Can only boot into Safe Mode

[MCPAlvarez]

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and get the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

 

[MCPAlvarez]

now i can't get into Safe Mode either...?

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

It appears that your repair attempts have made a bad situation worse.
Perhaps a manual System Restore will get you out of your predicament:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.

It would be useful if you told us what triggered this event in the first
place.

now i can't get into Safe Mode either...?

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal
mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails),
black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in
Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and
get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

 

[MCPAlvarez]

i was removing some spy/malware using SuperAntiSpyware that has always worked
in the past. The only difference is that this was a total infestation, just
about locking it all up.

It appears that your repair attempts have made a bad situation worse.
Perhaps a manual System Restore will get you out of your predicament:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.

It would be useful if you told us what triggered this event in the first
place.

now i can't get into Safe Mode either...?

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal
mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails),
black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in
Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and
get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

i was removing some spy/malware using SuperAntiSpyware that has always
worked
in the past. The only difference is that this was a total infestation,
just
about locking it all up.

This just about sums it up. It is a popular myth that virus scanners can
remove all damage done by malware/viruses. They can't. If yours was a "total
infestation" (your words) then a total reload is the only answer, in spite
of you saying that this is not an option this time.

To avoid a recurrence of such an event I recommend the following:
- Install a good virus scanner.
- Keep it up-to-date.
- Practise safe hex.
- Use an imaging program such as the one from Acronis to create a snapshot
of your system.

I manage a few dozen PCs for my clients. They use all of the above measures.
I never had to rebuild a PC due to an infection.

 

[Peter Foldes]

See the following

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=296241

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

i was removing some spy/malware using SuperAntiSpyware that has always worked
in the past. The only difference is that this was a total infestation, just
about locking it all up.

It appears that your repair attempts have made a bad situation worse.
Perhaps a manual System Restore will get you out of your predicament:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.

It would be useful if you told us what triggered this event in the first
place.

now i can't get into Safe Mode either...?

:


Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal
mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails),
black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in
Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and
get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

 

[Nate Grossman]

i was removing some spy/malware using SuperAntiSpyware that has always worked
in the past. The only difference is that this was a total infestation, just
about locking it all up.

Sounds like an idiot has been using your computer. You should be more
careful about who you let use it.

 

[Jose]

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and getthe
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

If you used MSCONFIG to change your boot settings (like adding
SAFEBOOT), the boot.ini file has been modified and the system will
continue to boot only in Safe Mode (or with whatever options you
added) until you undo the change.

sfc /scnnow does not work in Safe Mode, so if you try to run sfc /
scannow in Safe Mode, you will encounter the 0x000006ba message (as
designed).

You uninstalled the video device in Device Manager (do you mean
Display adapter)? Didn't you think you might need some kind of a
Display adapter?

So far, it sounds like things are working properly as you have
configured them.

It might help things move forward if you specify more details about
your issues.

You should first try to get yourself to some kind of a reliable and
stable start up and then apply systematic troubleshooting methods
instead of trial and error methods.

You don't want the hole you are in now to get any deeper.

 

[John]

Hello,

I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.

Thanks,

MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

IME (and please correct me if I'm wrong) booting into Diagnostic mode
disables the System Restore service, and this wipes out all existing
restore points, rendering any restore impossible.

Reply-to address is real
John

 

[Jose]

By Diagnostic mode - do you mean Safe Mode?

Booting in any kind of Safe Mode should not delete existing SR points,
and when you start in Safe Mode, you are given the opportunity to
continue booting in Safe Mode or use System Restore, which would then
launch the SR utility so you can pick a point.

You can still use SR in any kind of Safe Mode either way, they just
try to eliminate a step I guess.

Sometimes when you know you have restore points and they should be
good, after a SR and reboot, you will get a message that no changes
have been made, so XP knows you did a System Restore but it didn't
care for it for some reason.

The reasons for that particular message varies but usually can almost
always be explained and sometimes satisfactorily resolved.

Microsoft even encourages a Safe Mode SR if other methods fail:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/302796

The safest way to whack suspicious RPs is to stop and restart the SR
service and that will remove them all but the last one - sometimes
advisable after a malware infection that may have infected RPs after
the infection has been negated.

Hello,
I'm running Windows XP Home, i am able to get into Safe mode but not
normal
mode. I've tried MSCONFIG and starting in Diagnostic Mode but Normal mode
still fails and offers me Safe Mode or Last Known Good (also fails), black
screen. I've uninstalled the Video and Network device and driver in Device
Manager and rebooted and still nothing. Tried to run sfc /scannow and get
the
0x000006ba error [The RPC Server is unavailable], I would normally wipe
the
system and start from scratch, but that's not an option this time. Any
help
would be appreciated.
Thanks,
MCPAlvarez

Something must have happened that caused this problem to occur. You can
probably use System Restore to go back before this "something" happened.

