Incomplete boot up -- desktop freezes

[Guest]

When I turn on my computer, the start up process freezes before the
desktop is complete. It freezes at the point at which the icons are kind of
blank. The titles under the icons are incomplete -- things like MS Word.lnk.
Rebooting results in the same problem.

I am running a three year old version of Windows XP.

This problem occurred after I had tried to install Norton Security 2006.
The installation failed, so it is incomplete.

There appear to be no heat problems with the PC -- fan working etc.

Hm. Just had a thought. Maybe I should try to boot up in Safe Mode --
gotta remember how to do that!

Anyway, in the mean time, any help or advice would be appreciated.

best

Alan

 

[Jay]

well to boot in safe mode, before windows starts up, hit F8.........

 

[Guest]

Yes, thanks, Jay. I remembered how to do it. Nothing helpful there
though so far as I can see. Rebooting in the last known configuration still
gave the same problem.

Alan
--
Alan Donald
Vancouver, B.C.

well to boot in safe mode, before windows starts up, hit F8.........

 

[Jay]

try booting into safe mode? if so what was results? can u get a start menu
or anything?

Yes, thanks, Jay. I remembered how to do it. Nothing helpful there
though so far as I can see. Rebooting in the last known configuration
still
gave the same problem.

Alan

 

[Guest]

The only things that run from the start menu are the "run" command and,
surprisingly, my email program, Eudora. I can get my usual list of "all
programs", but none of them seem to work. All the program labels now end in
an ".lnk" extension.

This is true in both safe and normal modes.

Alan

 

[Guest]

Fixed it! Sort of. I did System Recovery on log in. Everything came
back up (including a lot of desktop icons I had deleted years ago).

Except my sound card. For some reason, I can't get sound. No matter. In
my experience, these things tend to get fixed one way or the other. In the
mean time, I can watch old episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on my new
computer, anyway. Where's Willow Rosenberg when you really need her?

cheers

Alan

 

[Rock]

Yes, thanks, Jay. I remembered how to do it. Nothing helpful there
though so far as I can see. Rebooting in the last known configuration still
gave the same problem.

Alan

From safe mode do a system restore to a date before the failed Norton
install.