Windows XP Fatal System Error/Unknown Hard Error

[dlevett]

Any of you tech savy people help?

I'm running Windows XP (did work fine for a long time) now, upon boot up it appears to start fine (Windows starting up, XP 'splash' clears, then 'Windows starting up) then the screen goes blue and I get one of two error messages:

- STOP: d0000144 unknown hard error
unknown hard error

or

- Stop C000021a {Fatal System Error}
The windows logon process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of: 0xc0000005 (0x00000000 0x00000000) The system has been shutdown

Does anyone have any idea whether this is a windows/software error or a hardware error

More importantly perhaps - anyone any idea of the fix?

Cheers,

David.

 

[Chunky]

Stop errors can be caused by many things and can be a bugger to track down so you'll not get a definitive answer.

I've managed to solve them in the past by simply removing a piece of software or driver. However, other stop errors have only been solved by clean installs.

Have a look here for some good tips in tracking your problem down.

Good luck

...and if you can't get it sorted, buy a Mac

 

[Phil Thomas]

Ooh - er!

Can you boot it up in Safe Mode! If you can, is it possible to do a System Restore? Can't actually remember whether it's possible from Safe Mode.

Don't we just love computers.

Regards to all,

 

[spacemonkey]

if it's buggered, find someone with linux to get all your precious bits off the drive


hopefully you can go safe mode and get rid of some drivers

good luck!

 

[dlevett]

Thanks guys - I'm making some progress!

It will 'boot up' in safe mode, and I've gone:
- Start
- Run
- msconfig
- start (top right)
- disable all (at the bottom)

I've then re-booted and it starts OK.

Now I think I have to re-enable all of the 'start-up' programms one by one and see which one causes the problem - trouble is I have to do one at a time and re-boot after each one.

All is not lost, and thanks for your advice.

Cheers,

David.

 

[centaur]

Did you add any programs or hardware just before this happened, or possibly update any ?

 

[Cestria]

Have you thought about using system restore to go back to a period when the PC was stable? This can help if it was a recent install of hardware or software which is causing the issue.
Check out START >HELP AND SUPPORT and search for 'system restore' for details. I think this will run under safe mode.