How to fix
Windows Startup Error 0xc0000142
on windows

“I literally dont know how to fix this, I had to keep restarting my pc for around 20 minutes straight and hoping that it wouldn't give me the same blue screen error (luckily it didnt so i could make this post)... How do i fix this? i tried sfc/scannow and this is what popped up”

Stop code 0xc0000142 signals a Windows startup failure that can leave the system stuck in repeated blue screen restarts before it reaches a usable desktop. The symptom is especially frustrating because it can appear right at boot, after a failed launch, or after a system change that interrupts normal startup behavior.

That error often points to a deeper problem than a single damaged file. When Startup Repair, system file checks, or a normal restart no longer produce a stable boot, the failure usually sits in the chain that Windows depends on to load core services, validate protected files, and hand control to the desktop.

The user report here already shows one of the first obvious checks has been tried with sfc /scannow, which means the next move should not be to repeat the same narrow check in the same way. The more useful path is to broaden the repair process so Windows can rebuild damaged components, clear startup conflicts, and restore the parts of the boot process that load before the desktop appears.

A boot-time failure with this stop code can come from more than one layer at once. A corrupted system file can block a process from initializing, a damaged registry entry can point Windows to the wrong startup path, or a conflicting driver can interrupt the handoff from firmware to the operating system. When the crash appears early, the user often sees only the blue screen, a restart loop, or a machine that refuses to complete sign-in.

Startup problems also become harder to read because Windows is trying to load a large number of services and background components at the same time. If one of those pieces is broken, the operating system may fail before it can fully present a desktop, which makes the issue look random even when the underlying failure is consistent.

One common cause is corruption in protected Windows files. If a required file becomes incomplete, mismatched, or unreadable, Windows may still begin the boot sequence but fail when a dependent process reaches the damaged component. That is why a system file problem can produce a startup stop code instead of a more specific application error.

Another likely cause is a bad registry reference tied to startup or application initialization. The registry stores configuration paths that tell Windows what to load and in what order, so a broken entry can send the system toward a file or service that does not respond correctly. When that happens at startup, the result is often a failed launch before the desktop can settle.

Driver conflict is another technical path to the same symptom. A driver that loads too early, fails to initialize, or clashes with another device component can destabilize the boot chain. Windows depends on drivers to talk to storage, display, and hardware interfaces, so a failure in that layer can create a stop code long before a user reaches the desktop.

Permission problems can also trigger the same outcome. If a service, executable, or support file no longer has the access Windows expects, the process may terminate during launch. On a normal desktop that might show up as an app error, but during startup it can stop the operating system from completing initialization cleanly.

Corrupted update state is another realistic cause when a machine starts failing after a change. Windows updates replace system files, drivers, and service definitions, and an interrupted or incomplete update can leave the machine with mixed versions that no longer cooperate. That mismatch is especially dangerous during startup because several components must agree before the desktop loads.

The Windows startup chain exists to move the machine from firmware control into a stable, logged-in session. It checks hardware, loads essential storage and display support, starts services, and opens the shell that most users see as the desktop. When 0xc0000142 appears during that chain, it usually means one of those stages cannot complete the handoff cleanly.

That matters because startup stability is not just about reaching the desktop once. A broken boot chain can make the computer unreliable after every restart, can interrupt file access before recovery tools load, and can keep a normal troubleshooting session from starting at all. The fix has to restore trust in the system layers that Windows uses before the user ever reaches the taskbar.

System file integrity sits at the center of that work. If the boot sequence depends on files that are damaged, the rest of the repair process can only go so far until those files are checked, repaired, and put back into a consistent state. When the machine has already shown repeated startup failures, the first repair should focus on restoring that baseline.

Run DISM and SFC from an elevated Command Prompt

This is the strongest first repair when startup stability is already shaky, because it repairs the Windows image first and then checks protected system files against that repaired baseline.

1. Open Start and type cmd.
2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
3. Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter.
4. Wait for the image repair process to finish completely.
5. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
6. Let the scan complete and note whether Windows repairs any files.
7. Restart the PC and check whether startup completes normally.

Windows startup error recovery method for stop code 0xc0000142.

Use Startup Repair from Windows Recovery Environment

Startup Repair is useful when the error appears before the desktop loads, because it targets the boot sequence itself instead of only checking the running system.

1. Hold Shift and select Restart from the power menu.
2. Open Troubleshoot.
3. Select Advanced options.
4. Choose Startup Repair.
5. Select the Windows installation if prompted.
6. Wait while Windows scans and repairs startup files.
7. Restart the computer after the repair finishes.

Launch Startup Repair from the recovery menu.

Boot into Safe Mode and remove recent startup conflicts

Safe Mode loads a smaller set of drivers and services, which helps isolate whether the stop code is coming from a third-party component that loads too early.

1. Open Windows Recovery Environment with Shift plus Restart.
2. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
3. Select Startup Settings.
4. Click Restart.
5. Press the key for Safe Mode when the options appear.
6. Uninstall recent drivers, startup apps, or software that began before the error.
7. Restart normally and test the boot process again.

Use Safe Mode to isolate a conflicting startup component.

Roll back or update a problematic device driver

A driver that fails during early loading can block Windows before the desktop appears, so checking recently changed hardware support is a practical next step.

1. Open Device Manager from the Start menu.
2. Expand the device category most likely tied to the change.
3. Right-click the device and choose Properties.
4. Open the Driver tab.
5. Select Roll Back Driver if the error started after a driver update.
6. If rollback is unavailable, choose Update Driver.
7. Restart the PC after the driver change completes.

Adjust the driver that changed before the startup failures began.

Perform a clean boot to stop non-Microsoft services from loading

A clean boot removes background service clutter from the startup path, which helps identify whether a third-party service is destabilizing Windows during launch.

1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Open the Services tab.
3. Check Hide all Microsoft services.
4. Click Disable all.
5. Open the Startup tab and open Task Manager.
6. Disable remaining startup items one by one.
7. Restart and test whether Windows now starts without the stop code.

Reduce startup services to isolate the failing component.

Use System Restore to return Windows to a stable restore point

System Restore is appropriate when the problem began after a software change, update, or driver installation, because it can return core settings to an earlier working state.

1. Open Control Panel and search for Recovery.
2. Select Open System Restore.
3. Choose a restore point created before the startup failure began.
4. Review the affected programs and settings.
5. Confirm the restore operation.
6. Wait for Windows to restart and complete the rollback.
7. Test whether the system now reaches the desktop normally.

Return Windows to a previously stable configuration.