How do I solve an 'lsass.exe' application error shown at the Windows XP boot?

Information technology (IT) administrators are tasked with maintaining computer networks and ensuring that they run smoothly. One of the most common problems faced by IT administrators is an lsass.exe application error. This error is seen on Windows XP systems when the Local Security Authentication Server (LSASS) service fails.

The LSASS is responsible for managing user authentication and authorization. As such, when it fails, the operating system is unable to authenticate and authorize users, resulting in the lsass.exe application error. This error is usually seen during the Windows XP boot process and can be identified by the following message:

“The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000006). Click OK to terminate the application.”

This error message is typically followed by a blue screen, which can be a sign of a serious problem.

Fortunately, there are a few steps that IT administrators can take to solve this issue. First, they should try booting into the safe mode. If this does not work, they should try performing a system restore. If neither of these solutions work, then the administrator may need to try a more advanced solution.

One such solution is to repair the Windows XP installation. This can be done by booting the computer from a Windows XP installation CD and then selecting the “Repair” option. This will start a repair process that can take some time. It is important to follow the on-screen instructions carefully to ensure that the repair process completes successfully.

Once the repair process is complete, the administrator should reboot the computer and see if the lsass.exe application error is still present. If it is, then another more advanced solution should be attempted.

One such solution is to try to repair the damaged system files. This can be done by running the System File Checker (SFC) utility. This utility can be accessed by clicking on the Start menu, selecting “Run”, typing “sfc /scannow” into the box, and then pressing Enter.

The SFC utility will scan the system files and replace any damaged or missing files. Once the scan is complete, the administrator should reboot the computer and see if the lsass.exe application error is still present.

If the SFC utility does not work, then the administrator may need to try a more advanced solution. One such solution is to manually replace the corrupted system files. This can be done by downloading the latest versions of the files from the Microsoft website and then replacing the existing files with the new ones.

Finally, if none of the above solutions have worked, then the administrator may need to perform a clean install of Windows XP. This is a last resort, as it will erase all existing data and settings.

By following the steps outlined above, IT administrators can easily solve an lsass.exe application error on a Windows XP system. While it can be a daunting task, taking the time to try the various solutions outlined above can help ensure that the problem is solved quickly and easily.