BSOD when running CCleaner

Might have been coincidental. I use CCleaner on a daily basis - has never happened before. Also had another unrelated BSOD recently.
Was about to shut down the computer last night, only CCleaner was running - it happened half way through cleaning?

Bug check: 0xc000021a

https://onedrive.liv…C6FEC3EF3C7!105

"The STOP 0xC000021A error occurs when either Winlogon.exe or Csrss.exe fails. When the Windows NT kernel detects that either of these processes has stopped, it stops the system and raises the STOP 0xC000021A error. This error may have several causes. Among them are the following:

  • Mismatched system files have been installed.
  • A Service Pack installation has failed.
  • A backup program that is used to restore a hard disk did not correctly restore files that may have been in use.
  • An incompatible third-party program has been installed."
http://support.micro...om/kb/156669/en
I've not installed any new programs or drivers and I've also run a number of malware / rootkit scans in case - MalwareBytes, TDSSKiller, Hitman Pro and McAfee Stinger - no threats found.
Any ideas please?

Have you tried running a system file check?

Did you follow any ot the steps in the Microsoft article?

I have run chkdsk, is that what you mean? It was clean. I cannot run sfc scannow, as I have no installation disc for the operating system, but it is genuine....was installed by a PC World technician.

I have also set up Dr. Watson to trap user-mode program errors, as per instructions in the Microsoft article.

Just had another BSOD when I was running CCleaner again - same STOP error code, as it was cleaning like before, nothing else open.

What security type software do you use?

I'd still like to see you do a sfc /scannow

You don't need the CD your OS was installed from, you just need any CD that matches your Windows version.

So using your friends, neighbours, workmates, are all valid alternatives.

And while you have it, make a copy as the day will come where you will need the install CD.

Your tower should have the CoA (Certificate of Authority) sticker on it with the Product Key proving your version is genuine.

The SFC command doesn't check for genuine software, and sometimes it can complete the scan without ever needing to reference the CD.

It depends on whether it finds files that have been corrupted and need re-copying from the CD.

Thank you very much for helping me.

Security software - currently none, I am looking for a suitable one right now.

I have used CCleaner for years with no incidents so it is odd that it should suddenly become a problem.

Both BSOD's occurred towards the end of the cleaning process. Dr. Watson information didn't appear despite being set up to (has done before after a BSOD occurred).

I have uninstalled it now from my computer.....perhaps I need a fresh installation, that one was updated a number of times.

I've tried to run the SFC command several times - always prompted for the installation CD at start, so not been able to carry it through.

I've asked around, no-one has an installation disc. Arrrghh!

It is a genuine operating system though - validated by Microsoft.

Security software - currently none, I am looking for a suitable one right now.

well, that's certainly brave of you, hopefully this hasn't been the norm and just a short-term situation.

2 good, free ones are AVG and Avast. Others on this forum also recommend Microsoft Security Essentials and Comodo.

What is you OS?

Have you tried running CC from Safe Mode?

Does the PC have a 'make boot CD' icon either on the desktop in the Start Menu?

Really appreciate your help and advice.

"What is your OS?" - My operating system is XP - yes, I know. :) But I can't change it at present. Installation CDs are expensive and I'm thinking I should really put that money towards a new computer / an upgrade, but I still need to have one for peace of mind sake and so I can run the SFC command.

"Have you tried running CC from Safe Mode?" No, I haven't reinstalled it yet.

"Does the PC have a 'make boot CD' icon either on the desktop in the Start Menu?" Not that I can see.

if you have a good internet connection, you may be able to find an ISO image of XP that you could burn to CD.

it'll be almost 600meg though.

I would have thought the PC World Tech should have left you the CD he used, after all, you have paid for it.

he should have also placed the CoA sticker somewhere on your PC, which you'll need if you have to reload XP.

Safe Mode for XP is achieved by hitting F8 like a crazy person as soon as you turn the PC on.

Thank you for that information.

Unbeknown to me when I knew little about computers, a computer technician put an unlicensed XP copy on my computer. The PC World technician who removed it said he couldn't give me the CD he had used because I hadn't had one to give to him. I only had the original Windows ME installation CD.

