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Q116405: STOP Message: 0xC000021A During Logon Because of Bad PATH

Article: Q116405
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbother
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 
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SYMPTOMS
========

If your AUTOEXEC.BAT file contains a PATH statement with unmatched percent
characters ("%"), for example:

  PATH C:\;%PATH

when you log on, WINLOGON.EXE will terminate with an access violation and this
STOP message will appear:

  STOP: 0xC000021A {Fatal System Error}
  The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status
  of 0xC0000005. The system has been shutdown.

CAUSE
=====

Windows NT fails to detect a NULL pointer and subsequently, incorrectly de-
references that pointer causing an access violation.

WORKAROUND
==========

To regain access your computer, connect to it remotely over the network and edit
or rename the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Alternately, if the file system is formatted as
FAT, start MS-DOS and edit or rename your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT
Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem has been corrected in Windows NT
Workstation and Windows NT Server version 3.5.

Additional query words: prodnt

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Keywords          : kbother 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search
Version           : 3.1

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