UEFI: file /windows/system32/winload.efi Error code 00xc000221

So I got the file /windows/system32/winload.efi Error code 00xc000221 error a couple of weeks ago and I have tried various things to fix it and nothing is working.

When I start my computer from my SSD with windows on it, it starts automatic repair and spits out the above error code or something very similar.

I have tried to use a USB install of windows, but that won't even load into the Windows Set Up. I have pressed F8 and I get the Start Up list bt selecting anything on it seems to do nothing. When I use the USB install of windows it just goes to a completely blue screen (I can't seem to upload picture files here as it gives me a error) and then the computer shuts off a few minutes later.

I did see online that you could access command prompt at the WINDOWS SETUP menu, but I can't even reach that.

I have also bought and installed a new mother board (same exact model as the old one) but that didn't seem to help.


I am using Windows 10, as for Windows Version Number, I don't know and I can't get into my computer to check sorry.

Any help would be extremely appriceated.

If it's a hw issue my main suspects would be hard disk and PSU (for the "auto-off", although it could also be expected). I also see a possible lose of info in the HD or a virus.

It would be ideal that you have a spare hard disk. If you have one, if possible do a new install media to get covered against a possible virus, replace your current disk and try to install Windows on it. If you succeed, you'd have a computer that works. Next steps would depend on if you want to recover anything from you current HD, and how.

You could also try the install media w/o disk at all, possibly you could get screens in normal language instead of "00xc000221", saying that there's no hard disk for example, or asking to select where to install w/o choices. This would discard some failures.

If you can attach the disk to other port, it's another possible proof.

- - - Updated - - -

Semi-fail sorry. I was suspecting that "00xc000221" was a typo, but someone else did the same typo and I stopped searching. The real error code seems to be 0xc0000221. There's a good web page about it here: 0xC0000221 STATUS_IMAGE_CHECKSUM_MISMATCH [Fixed] . The proposed fixes are correct though.

JLArranz said:

If it's a hw issue my main suspects would be hard disk and PSU (for the "auto-off", although it could also be expected). I also see a possible lose of info in the HD or a virus.

It would be ideal that you have a spare hard disk. If you have one, if possible do a new install media to get covered against a possible virus, replace your current disk and try to install Windows on it. If you succeed, you'd have a computer that works. Next steps would depend on if you want to recover anything from you current HD, and how.

You could also try the install media w/o disk at all, possibly you could get screens in normal language instead of "00xc000221", saying that there's no hard disk for example, or asking to select where to install w/o choices. This would discard some failures.

If you can attach the disk to other port, it's another possible proof.

- - - Updated - - -

Semi-fail sorry. I was suspecting that "00xc000221" was a typo, but someone else did the same typo and I stopped searching. The real error code seems to be 0xc0000221. There's a good web page about it here: 0xC0000221 STATUS_IMAGE_CHECKSUM_MISMATCH [Fixed] . The proposed fixes are correct though.

I tried with a new SSD and the Install USB and same thing happens it goes to a blank blue screen, and while I can press F8 for Startup Settings it doesn't seem like selecting anything on it does anything.

I had tried to load Linux to see if it was just a Windows problem and while that did not work either (it just loaded the option to Try/Install Linux then procced to a blank black screen after selecting that), my computer did not shut itself off then and ran for 10 minutes before I turned it off because nothing was happening.

In short, regardless if the SSD with Windows on it is put into the desktop when I use the USB drive with the windows install (or Linux) it seems like the computer can't read it propperly, even when going into BIOS and telling it to load the SanDisk first. When I try using a Windows Install USB or just try loading my computer with no USB it will shut itself off after a few minutes.

Every time i insert the SanDisk USB into at red USB port directly attatched to the mother board.


I do not know if the USB drive I bought is faulty or naught but when I used it on my laptop to create the installation media it seemed to work fine.

FreeBooter said:

In this video, i will guide on how to Fix Winload.efi is Missing or Contains Errors Message.

When I press F1 to enter Recovery Environment it just restarts my computer preventing me from getting into the Recovery Environment.

Press Power Button and when it starts, press PowerButton again and hold the button. till it shuts down.
Repeat that 3 times.
After that you should be able to boot into the Recovery. (if it is configured and your efi is not corrupt)

But as long as you can't boot from USB, you have no chance to get it fixed!