Boot process hangs at the final stage

[churin]

"Preparing personal profile" is displayed and this is replaced by blue
screen with a mouse pointer on it. The mouse pointer is alive so that
it moves if I move the mouse. After leaving it in this condition for a
while I tried to shut it down(Ctrl+Alt+Del was used), then display said
that Windows Update was in process and the system would be automatically
shut down when the update install finished.

"Repair" and "Restore" after booting to the OS setup DVD were attempted
but none of these worked. The problem symptom under SAFE mode was the same.

The symptom indicates it boots up to the stage where automatic Windows
Update can happen. It appears that for some reason the Windows' screen
just does not show up.

Could anyone help?

 

[John Barnes]

While it is probably too late because of your other attempts, I would first
try 'last known good' from the F8 menu. That failing, have you tried
moving back thru the various restore points you have. You didn't say if you
were in the middle of a Windows Update when you shut down. If the personal
profile being used is corrupted, have you tried activating the administrator
account or signing on as a guest/