Can't boot in Win XP

[don]

First item, working with a hand-made PC but running under Win XP, SP 2.

Was able to boot up yesterday but think I shut down PC incorrectly.

Now PC goes thru preliminary processing, I press F1 to continue setup, PC
gots to Windows XP, tells me it is starting, but then monitor goes blank and
no further action, no chance to do anything again. keyboard is a non-factor
at this point. Mouse also.

Can only reset and PC goes through same process again.

Obviously have no backup discs, so what are my options?

Anxiously awaiting response.

Don

 

[neil]

Why do you need to press F1 to continue, what is the error message that
prompts pressing F1.?
Neil

 

[philo]

First item, working with a hand-made PC but running under Win XP, SP 2.

Was able to boot up yesterday but think I shut down PC incorrectly.

Now PC goes thru preliminary processing, I press F1 to continue setup, PC
gots to Windows XP, tells me it is starting, but then monitor goes blank and
no further action, no chance to do anything again. keyboard is a non-factor
at this point. Mouse also.

Can only reset and PC goes through same process again.

Obviously have no backup discs, so what are my options?

Anxiously awaiting response.

Don

If you had a bad shut down

boot up with your XP cd

and from the repair console issue the command: chkdsk /r

 

[Gerry]

Don

Have you tried Last Known Good Configuration?
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[don]

Neil:

Actually it is not an error message, it is DOS doing what it does, checking
memory, etc, I have two options after that mini-process at the beginning.
I have the option of pressing F1 to continue to boot or DEL to enter Setup
(where I can do about 10 changes, updates, etc).

 

[don]

I don't have a XP cd, this was a home-made PC, handed down to me, but still
very much a viable PC. I do have another XP CD, for another PC that I own,
so tell me this is potentially a solution? If it is, I would be amazed! and
thankful!

 

[philo]

I don't have a XP cd, this was a home-made PC, handed down to me, but still
very much a viable PC. I do have another XP CD, for another PC that I own,
so tell me this is potentially a solution? If it is, I would be amazed! and
thankful!

If your version of XP matches (XP Home vs XP Pro)
you should be able to boot to the repair console with the CD you have

If the CD youhave is an OEM "restore" cd it will probably not work

 

[neil]

Hi,
Windows XP doesn't use DOS and the screen you are seeing is the bios setup
for the PC. I would think if you are getting a message from the bios there
is something wrong with the bios. Could just be the date and time and if you
set that correctly the PC may boot OK.
Go into the bios setup and check the date & time if it's wrong correct it,
then save and reboot. It could be the bios battery.
Neil

 

[John Wunderlich]

First item, working with a hand-made PC but running under Win XP,
SP 2.

Was able to boot up yesterday but think I shut down PC
incorrectly.

Now PC goes thru preliminary processing, I press F1 to continue
setup, PC gots to Windows XP, tells me it is starting, but then
monitor goes blank and no further action, no chance to do anything
again. keyboard is a non-factor at this point. Mouse also.

Can only reset and PC goes through same process again.

Obviously have no backup discs, so what are my options?

Anxiously awaiting response.

Don

Boot your machine from either a Live Linux CD such as Knoppix
(freeware) or a disk like "Ultimate Boot CD for Windows" (also
freeware). Then back up your files using either a USB disk drive or a
network connection. After that, you can work out how to re-install or
repair Windows.

<http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html>
<http://www.ubcd4win.com/>

HTH,
John

 

[don]

Neit:

You are so right, I misspoke about DOS. BIOS was one of the 10 options I
had....And yes, I have set the date and time, etc. but still no go on the
Boot problem.

And BIOS battery, have no clue about that, any insight???

 

[neil]

So after you have corrected the date & time in the bios has the message to
press F1 to continue or DEL for setup gone now. (if you do a cold start that
is)
Are there any other messages, if not as the PC starts tap F8 continually
until you see the XP menu and try selecting safemode.

Neril

 

[don]

Neil:

Sorry about the delay, I had a major malfunction to my main PC and had to
regress to my third PC.
About the home-made PC, I was able to get it booted up in SAFE mode, I have
deleted all running programs in MSCONFIG Start-up, but still will not boot up
when I try NORMAL mode.

I am at a standstill since I don't have the original WIN XP CD. If I had
that, I could reload the OS and forget everything else that is on PC.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Don

 

[don]

Gery:

Yes, after getting booted up in SAFE mode, I did try the "Last Known Good
Configuration" option .....but again, no go on the boot.

Can boot in SAFE but not NORMAL.

Any other suggestions?

Don

 

[Gerry]

Don

The implications of what you are saying is that something which loads in
normal mode is preventing the boot process completing in normal mode.

First place to look at is the System log in Event Viewer. You can read
the log in Safe Mode but you need to make sure you are looking at
reports for a normal mode. You need to try a normal mode boot making a
careful note of the time it starts and the time you give up. Then start
in Safe mode an read the reports. Please post copies in this format.

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: W32Time
Event Category: None
Event ID: 36
Date: 14/11/2008
Time: 21:07:08
User: N/A
Computer: PC0939
Description:
The time service has not been able to synchronize the system time for
49152 seconds because none of the time providers has been able to
provide a usable time stamp. The system clock is unsynchronized.

The above Event Type is a Warning. We are only interested in Warnings
and more importantly Errors.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

Another potential source of information.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties,
Hardware,Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[don]

Neil, Philo, Gerry and John:

I appreciate all of your comments regarding the Home-made PC and not being
able to boot up properly.

I have tried almost everything you mentioned but I finally pulled the plug,
and Re-installed WIN XP. I had to purchase the license, from a reputable PC
techie (and he did the installing), but it was well worth the cost. The
install cleaned off many files, and folders, that were not pertinent to the
new owner.

Now my gift of a clean PC, to a friend who must be operating in the 20th
century with his present PC, should make his transition very easy.

Thanks again for your guidance.

Don