Fatal system error C000021a

I have been trying to install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit on my PC that had Windows XP. I get the BSOD with the following message when trying to install Windows 7:

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error} with a status of 0x00000000 (0xc0000001 0x001003f0)

However, you need to know the previous history. I was having problems with Outlook Express sending emails and very slow browser opening websites that was the subject of a previous post. After trying all suggestions found on the internet and one through this community, I got nowhere. So I decided to re-install Windows XP after backing up all documents, favourites etc to an external hard drive using a CD with the ISO file burnt from the image on the PC. The installation of Windows XP came to a halt at the point of entering the Product Key as it did not recognise the Product Key on the sticker on the PC. After searching the internet, I found you could look at the CD on another PC and find the Product Key in a file called 'Unattend.txt'. I did that and found a different key but that was not accepted either. However, when looking for the Product Key on the CD, I found a file called 'WPA Kill' in a folder called 'Crack'. A quick check on the internet revealed that it was a hacking tool. I copied the CD to a new CD without 'WPA Kill' and tried that but to no different effect. Then, after trying all the options found through pressing F8 on StartUp, none of which worked, I decided to install Windows 7 and that is when I got the Fatal System Error.

Help! What can I do to get over this problem? If all else fails, I guess I can get a new hard drive and install Windows 7 on that?

Chris Vivian.

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