Computer won't turn on, please help . . .?

Question

I can't get my Alienware running Windows XP to start up past the splash screen. It displays the Windows logo & then shuts down with error message STOP: c000021a (Fatal System Error) The Windows Logon Process System process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000005 (0x0000000 0x00000000). The system has been shut down. It was just restarting over & over but I went into Bios and stopped the auto restart. I have my recovery CD but when I put it in the disc drive the system does not recognize it & F12 does not do it. When I try to run in safe mode it my screen fills with lines that say mulit(0)disk(0)rdishk(0)partition(1)\Windows\system32\drivers\ then at the end each line has something different for example \pci.sys or \ohcil394.sys
Any suggestions would be appreciated but keep in mind if your answer involves clicking, then it’s not going to help b/c I can’t get Windows to boot. Thank You

Answer 1

Just a quick question before anything else, is your BIOS set so that an optical drive boots first, not the hard drive? The recovery CD shouldn't have any issues if it boots before windows.



Also, you can try running a Linux Live CD if you have one on hand...see if that goes anywhere.





EDIT: to follow up on what Wotan said below...if you can't boot from a CD, then you gotta start re-seating hardware, one component at a time. Memory sticks, video card should be first...let us know your progress

Answer 2

I'm feeling real suspicious about the failure to go to your recovery disk on boot. In BIOS, ensure the hard drive is LAST on the boot order. Also, have you tried F8 and safe mode?



If this doesn't work, you should try another bootable disk. Especially a Linux Live CD. Ask a friend or two...or have someone burn one. They are free. Probably the easiest is Ubuntu. Just google that in and you can make a CD from there. If that fails to boot, then I would guess you have a hardware problem. More than likely I think you would be able to get a boot though. Your error code is related to the login process....which is good and bad. You may need to reload your operating system. But, if you pop in a Linux disk you can copy all of your data files over to a USB drive.



If you want to try re-seating the hardware (if nothing up there is doing it for you), it doesn't hurt to try. You would have to feel comfortable opening the case up. Make sure to shut down the computer and unplug the power cord first before doing this. It would also be a good time to clean the interior of the case with dust-off (or an air compressor).



Basically, just remove the memory sticks and replace them again as they were. There are little tabs on the ends you have to thumb back. See if you can access a step by step on your phone for this stuff.



Then restart the computer and see what it does.



If nothing...then pull the video card out ...and replace as it was.



Honestly though...I don't think this will help you. I have my money on this being a Windows problem, meaning you will probably need to reload the OS.



EDIT: not that it really matters...but I'm the same person who first responded...John. Didn't mean to sign in with two different nicks. Get it resolved yet?

Answer 3

You may have a problem with ur video card, try removing the card and rebooting it. Also make sure ur dvd drive is on the top of the boot ljst u can change by going to the bios and lookibg for boot