BSOD: STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} The initial session...

Hi all,

This last saturday I turned my compuer (Dell XPS M1530 with Win7 Home Premium 32bit) off and when I turned it back on I had the BSOD with error :
"STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} The initial session process or system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0x00000000"

I restarted my computer numerous times and don't know what to do:
- Last know configuration: doesn't work, i still get the BSOD
- Safe Mode; doesn't work, BSOD
- Repair windows with the WinRE: the repair crashes with an error so it doesn't work
- I backed up my drive (through Acronis, as well as Windows 7) and I get the same error
- chkdsk c: /r : no errors have been found

I can't log onto windows (before anyone asks) and really don't know what to do.
I haven't installed any new drivers or new hardware or even new software on my laptop before I got the BSOD and my windows updates and drivers are up to date. My computer is protected by Eset Nod32, and I also use Superantispyware and Malbyte Antimalware and i frequently check from problems and nothing. I also clean my registry every week with CCleaner.

I think I said everything.
Please help, I'm desperate.

I also tried this, that I saw on a forum. I know it's something for Win XP but tried it anyways, and, well, it didn't work:

i had the same problem with a client’s computer, here is the way i resolved that:
client computer has Win xp pro with sp2, it wasn’t bootable even in safe mode.
So i booted with a bartPE cd, and renamed the following files:
csrss.exe –> csrss.exeold
win32k.sys –> win32k.sysold
winlogon.exe –> winlogon.exeold
I took these files from a working computer runing window xp pro sp3 (i didn’t have a sp2 computer with me) and put them back in the bad computer.
That worked perfectly, no idea why…

nicob said:

Hi all,

This last saturday I turned my compuer (Dell XPS M1530 with Win7 Home Premium 32bit) off and when I turned it back on I had the BSOD with error :
"STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} The initial session process or system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0x00000000"

I restarted my computer numerous times and don't know what to do:
- Last know configuration: doesn't work, i still get the BSOD
- Safe Mode; doesn't work, BSOD
- Repair windows with the WinRE: the repair crashes with an error so it doesn't work
- I backed up my drive (through Acronis, as well as Windows 7) and I get the same error
- chkdsk c: /r : no errors have been found

I can't log onto windows (before anyone asks) and really don't know what to do.
I haven't installed any new drivers or new hardware or even new software on my laptop before I got the BSOD and my windows updates and drivers are up to date. My computer is protected by Eset Nod32, and I also use Superantispyware and Malbyte Antimalware and i frequently check from problems and nothing. I also clean my registry every week with CCleaner.

I think I said everything.
Please help, I'm desperate.

This error occurs when a user-mode subsystem, such as WinLogon or the Client Server Run-Time Subsystem (CSRSS), has been fatally compromised and security can no longer be guaranteed. In response, the operating system switches to kernel mode. Microsoft Windows cannot run without WinLogon or CSRSS. Therefore, this is one of the few cases where the failure of a user-mode service can shut down the system.
Mismatched system files can also cause this error. This can occur if you have restored your hard disk from a backup. Some backup programs might skip restoring system files that they determine are in use.


Any of this apply?

I don't think it applies as I wasn't restoring my backup. I just shut down my computer like any ordinary day.
As for winlogon, since the error message says "the initial process" instead of "windows logon" I assume that it's not the problem. As for CSRSS I have no idea but I doubt it since I replaced csrss.exe with a "new" one from a working Win7 computer and it didn't change anything.