Blue Screens of Death can mean many things but nothing good, so you can rest assured that this is a serious issue. The gravity of this error means it’s hard to address it, especially if you already formatted your system partition before the error occurred. We can only suspect the reason for this critical error, so we’ve gathered various solutions below to tick all the boxes. If you’re stuck with this installation issue and unsure how to move on and resolve it, make sure to check the steps below.

What does stop code 0xC000021A mean?

The stop code 0xC000021A means that some corrupt system files are on your PC. It could also denote an incomplete software installation or failed OS upgrade. This stop code, sometimes referred to as error 0x00021a, prevents users from booting into their PCs normally.

How do I fix the stop code 0xc000021a on Windows 10?

1. Create a bootable drive again with genuine Windows

First things first. If you can, try reinstalling Windows 10 on an alternative PC. That’s the best way to check if your bootable drive is bootable in the first place. The procedure is the same for both DVD or USB thumb drive, meaning that, if you’re able to boot on at least one PC, the problem lies in the other PC. In this case the installation drive is probably properly configured and created. If you’re unable to boot on any given device you’ve tried to, make sure to create the bootable drive with the Windows 10 installation from the scratch and try booting again. If you’re not sure how to do it properly, follow these steps: USB DVD

2. Run a BSoD fixer

As mentioned before, the cause of this stop error is hard to pinpoint. To gain more time and fix the BSoD quicker, we recommend running a general blue screen troubleshooting tool.

3. Unplug all peripheral devices

Another possible culprit that can certainly cause critical system errors involves peripheral devices. Peripheral devices can occasionally cause a stall in the loading process. This software can also help you by creating a restore point before starting the repairs, enabling you to easily restore the previous version of your system if something goes wrong. This is how you can fix registry errors using Restoro: As soon as the fixing process is completed, your PC should work without problems, and you will not have to worry about BSoD errors or slow response times ever again. ⇒ Get Restoro Disclaimer: This program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions. Furthermore, that halt can lead to more than a few errors, including the Blue Screen of Death crash with the 0xc000021a error code that comes along. So, make sure to leave only the mouse, keyboard and monitor plugged in while booting from USB or DVD. SPONSORED You should disable everything else just in case one of the secondary devices are preventing the Windows 10 installation process to commence. On the other hand, if you’re still unable to boot, make sure to check the additional steps.

4. Upgrade via the OS

Some users managed to resolve the issue by installing an older Windows iteration and then upgrading to Windows 10 with the Media Creation Tool.

5. Run SFC

Sometimes, the corruption of system files can lead to many problems in many departments and could cause the stop code 21a. Due to virus infection or integrity issues, certain boot files can get corrupted, which will eventually result in a critical system error, just like the installation error that bears the 0xc000021a code. There are various ways to address this, but the best way to overcome this and similar issues is to use System File Checker and scan for errors. In addition, it’s highly recommended to perform a full scan with a third-party antivirus to get rid of the malware infections. If this isn’t enough, continue with the additional solutions we presented below.

6. Try running DISM scan

Once the scan is finished, check if the 0xc000021A during Windows 10 installation is still there. If you could not run the SFC scan before, try running it after completing the DISM scan. Also, if you’re dealing with corruption, check out our complete guide on how to use DISM in Windows 10.

7. Rebuild BCD

In the preferred scenario, after you rebuild BCD, the installation files should load seamlessly, so you can finally move to the reinstallation process.

8. Disable driver signature enforcement

Disabling of Driver signature enforcement is a security measure that blocks drivers that aren’t digitally signed to run in Windows 10.

9. Check the HDD health

However, if you’re more into details, check out our guide for the best HDD health check software for PC users. We certainly hope that this was a helpful read and that you’ll be able to overcome the installation error with the stop code 0xc000021a in Windows 10.  Also, the BSoD-inflicting errors are quite rare, but to make sure you have the best solutions to fix them, check out our helpful Windows 10 Blue Screen Loop guide. Additionally, make sure to share your questions or suggestions regarding this and similar installation errors in the comments section below.

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