BSOD after booting after installing Windows Updates

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My computer isn't working anymore after I installed some Windows Updates
yesterday.

I got a popup saying new updates were available (Dreamscene, and some Office
stuff) so I installed them. After rebooting, I got a BSOD during the logon
screen.

Stop C000021A { Fatal System Error}
The NT initial command process system process terminated unexpectedly with a
status of 0xc0000001 (0x000000 0x000000)

I then booted to safe mode which worked fine. I tried uninstalling the
updates, but I get an error saying Windows Installer can't be used in Safe
Mode. I then tried to use a restore point but none could be found. Which is
weird, seeing Vista makes restore points before installing updates.

So now I have a system which only works in safe mode, and gives a BSOD when
started normally. The weird thing is that the BSOD doesn't happen right away.
When I see the logon/user account screen it takes about 30 secs for the BSOD
to occur.

So if I just leave it there at the logon screen I'll get a BSOD. If I
quickly type in my password and login, my account will be loaded and the BSOD
will still occur after about 30 secs but now in the desktop environment.

So it doesn't seem to be related to my account, or stuff that gets loaded at
startup.
I tried disabling all startup software using msconfig in safe mode, but it
had no effect.

I haven't installed any new hardware or drivers lately. The only thing I
installed yesterday were the Updates and the Java runtime.

So I'm looking for a solution to this problem. Either, something to make the
BSOD go away, or something to remove the updates. Is there any way I can use
the Windows Intstaller service during Safe Mode.

I tried this method (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/895141)
but that doesn't seem to be working for Vista

Did you try using the last known good configuration boot option?

If you have a Vista DVD, you can try the Recovery link that allows you to
use Win RE's Startup Repair or if no joy, System Restore from there which
sometimes works when F8's Safe Mode>System Restore options (all 4 should be
tried) won't.

You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.

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.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
___________________

You could also:

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/

You will need this reference:

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us

The command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other
doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think
or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows
Advanced Options though.

Same problem, practically since day one, on my new HP Pavillion dv2221
laptop. I believe that it happened sometime after the most recent
Windows updates.

I have not installed any further spyware or similar products.

Also, the LiveUpdate, included with the Norton Protection Center which
is packed with Vista on this laptop, fails. The updates get
retrieved, but fails (LU1812: An update failed to install). The
Symantec advice suggests uninstalling all the Norton Products, then re-
installing from the cd. Unfortunately, aside from the Recovery DVDs I
created, this laptop doesn't come with CDs or DVDs for recovery or re-
installation of any of the packaged programs. The problem happened
earlier than the burning of the Recovery DVDs.

I performed a Startup repair, which seemed to have fixed some file
successfully, but the Fatal Error still occurs from time to time.

Unless there are any other suggestions, it might be necessary to take
the blasted thing back to CompUSA.

[mickrussom]

STOP c000021a "Fatal System Error" "NT Initial Command Process"

I was using vista no problem until this morning. Over 2 months of uptime. Games, internet,

utilities, etc all working.

Now safe mode only works.

In regular mode, the machine reboots (whether you log on or not) with the following error:
c000021a Fatal System Error

There is no help anywhere for this, and this is a critical dire problem for microsoft. I've never

seen a problem like this where safe mode with networking works perfect and a BSOD like this

happens in regular mode but the BSOD is very non specific.

The Hardware is a:
D975XBX2 Intel
X6800 Intel
GeForce 8800GTX Nvidia
DDR2800 ECC (ECC memory) with ECC enabled Elpidia
PX-760A Plextor
WD Raptor 73GB Western Digital
Seagate Barracuda ES 750GB Seagate

In other words, if you say the hardware is the problem, I'd be suprised. I burned this hardware

down with Knoppix and XP and Windows 2003, no issues. Anyways here is the problem report

abstract:

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.4
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini041107-99.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files

could harm your computer.

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: c000021a
BCP1: 94C2FFE0
BCP2: C0000001
BCP3: 00000000
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6000
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 256_1
Server information: 4f3748b4-1d9f-486f-aa33-db77a1f2acb9

[joeblack]

i have same problem
OS: Vista home premium
laptop model : asus F3sv
i have blue screen error before log on page
safe mode or others dont working
and i have RECOVERY DVD but i dont want to lose my documents in C
what ll i do? :(

[amitku7]

hey i think it's your registry it's corrupted i had this problem if you've used registry cleaners try and use the backup made or if you cant get into the user accounts try safe mode and if that doesnt work try reinstalling the whole OS

hope it helped