Oxc000021a error

So yesterday my wife attempted to update her windows 8 os and when it was done the pc would not boot up normally. It says we have errors and when automatic repair is used it cannot do the job. I gives us this log file: D:\WINDOWS\System32\Logfiles\Srt\SrtTrail.txt. I'm able to read this and it gives me error codes 0x0 for target OS test, volume content check, boot mngr diag, sys boot log diag, event log diag, internal state check, then ends with root cause found:

startup repair has tried several times but still cannot determine the cause of the problem.

I'm able to get to a command prompt which I believe will help me get into the computer to change things, but, I do not have the knowledge base to know what to change. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

Hi,

if you can get to a command prompt Ok, it would be worthwhile as a first step to try and set back your computer by a few days (using a system restore Point) to before the last set of updates that seem to have caused the problems.(this should not interfere with your data files, documents etc)

The command you need is:

rstrui.exe

and press the Enter Key

follow on screen directions to select the appropriate restore point….. Do not allow the computer to run out of electricity during the system restore process….

if you need detailed instructions on any of this then take a look here:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/systemrestorecp.htm

Let us know how you get on

regards

paws

Thank you for the quick reply. I've tried your suggestion and get to this point: I have a restore point picked and system restore will not allow me to go forward, the "next|" button is not highlighted allowing me to use it. The status says: you must enable system protection on this drive. I cannot go forward.  Now what?

Hi, That is not looking good   

From the command prompt run chkdsk with the r switch, the command is:

chkdsk /r

( note the space ,it needs to be there) press the enter key…. the drive will probably be locked so click y press enter,and close down and retsart your machine. The chkdsk may take several hours, do not interrupt it once it starts, it will try and restart your computer when its done.

Let us know if this does the trick for you.

Regards

paws

This is what the pc tells me when I run chkdsk /r:

The type of the file system is NTFS.

Cannot lock current drive.

Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected.

Again thanks for getting back to this post quickly. I will look at this in the morning.

P.S. what a nasty little update windows gave us lol

Hi, Ok

This is definitely not looking good,   

I hope you have a good copy (Back up) of everything that is important to you (stuff you wouldn't want to lose permanently) and you have at least one extra copy kept safe offsite on removable media…

Here's the next steps:

open an elevated command prompt and use the following :.

diskpart
list volume
select volume X (where X is the write protected drive with the issues)
attributes volume clear readonly

Try chkdsk /r again and see if it will run (you may need to close down and then restart your computer…. if it runs Ok then leave it to finish (may take several hours!) don't interrupt it or allow the computer to run out of electricity whilst chkdsk is running…

Let us know how it goes..

Regards

paws.

I do not have any copies or backups of my docs or music files on the pc. Any way of retrieving these before I continue on and possibly have to wipe everything off?

I have yet to try opening as the administrator and will keep you posted on that.

P.S. do I run all of these commands one after the other? Or one at a time?

open an elevated command prompt and use the following :.

diskpart (then),
list volume (then),
select volume X (where X is the write protected drive with the issues)
attributes volume clear readonly

Not sure about the last line? I'm to clear the readonly from the attributes volume?

yes thats right, clear the "read only"

was this version of Windows pre installed on a new computer within the last 18 months or so or did you have a previous version of windows on it? ( XP, Vista 7 etc)

Can you get into the BIOS and set the boot priority to Optical drive or USB as prioity 1? if you can then set it to optical drive  (CD/DVD) as boot priority 1 and then hard drive as next priority 2… save the changes and exit with a live distro of linux ( Puppy is good) in the CD tray…. if your computer will boot into Puppy then you will be able to remedy any holes in your back ups by copying any missing files to a memory stick or external hard drive.

Post back if you need further info on using Puppy etc.,

Regards

paws

When you get to the Command Prompt, what does it look like? By that I mean what does the last line look like? SHould be something like this:

C:\Users\xxxxxxxx>

Does it start with C: ???

If not, try

diskpart

list vol

exit

See if list vol tells you what drive letter is assigned to your Windows 8 partition. With that, run

chkdsk x: /r    (where x: is the drive letter of your Windows 8 partition.

So PAWS, how do I get a hold of this "puppy" boot disc?

This is for Ztruker:     x:\windows\system32> is what is displayed on my command prompt. And before I run the chkdsk command I want to ensure that I save the photo files and music files my wife currently has on her harddrive.

Again thanks for being patient.

Here's the directions for Puppy, (thanks to Philpower2)

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

• Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

  Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

   

  There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivel…e-from-windows/ 

   

   

   

• Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

   

• Extract All files to a location you can remember 

   

• Double Click [external image: 1%20BurnCDCC%20Icon.PNG] BurnCDCC 

   

• Click Browse [external image: 2%20BurnCDCC%20Browse%20Button.PNG] and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

   

• Open/Double Click that file 

  IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

   

• Click Start [external image: 3%20BurnCDCC%20Start%20Button.PNG] 

   

• Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

   

• Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

   

• Click OK 

   

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

•  

   

• Start the computer/press the power button 

   

• Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

  (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

   

• Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

  CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

   

• Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

   

• Press F10 to save and exit 

   

• Agree with "Y" to continue 

   

• Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

   

  [external image: 4%20BIOSBootPriorityImage.png] 

   

3.  Recover Your Data 

• Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

   

  3a. Mount Drives 

   

• Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop. [external image: 5%20Puppy%20Linux%20Mount%20Icon.PNG] 

   

• A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

   

• Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

   

• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

   

• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

   

3b. Transfer Files.

•  

   

• At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

   

• Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

   

• Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

   

• If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

   

• From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

   

For folks inexperienced with Linux Puppy:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each idividual name of each user. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos. 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations! 

x:\windows\system32>

That is why chkdsk is failing. Once you have everything saved, do as I mentioned above and it should run okay.

Thanks for puppy PAWS. At step 3 mounting drives I've mounted sda3ntfs 442.2G 359.4G free which I believe is my drive (mine is a 500G harddrive.) Now at:

• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. (don't know where this usbdrv tab is?)

   

• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. (going to use a data stick? or should I use my external because it will have the space to store the recovered files? )

talk to you tomorrow after 7pm my time, mountain time.

Had to try your suggestions so when I've opened up my usb on puppy (icon besides the sda1, sda2, etc…) I cannot move the files from my wife's old harddrive to the usb stick. I get this message:

Moving /mnt/sad3/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx's computer/My DocumentsMy Music ad /mnt/sdd/My Music

mv: cannot create symbolic link '/mnt/sda3/Documents and Settings/xxxxxxx's computer/My DocumentsMy Music as /mnt/sdd/My Music

Done

There was and error

What am I doing wrong? ———— tomorrow