XP Boot Hangs On LOgo Screen

[Guest]

I have a new machine that just won't settle down. It has had start up
problems no matter what I do - reinstalled XP several times, set memory
timings several different ways, reinstalled variuos drivers, upgraded the
BIOS, etc. etc.

The computer still hangs up on the logo screen and won't usually boot unless
I select the "last known good config" option.

My question really is: what are all the possible reasons for XP to hang on
the boot screen - what is going on inside the computer at that point?

THanks for any thoughts.

 

[Malke]

I have a new machine that just won't settle down. It has had start up
problems no matter what I do - reinstalled XP several times, set
memory timings several different ways, reinstalled variuos drivers,
upgraded the BIOS, etc. etc.

The computer still hangs up on the logo screen and won't usually boot
unless I select the "last known good config" option.

My question really is: what are all the possible reasons for XP to
hang on the boot screen - what is going on inside the computer at that
point?

THanks for any thoughts.

Here's the most important part of your post: "new machine". Take it back
to where you bought it immediately. There is no way to list all of the
possible reasons for XP to hang, but on a brand-new machine - and you
say you've reinstalled several times - you should have zero startup
problems.

Malke

 

[Guest]

thanks but it is a home brew - so I'm trying to sort out which components (if
any) are defective or incompatible.

 

[Malke]

thanks but it is a home brew - so I'm trying to sort out which
components (if any) are defective or incompatible.

OK, if you built it yourself then you need to do the normal hardware
troubleshooting. Here are some general steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are
seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Download
the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot with the media
and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Malke