Error 0xC000021A on Windows 8 laptop

[MariaS15]

I have received a sudden error code 0xC000021A blue screen on my HP Pavilion G6 windows 8 which I rarely use. It tried to auto-resolve itself but the blue screen kept coming back. I then did a chkdsk and I noted it started deleting a lot of files so switched it off after a few minutes. I don't know what to do now. Am thinking of sending the hard drive to a pc recovery centre to retrieve all my files. Is there a risk my files have been corrupted and data lost? Am too afraid to turn it on again as don't want to lose data. Can someone please advise what would be the best thing to do? Thank you so much for your help! 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @MariaS15,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

Thank you for posting your query. I will be glad to help you.

I understand your HP Pavilion G6 running Windows 8 has encountered a blue screen error (Stop Code: 0xC000021A), and you're concerned about potential data loss after partially running a chkdsk operation.

The error code 0xC000021A typically indicates a critical system process failed, often caused by: System file corruption, Incomplete updates, Hard drive issues, Interrupted operations like chkdsk. Since you mentioned turning off the system during a chkdsk, this could potentially lead to file system inconsistencies, but it does not necessarily mean data loss has occurred.
 

Important: Do Not Boot into Windows Again Yet

To maximize chances of full data recovery, we recommend avoiding any further writes to the hard drive, including:

• Avoid booting into Windows
• Avoid re-running the system recovery or reset tools

What You Can Do Safely:

Option 1: Safely Retrieve Your Data (Recommended)

1. Remove the hard drive from your HP Pavilion G6 carefully (if you're comfortable doing this).
2. Connect it to another working PC using:
   • A SATA-to-USB adapter, or
   • An external hard drive enclosure
3. Access your files like a regular external drive.
4. Copy your important data to a backup location.

This method avoids using the damaged Windows system and lets you recover files safely.

I hope this helps.

Take care, and have an amazing day!
 

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Regards,

VikramTheGreat