After SP2 Install - Fatal System Error

Question

Help!!! Dell Dimension 2300 I installed SP2, restarted and all was fine I went back to Windows Update and was offered critical updates for IE and Office I also selected to install Media Player 10 and under optional hardware installs I selected a Dell Video update Install went fine on restart I get: 'Stop: c000021a  {Fatal System Error}  The windows logon process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000135 (0x00000000 0x00000000)  The system has been shut down'   With Dell support I attempted to start in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with command prompt, and also the option to start with latest good installation.  All resulted in the same fatal system error.    They said I need to reinstall everything.  I have a hunch it is the Dell Video download since the error occurs when it seems like the first real XP screen is about to display (after the Windows XP splash screen).   Any thoughts?

Flooby · Answer

BA910 wrote:   With Dell support I attempted to start in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with command prompt, and also the option to start with latest good installation.  All resulted in the same fatal system error.    They said I need to reinstall everything.  Any thoughts? Let me see if I understand this correctly - you can't boot to Windows, you can't boot to Safe Mode, you can't restore to the last known good state - in essence, the system is at present useless?   If so, it sounds like they gave you good advice, since you obviously can't roll back your suspect driver, or get the system to do much of anything else.

BA910 · Answer

Thanks for the reply.  You are right.  Can I do a Repair Installation with the original XP SP1 CD? My understanding is that this might work and it will only crush the XP updates not my data.  I have it booted from the CD, I've selected the repair option.  Now my problem is that it is asking for an Administrators password on the recovery console.  I never set up an Administrator account password.  Is there some default to this that comes from the Dell factory install?

Flooby · Answer

See the link below for information on this, as regards repairs to installations originally made via a Sysprep image. If you're unable to work around the restrictions, your only option is going to be to format the drive and reinstall everything from scratch.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_svcpacks&message.id=2598

lawnmowerguy · Answer

< >          I wouldn't rely on Windows Update to give you the latest drivers.  WU is still offering me a video driver that was updated by Intel months ago.  I've also read that installation of drivers thru WU often results in complications.

BA910 · Answer

Agreed.  I learned a lot through this experience.  That one made me nervous when I selected it, I should have trusted my instincts.

BA910 · Answer

I'm back!  Thanks for your assist.  I was able to run the XP Repair Installation after booting up from the CD.  So I'm back to square one on the XP front, but I have all of my data and installed apps.  I won't be trying to go to SP2 for a while after this fun.

Flooby · Answer

I doubt very much that SP2 had anything to do with it.  Attempting install Media Player 10 and updates to device drivers is probably what did it.  At one time, Media Player needed to be installed separately from other components, and that's probably a good rule to follow for driver installations/updates, too.

Beaker VW · Answer

I just got this same thing....in the process of repairing....user said he was installing a poker game. I asked him if he installed SP2, he said he didnt, but maybe it was installed automaticly and this was the first reboot since.

Dan Manley · Answer

To put a point on Flooby's comments, the Device Driver section of the WU site is the exception I would try to steer clear of.  I suppose there's someone out there who can report a good experience with one of their offerings but I'm yet to meet that person.  I really cannot imagine why that particular group is even offered, however seldom, since there are better and safer ways to obtain drivers.  My personal take is, grab all the critical updates, pick and choose the optional category as you will and pass up the drivers.

Carlsberg · Answer

Hi I was wanting to know if someone could help me out with the same above problem that BA910 had. I have exactly the same problem except for the status code is 0x0000142 which i have found to be a DLL initialization failure. I have also tried the normal remedies that i have found trying to get into safe mode and all that using the F8 short key. However, once at the Windows advanced options menu i cannot load safe mode because i get the same error over and over again when the system tries to load as BA910 had stated above. I was just wondering how i could potentially over ride the problem and reformat the system? and how to do it from the Windows Advanced Options Menu that is promted after hitting F8 since this is the only screen i can get to. I personaly don't know how to reformat from disc on this screen or how to possibly get the computer to load first from disc before booting the system, if anyone could help me out in this regard it would be much appreciated since im at wits end right now.

And I would like to add as well that i got this problem to after trying to install an online poker game which is probably the same one Beaker VW was talking about.

Thanks for your time

Carlsberg · Answer

sorry i forgot to say in the message that i was running a windows xp operating system with the dell inspiron 8500 series.

TDMVP73 · Answer

I recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 2 and when my computer booted up for about the 6th time, it started everything as normal. Except after the black screen with the status bar showing Windows XP Professional loading, a light blue screen showed up saying that the "autochk" program terminated, it then says its skipping the process and it flashes to a black screen. A black screen is on for about 5 to 10 seconds then it shows up with the Blue Screen of Death.

c000021a {Fatal Service Error}

Logon Process Terminated with a status code of 0xc0000135 (0x00000000 0x00000000). System has been shut down.

I hit F8, trying to boot to Safe Mode, same error, I tried booting to Safe Mode with Command Prompt, same error. I then tried booting to last good configuration, it gave me the same error. Lastly, I ran IDE Diagnostics under F12 and it showed that none of my hard drives were recognized in the primary SATA and IDE ports. Its strange though because the Promise RAID drivers begin to load first thing as normal when I first boot up. The final thing I tried was using the Dell Reinstall Disc to run a repair on my current XP configuration by hitting F12 and booting by CD. It goes through the loading process and then when I hit enter to try and get to the repair screen, it says no hard drives are installed, setup will now exit, and reboot your computer.

Any suggestions on how to boot my system up, I do not want to reformat my hard drive if at all possible. If I do have to reformat my hard drive, I would like to at least get into it one last time to pull over some documents, pictures and music to my 250 GB external hard drive. Any programs that would allow me to do this?

Could it possibly be that part of my motherboard is fried, or maybe my hard drive, it was rather loud at boot up. Thanks for the help.

Windows General

After SP2 Install -> Fatal System Error

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