IME (and please correct me if I'm wrong) booting into Diagnostic mode
disables the System Restore service, and this wipes out all existing
restore points, rendering any restore impossible.

Reply-to address is real
John

 

[John]

By Diagnostic mode - do you mean Safe Mode?

No <snip confusing mix of top-and bottom-posts>

By Diagnostic Mode I mean

Run/msconfig and select the Diagnostic Mode option


Reply-to address is real
John

 

[Stephanie]

No <snip confusing mix of top-and bottom-posts>

By Diagnostic Mode I mean

Run/msconfig and select the Diagnostic Mode option

Reply-to address is real
John

I am having the same problem. I was helping a friend fix a crashing
problem with installing his pinnacle studio software and put it in
diagnostics mode, but now it will not come out of it, even though all
the right boxes are checked for normal mode. No safemode flags are
on, or anything. It is like it is stuck in that mode. Grey task bar
at the bottom and no internet or sound, etc Is there some way to
force it out of that mode or to force a regular boot up without re-
installing XP. Seems like some bug in XP, that is not acknowledging
the change back, and all restore points were wiped in this mode. Did
not know that would happen. Lot of good that is.

Stephanie

 

[Jose]

I am having the same problem.  I was helping a friend fix a crashing
problem with installing his pinnacle studio software and put it in
diagnostics mode, but now it will not come out of it, even though all
the right boxes are checked for normal mode.  No safemode flags are
on, or anything.  It is like it is stuck in that mode.  Grey task bar
at the bottom and no internet or sound, etc   Is there some way to
force it out of that mode or to force a regular boot up without re-
installing XP.  Seems like some bug in XP, that is not acknowledging
the change back, and all restore points were wiped in this mode.  Did
not know that would happen.  Lot of good that is.

Stephanie

I doubt it is a bug in XP. Sometimes folks are too anxious to use
MSCONFIG to change Boot Options as a first option to solve a problem.
That is unfortunate.

This booting problem seems to have come after your changes.

There is a malware that if you use MSCONFIG to add the /SAFEBOOT
switch in MSCONFIG, you will never boot in any mode after that - not
even Safe Mode. That can be addressed.

If you can still boot in Safe Mode successfully, that is not your
current problem.

Booting in Safe Mode does not remove Restore Points. If there aren't
any, you probably did not have any to begin with, or some infection
has rendered the System Restore function inoperable.

What does "diagnostics mode" mean? It is not an MSCONFIG option I can
see.

The boot process does not care about the switches you see displayed in
MSCONFIG. It cares about the contents for the boot.ini file.

If you used MSCONFIG to change the boot.ini Boot Options, it puts
switches in the boot.ini file. If undoing the changes in MSCONFIG
does not change things, there is probably still some malware, or
something else is wrong.

If you can still boot in Safe Mode that is a good start. If you
cannot boot in Safe Mode either, that is another problem.

You can edit and manually remove the switches from the boot.ini file
or create a new boot.ini file and if you need help with that, paste a
copy of your current boot.ini file here for analysis, fix it, reboot
and do another malware scan.

 

[Stephanie]

I doubt it is a bug in XP.  Sometimes folks are too anxious to use
MSCONFIG to change Boot Options as a first option to solve a problem.
That is unfortunate.

This booting problem seems to have come after your changes.

There is a malware that if you use MSCONFIG to add the /SAFEBOOT
switch in MSCONFIG, you will never boot in any mode after that - not
even Safe Mode.  That can be addressed.

If you can still boot in Safe Mode successfully, that is not your
current problem.

Booting in Safe Mode does not remove Restore Points.  If there aren't
any, you probably did not have any to begin with, or some infection
has rendered the System Restore function inoperable.

What does "diagnostics mode" mean?  It is not an MSCONFIG option I can
see.

The boot process does not care about the switches you see displayed in
MSCONFIG.  It cares about the contents for the boot.ini file.

If you used MSCONFIG to change the boot.ini Boot Options, it puts
switches in the boot.ini file.  If undoing the changes in MSCONFIG
does not change things, there is probably still some malware, or
something else is wrong.

If you can still boot in Safe Mode that is a good start.  If you
cannot boot in Safe Mode either, that is another problem.

You can edit and manually remove the switches from the boot.ini file
or create a new boot.ini file and if you need help with that, paste a
copy of your current boot.ini file here for analysis, fix it, reboot
and do another malware scan.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I should have said Diagnostic Startup in MSCONFIG. Once I did that
all restart points were cleared. This has been discussed on other
threads. Not sure why they do that and with no warning. After doing
this and installing the new Pinacle software with success I went back
to normal setup and it just refuses to go back to normal. Still grey
task bar, and my boot.ini is bare. No odd switches. Exactly like my
other computer. System was reformated and installed just a few weeks
ago, so no malware/viruses.