Impossible to do clean install, c000021a {fatal system error}

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
XistenZ

XistenZ

Distinguished
Jan 19, 2014
174
1
18,765
When I try to install Windows 7, this bluescreen pops up telling me "c000021a {fatal system error}". Apparently it has something to do with winlogon or some mumbo-jumbo like that and there is no fix except for toss the entire heap of poo out.
I don't want to toss my heap of poo out though, I'm pretty fond of it. The weird thing is it's a clean HDD, there's no previous OS installed. I tried several clean HDDs, with the exact same result. The DVD works, so it's not that. I also tried removing RAM and switching the slots.

So what it does is, after I get prompted to press any key (which I do), it goes on to loading files, then after a while the flashing Windows 7 logo pops up for a bit and then BAM! Bluescreen.

Thoughts?
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
XistenZ

XistenZ

Distinguished
Jan 19, 2014
174
1
18,765
I did clear CMOS, both with jumper and with taking out the battery for about an hour (not simultaneously of course).
It's pretty old parts, the motherboard is "ASUS P5LP-LE", I have a Intel Pentium 3GHz in it and it uses DDR2 RAM.
Going to look into flashing BIOS, I never really flashed anything successfully though, but I never tried motherboards (since they're pretty important stuff not to be fiddled with).
I'll get back when I f/t-ried it!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
XistenZ

XistenZ

Distinguished
Jan 19, 2014
174
1
18,765
I searched for BIOS updates for this motherboard, and what I found out it's a motherboard used exclusively by HP (I have no idea where I got this from, people give me leftover parts all the time), and since I have no idea what model the computer it came in was (since the motherboard is used in about a billion setups) I can't find the right BIOS. As I said, I never really flashed BIOS, but in my mind I'd say since it's the same motherboard used in various computers does it really matter what model it was in?
Anyway, that's that, have to research a bit more concerning what BIOS I should have.
I discovered another thing though when I was BIOS-hunting, I came to HPs specifications for the motherboard, which stated what RAM was supported. I was using PC6400 sticks but it only supported up to PC5300. I put in a pair of those and VOILA! Not much of a difference, altough it no longer asks me to press any key but just skips right to the process of loading files and the bluescreen is a different one, now it tells me it's something wrong with the hardware and I should contact support if I see it again.

So, same amount of problems but different, change is good!

SUMMARY!
- does it matter what BIOS I find for this motherboard? Does it have to correspond to the model of computer it was in prior to slaughter?
- PRESS ANY KEY is apparently not necessary for survival.

Thoughts?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

avjguy2362

Honorable
Jun 21, 2012
732
0
11,360
Forget the BIOS flashing. First it requires an utility that will read the the BIOS file for you. The older MB's used a more difficult DOS based utility. Newer MB's use a very easy: put the USB stick in, choose the file in the utility, it flashes it and you done!
However, you may have better luck with Windows XP. There is a good chance that the parts in that computer simply don't support W7. W7 was generally an upgrade from Vista, simply because they are the same shell. I think I remember that you could upgrade to 7 from XP, but you still had to check the Windows site to see if your computer met the eligibility requirements. DO you know what OS came with it? No matter what, you haven't activated the W7, so it is still new! There are links here at Tom's for this MB that go all the way back to 2008! Don't want to ruin your day, but you really don't want the headache with parts this old. Time to look for a new MB, CPU, etc!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
XistenZ

XistenZ

Distinguished
Jan 19, 2014
174
1
18,765
I decided to try another motherboard, same CPU, RAM etc. Worked instantly :) so I'm going to label that motherboard "worthless".
I did try installing XP as well, it went on until it was reading the drivers for something like "keyboardlayout", it goes by so fast I never really got it. Tried it again and it stopped at the exact same place. Tried using both USB-keyboard and PS/2-keyboard with same result.

Just wanted to write down what I tried (even though it didn't work) for future readers.

And BTW, the W7 has been activated a couple of times on various installations, I built this computer to run my 3D-printer :p sucks that all my old parts is just...old. Seems I only upgrade when something breaks nowadays so I don't have anything newer in stock.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom