there has to be a way to find the
offending file/driver/service.....

Jeff

 

[Gerry]

Jeff

Backup your data and then think about what to do next.

Do the LogOn items appear i.e. does the error occur before or after you
click on the Logon icon?

These two links come out of your logon error:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/bb457114.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/bb457115.aspx

Are you able to logon as the System Administrator?

It's some time since I used Partition Magic but you may find a solution
there.
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/products/norton_partitionmagic/npmagic_8/manuals/norton_partitionmagic_8.pdf

In Chapter 2 it refers to undoing the last operation. That may be an
option?

On page 53 there is information on merging partitions. Of course that
might cause havoc for file paths.

Are you using any backup utilities like Goback or Acronis?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Jeff]

I cannot even get to the logon screen. The Windows logo screen appears, and
just as it is about to go to the logon screen is when I get the error. Safe
Mode is the same way. I will look over the Symantec information. I do not
use GoBack, Acronis, or any other backup software. Thanks for your help so
far.

Jeff