Vista has weird 0xc0000221 error

Trying to troubleshoot a problem with a Vista machine, clean install,
which, during the first boot-up each day, does the following:

Windows failed to Start.

File: \Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Status : 0xc0000221
Info: Windows failed to load because the kernel is missing, or
corrupt.

We reboot the machine, it brings up the "Windows failed to start"
screen that gives us the safe mode, last known good, normal etc boot
options, we choose Boot Normally and it boots right up, and has no
further issues (until the next day when it does it again).

Any ideas? So far I'm at a loss and don't want to reinstall because
of this. I've thought of trying a repair but haven't done so yet.
I've also thought about trying to simply copy the file from another
good Vista machine over, but that seems kinda scary.

The recovery option for a Command Prompt should let you do that, assuming
you can get a compatible copy of the file. Look over the TakeOwn technique:
Some Windows Vista functions may not work, or Windows Vista may stop
responding: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

if you have a vista disc the i would try a repair... that should fic the
problem 4 you
a quick google brought this up

NTOSKRNL.EXE is missing or corrupt.
*Related errors:*
Below is a listing of the full error
message that may be related to this error.
Windows NT could not start because the below file is
missing or corrupt:
C:\Winnt\System32\Ntoskrnl.exe
*Cause:*


- Keyboard issue
- Miscellaneous corruption
- Corrupt boot.ini file.
- Missing boot.ini file.
- Missing or corrupt ntoskrnl.exe file.
- Windows NT installed on a partition bigger then 7.8GB
- Corrupted hard disk drive or severely corrupted Windows. *Solution:*

KEYBOARD ISSUE
This issue has also been known to be caused
by a short in the ground wire in the keyboard cable. Make
sure this is not the cause of your error by replacing the
' keyboard'
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/k/keyboard.htm) with a different
keyboard or simply just disconnecting the keyboard from
the computer.
*Miscellaneous corruption*

Before trying any of the below
recommendations it's recommend that you attempt to load the
last known good configuration. Additional information about
doing this can be found on 'document CH000626'
(http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000626.htm).
*Corrupt boot.ini file*

This issue is often caused when the boot.ini
is missing or improperly configured. This issue often
arises after a user has recently added or removed an
operating system on the computer or added or removed hard
disk drives in the computer.
Make sure the line pointing to the operating system and
it's drive and partition is properly configured in the
[boot loader] and [operating systems] section. Additional
information about boot.ini can be found on 'document
CH000492' (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000492.htm).

*Missing boot.ini file*

*Microsoft Windows XP users:*
If the boot.ini is severely corrupted or missing a user running
Microsoft Windows XP can rebuild the boot.ini to resolve this issue.
Additional information about rebuilding the boot.ini can be
found on 'document CH000648'
(http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000648.htm).
*Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000 users:*
To restore the original boot.ini file in Microsoft Windows NT or
Windows 2000 you will need an 'ERD'
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/erd.htm) and follow
the below steps. If you do not have an ERD you will be
unable to follow these steps.

- Boot the computer with your Windows NT three setup diskettes
or the Windows 2000 setup disc.
- In the setup menu, *type R* to start the repair.
- When prompted for the ERD diskette insert the diskette and
inspect the startup environment. *Missing or corrupt ntoskrnl.exe
file*

If the ntoskrnl.exe file is corrupt or
missing this can also generate the error. To restore this file
follow the below steps.

- *Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD*. Note: If you have
a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP
CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your
issue.
- Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should
see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you
see this message *press 'any key'
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/a/anykey.htm)*.
- In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to
enter the recovery console.
- *Select the operating system* you wish to fix, and then
*enter the administrator password*.
- *Type 'expand' (http://www.computerhope.com/expandhl.htm)
d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32*
- You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file *type
Y* and *press enter* to overwrite the file.
- *Type exit* to reboot the computer. *Windows NT installed on a partition
bigger then 7.8GB*

If you are running Microsoft windows NT 4.0 on
a partition larger than 7.8GB this issue can occur if the
boot files are located outside this limitation. When this
error occurs your computer will have the error message as
shown below.
OS Loader v4.01
Disk I/O error status=00000001
Windows NT could not start because the below file is
missing or corrupt: winnt\system32\Ntoskrnl.exe
Please reinstall a copy of the above file.
If your system partition is larger than 7.8GB you will need to
delete the partition and recreate the partition to 7.8GB or less.
Additional information about this issue can be found on
'Microsoft KB Q224526'
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/224526).
*Corrupted hard disk drive or severely
corrupted Windows*

Attempt to check the 'hard disk drive'
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/h/harddriv.htm) for any errors by
running the 'chkdsk'
(http://www.computerhope.com/chkdskh.htm) error. To do this follow the
below steps.

- *Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD*. Note: If you have
a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP
CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your
issue.
- Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should
see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you
see this message *press 'any key'
(http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/a/anykey.htm)*.
- In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to
enter the recovery console.
- *Select the operating system* you wish to fix, and then
*enter the administrator password*.
- Once at the recovery console *type chkdsk /r*
- Once completed *type exit* and see if issue is
resolved. If after trying all of the above steps you are still
encountering the same issue it's likely that Windows is
severely corrupted and it is recommended you attempt to
reinstall Windows. Additional information about erasing the
computer and starting over can be found on 'document
CH000186' (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000186.htm).

Finally, if during the Windows installation you encounter errors
it's likely that your hard disk drive is bad.


--
ripbox

* Core 2 Quad Q6600
* Abit IN9 32 MAX Motherboard
* 4 GB OCZ 4GB PC2-5400 Vista Upgrade (2x2GB)
* ASUS 8800 GTX x 1
* 150GB Raptor HDD
* 500GB Caviar HDD
* Vista Ultimate x64

Run the following: sfc /scannow

That should fix missing or corrupted files.
If that fails to fix it, boot from the DVD and do a Repair.

Thanks I will try that, you're the 2nd person who suggested something
along those lines. The only thing that's really strange to me is that
simply rebooting the system always fixes the problem. If the file
really is messed up I don't know why it wouldn't just fail again on
every boot attempt.

See what Tim Quan - MSFT have to said about

Unable to boot up my new laptop - 0xc0000221

http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...5120&SiteID=17