Windows 11 Stopcode: 0xc000021a

Cannot download if you have BSOD as you cannot start your computer. Just saying.

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

The issues you mentioned and the stop code 0xc000021a could be caused by system file corruption.

Before trying to do anything, I suggest you check the "health" of your HDD/SSD using Crystal Disk Info to make sure there are no issues.

https://crystalmark.info/en/download/

Download the "Standard Edition" by clicking on the "ZIP (XP-)" button.

Extract the ZIP and run the file "DiskInfo64.exe".

The health result of your HD/SSD will be displayed. See if there are any alerts.

Feel free to send a screenshot if you want. Use the shortcut "Windows + Shift + S" to use the screenshot tool.

If Crystal Disk Info reports that the health of your HDD/SSD is good, I suggest you do an InPlace Upgrade.

This procedure reinstalls Windows, which helps to fix problems.

But don't worry. You have the option to keep files, settings, and apps.

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file from the link below;

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

2. Double-click the ISO to run;
3. On the "Install Windows 11" screen, uncheck "I want to help make the installation of Windows better" and select "Change how Windows Setup download updates";
4. On the next screen, select "Not right now" and click "Next";
5. Accept the terms of use;
6. On the "Ready to install" screen, select "Choose what to keep" and select what you want to keep.
7. Click on "Install" and wait for the procedure to finish. Your computer may restart several times.

Feel free to ask back any questions.

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If a PC won't go beyond startup how on earth are cany of your (and others) solutions going to work?

If a PC won't go beyond startup how on earth are cany of your (and others) solutions going to work?

The OP did not state that his/her PC was stuck in a BSOD with error 0xC000021A. He:She got it at least once but maybe the PC then booted normally.

Nevertheless I agree that David-M's solution will not work with the PC stuck on such a BSOD. The Inplace Upgrade is possible only from a Windows running session.

I got the 0xc00021a error and was stuck with it: my only solution was to start in WinRE then troubleshoot what was wrong. You can boot in minimal WinRE environment from your PC damaged Windows install disk if it is configured this way otherwise from a external install/recovery media.

The possible hardware issue mentioned by David-is relevant hence the CDI report to check. I have searched a lot about the possible root causes to an error code 0xc000021a and found they are numerous. In my case, it was the BCD store that was messed up after I had tried to manually migrate a BIOS/MBR working install to a UEFI/GPT configuration.

I finally fixed this issue this way and from the booted WinRE environment related to my corrupted W10 system:

1. I first launched the Command Console / Command Prompt from the Advanced Options
2. I reconstructed the ESP, MSR and Recovery partitions layouts with the diskpart.exe utility
3. I installed the right files at the right place for an EFI Windows Boot Manager and an EFI Windows Boot Loader with the bcdboot.exe utility
4. I finally and manually edit the BCD store based on a working W10 install with the bcdedit.exe utilty

My PC booted fine after these four steps completed. I had thereafter some glitches to fix but I retrieved my working Windows session as I had left it before my first attempt of a manual MBR to GPT Windows migration.

This procedure is applicable to any Windows 10 1709+ and Windows 11 versions. I read that Microsoft dropped the support of the bootrec.exe utility starting with the Windows 10 1709 version but I could not confirm this is true as one can still find this utility in the Windows RE environment of recent Windows 10 versions and it still works for repairing Windows installs on BIOS/MBR disks. I did not check for Windows 11.

One key point that can avoid misleading people and them wasting a lot of time: the Bootrec.exe utility is useless for any corrupted Windows install on a GPT disk! This utility was designed for repairing MBR partition layouts with the MBR and PBR/VBR sectors and the proper boot files installed for any BIOS/MBR system. This is why a lot of people complain about false errors like "zero Windows install found" or "access denied". For an UEFI/GPT Windows install there is no matter to fix non-existing MBR or PBR sectors and Bootrec.exe CAN'T read a GPT partition layout making its option "-scanOS" wrongly report "zero Windows install found". What you expect to do with the "-RebuildBCD" option is to do with the Bcdboot.exe utility that has been designed for both BIOS/MBR and UEFI/GPT Windows installs.

Did anyone ever figure out how to get rid of the blue screen error when you can’t even get past that screen?