[Solved] How to Fix Stop Code 0xc000021a With BSOD?

What is Windows Stop Code 0xc000021a

The Windows stop code 0xc000021a is a type of Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error. It means that a critical system process, such as winlogon.exe or csrss.exe, has suddenly stopped or crashed. These processes are very important for Windows to run properly. If either one fails, Windows has no choice but to shut down and show this error. This error can happen for several reasons:

When the system sees that one of these key processes has stopped working, it immediately shuts down to prevent further damage, showing the stop code 0xc000021a.

How to fix Windows stop code 0xc000021a blue screen of death?

To fix the issue of 0xc000021a stop code with blue screen of death in Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7, you can try the following 4 fixes.

Fix 1. Perform a boot repair

If your PC is stuck in a boot loop with the stop code 0xc000021a, it’s often caused by a corrupted MBR or missing BCD files. These boot components are critical for Windows to start properly.

A safe and effective fix is to use AOMEI Partition Assistant. With it, you can create a bootable USB on another computer, start your PC in the WinPE environment, and use the Boot Repair tool. This feature repairs or rebuilds the BCD and MBR, resolving boot errors and restoring normal startup.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC, click "Recover"-"Boot Repair" and then click the "create a bootable disk" option to create a WinPE "Boot Repair" disk.

Step 2. Boot the PC that cannot boot into WinPE. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed.

Advanced Settings (Select a location to store the repaired boot entry):

Repair to the current disk: The system will boot from the current disk and ensure the boot files are complete and functioning properly. (By default)

Repair to another disk: This operation will repair the boot entry or create a new system boot entry to ensure the system can boot from the disk you select.

You can either repair to the current disk or repair to another disk. Repair to the current disk is recommended for common users.

Step 3. Select one/multiple repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the boot repair.

Step 4. Wait for the repair process to finish. Once it is finished, you can check the repair result. If it succeeds, you will get a "Repair Successfully" result.

Fix 2. Run Automatic Repair

Windows 11 includes a built-in Startup Repair feature that can automatically identify and fix boot issues, including the BCD error code 0xc0000098. 

Step 1. Boot from a Windows 11 installation media: Insert a Windows 11 installation USB or DVD and restart your computer. As soon as your PC starts, press any key to boot from the media.

Step 2. Select your language preferences and click Next. Choose Repair your computer at the bottom left.

Step 3. Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, and finally, Startup Repair.

The tool will automatically attempt to detect and repair any boot-related issues, including the BCD file error.

Fix 3. Check and repair the disk in Safe Mode

A common cause of Windows stop code 0xc000021a with blue screen or getting stuck at Scanning and Repairing Drive at 0% is the presence of bad sectors on the hard drive. To resolve this, checking and repairing the disk is recommended. Since Windows cannot boot normally under these circumstances, the following steps should be performed in Safe Mode:

Step 1. Press and hold the Power button to force the computer to turn off and on three times.If this does not work, use a bootable installation media to start your PC.

Step 2. In WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. On the next screen, press F4 to enter Safe Mode or F5 to enter Safe Mode with Networking.

Step 3. Open the Start Menu, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. In the command window, enter the following command:

chkdsk C: /f /r

Step 4. When prompted, type Y and press Enter to schedule the disk check for the next startup. Once the scanning and repairing process is complete, restart the computer and check if the issue has been resolved.

Fix 4. Run System Restore

System Restore can help fix the stop code 0xc000021a by returning your system to a previous working state. It restores system files, drivers, and settings without touching your personal files. However, it only works if the error is caused by recent changes. If important system files or boot data like the MBR or BCD are damaged, System Restore may not work. In that case, you can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to fix the 0xc000021a problem.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Restart your PC a few times during the boot until the Automatic Repair message appears. Now go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > System Restore.

Step 2. Select your username and enter your password. Click on Next, select the desired restore point and follow the instructions on the screen to restore your PC. After your PC is restored, check if the problem still appears.

Conclusion

The stop code 0xc000021a is a serious error caused by system process failures or boot file issues. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to fix it, including boot repair, automatic repair, disk check, and system restore. Among them, using tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant offers a safer and easier way to repair boot problems and restore your system to normal. Choose the solution that best fits your situation to get your PC running smoothly again.