I don't even know what the Product Key is, the CoA (Certificate of Authority) sticker on it is Windows ME. Like I said before though the current XP operating system was validated by Microsoft and I was passed to get Microsoft Updates.

New computer is the answer, purse says otherwise. :wacko:

Hello eloise - There is one more thing you might try to get sfc /scannow to work. See if there's a folder C:\i386 at the root of C:\ drive. If this folder does exist, it is usually a hidden folder so be sure to check the box "Show Hidden Files" first! If this folder does exist, restart your computer in safe mode, then run sfc /scannow as administrator (right click). When you are prompted for the installation CD, enter "C:\i386" as the path and cross your fingers. This may be hit or miss, since several of the sources where I found this tip claim that some but not all system files are copied here during installation.

sounds to me like the PC Tech guy used a previously activated key - otherwise he would have peeled off the sticker from the installation CD and placed it on your PC - as he is bound to by Microsoft.

the Product Key is the 25 character string on the CoA that is unique to each Windows installation.

so, yes, yours is genuine (sort of) in that it has passed the activation process but you are buggered come re-installation time.

either you, the other PC's he is installing this onto or all of them, may eventually get the message "This version of Windows is not genuine. You may be a victim of counterfeiting".

but with XP now out of it's support life cycle, maybe MS will no longer care.

but not to worry just yet, your BSoD is only happening with CC.

have you noticed on what CC was doing just before the BSoD occurred?

sometimes getting the first run of CC to complete in Safe Mode will then allow subsequent runs to complete in normal mode.

Thank you very much for that useful information.

Derek891 - My concern when making any changes to my computer and reason number 10 (!) why I need an XP installation CD is that I can't use System Restore for some reason (used to be able to) - after I installed Service Pack 3 it stopped working. Whenever I have tried since then I get: "Restoration incomplete -- your computer cannot be restored to" no matter what checkpoint date I choose.

mta - Think you're spot on there. He didn't charge me for the XP installation CD, he just charged me for the work he carried out.

On both occasions CCleaner was coming towards the end of the cleaning process. It was like it knocked something out? On the second occasion I looked closely at the two processes mentioned below in Task Manager as it was running, to see if I could see either being ended - but I didn't see anything before the 2nd BSOD occurred (but then that occurs at the same time the error does I guess).

On both occasions it was STOP 0xC000021A error>>>>>

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669/en

Note Follow the instructions in the Knowledge Base article to troubleshoot a process that shuts down with an exception. While you follow these instructions, monitor the following processes to troubleshoot the STOP 0xC000021A error:

  • Winlogon.exe
  • Csrss.exe

Note Most STOP 0xC000021A errors occur because Winlogon.exe fails.

try the running of CC in Safe Mode and get back to us.

even though you don't have a Product Key for XP, it's probably still useful trying to get the CD as you will need it one day - maybe sooner than you think depending on this problem. but no Key = no reloading XP.

Ok will do later.

You have to have the Product Key in order to re-intall XP....mmm.

I previously heard that there is another way to get the Product Key via software?

Never done an operating system installation. Too advanced for me.

during the installation of XP, it will ask for the Product Key, if you don't have one, you can tell it to skip it for now but it will ask for it later as Windows will then only work for 30 days until it will force you to activate it, it's then you will need the Key.

I tried that reverse engineering software about 2 years ago on my Office product, the Key it spat out wasn't even close to the one I had on my CD sleeve so I don't know how reliable that software is/was.

Ok, I see, thank you for that information. Perhaps a search for a recommended one, got nothing to lose, if it's incorrect I'll be in the same position as I was before. At least I know now that it might be incorrect.

I reinstalled CCleaner and managed to run it in Safe Mode, so I proceeded to run it in Normal Mode - no problems. :)

well, as far as your topic goes, a win at least.

good news.

you can continue running XP now until the next crisis !

Yes, I hope that's a long way off, but you know computers.

The help I received was much appreciated, I've learnt a few things. :)