XP Pro MBR issue?

[Geoff]

Recently I had one of my XP computers refuse to load Windows. I get the XP
splash screen and then the Windows log on but I cannot use either the mouse
or keyboard to advance from there.

Putting this disk in another Windows XP computer as a slave I am able to
access all data etc on the disk. I then made this "suspect" disk the C drive
in this computer but once again cannot use the mouse or keyboard.

Is this an MBR issue? Apart from reformatting the disk and reinstalling the
o/s, is there any other way I can effect a repair?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Is not being able to use the mouse or keyboard your only problem?

If this is a wireless desktop combo, is the USB cable plugged in
securely at both ends? Are the batteries charged? How about if you try a
different USB port. Is the receiver plugged into a USB port on the
computer (vs. on a hub)?

Can you use the mouse and/or keyboard from Safe Mode?

Do you have the same problem with a different mouse and a different
keyboard?

Did you recently make any changes to the mouse, keyboard or to their
software?

If this is third-party hardware (Kensington, Logitech, etc.) have you
contacted the third-party technical support?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[Geoff]

Thanks for your questions Leonard.

Changing the mouse and keyboard makes no difference nor does running them
from different USB ports.

The working computer I am currently using is ok but when I place the suspect
drive into it as the C drive then the same problems arise as when it was in
its original computer box.

Both computers show the same problem whichever one is fitted with the
suspect drive!

I cannot get into Safe Mode because I cannot use the keyboard and I am only
left with the one choice which is to start "Windows Normally" and it gets
into this continuous loop (counts down, then tries to boot into Windows and
fails) whenever trying to start in Safe Mode.

Hope that provides some more clues for you.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Keep the hard disk in its original computer. Shutdown Windows and power
off the computer, remove your current mouse and keyboard, insert a wired
PS/2 mouse and a wired PS/2 keyboard and restart the computer. Do you
have the same problem?
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

"A Day in the Life of a Web 2.0 Hacker" - PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330952,00.asp

 

[db.·.. >]

if you log into the
recovery console
you can run disk
commands like:

chkdsk
fixboot
fixmbr

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Recently I had one of my XP computers refuse to load Windows. I get the XP
splash screen and then the Windows log on but I cannot use either the mouse
or keyboard to advance from there.

Putting this disk in another Windows XP computer as a slave I am able to
access all data etc on the disk. I then made this "suspect" disk the C drive
in this computer but once again cannot use the mouse or keyboard.

Is this an MBR issue?

Clearly not, or you wouldn't gotten anywhere near as far as the splash
screen or logon dialog. You do appear to have a corrupted OS, though.

Apart from reformatting the disk and reinstalling the
o/s, is there any other way I can effect a repair?

There's certainly no need to format the hard drive at this point. Try
a repair installation first:

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Geoff]

If I access the BIOS I can use my keyboard....but once I come out of that
and the computer tries to boot (which is doesn't) I cannot use the keyboard
from there on in!! Hmmm..strange