Can`t boot to windows- Safe mode ok

[buddy b]

XP Pro with SP3 and updated. 3GHz Processor,1GB RAM.

Can`t boot to Windows; hangs at Windows pic with running progress bar.

I have had intermittent problems with this cpr for months. Main problems
are either not booting or freezing. Runs for days in between problems.
Not overheating.

I have run several diagnostic pgms at different times. on hardware and
every time all results passed.(Memory, graphics, hard drives,etc.)

I have used Acronis True Image for years and keep several backup files.
If I restored an image the cpr usually booted ok.
If the cpr froze, I had to power off.

Recently I upgraded the OS from XP Home to Pro and all was ok for
several days and I saved a new image.

Now I can`t boot again.
I have not restored the new image; wanted to ask for ideas.

Having tested the hardware several times, i`m at a loss.

Yes, I prefer a clean OS install,too, but too many complicated pgms
with a lot of data is installed.

MBR?

Thoughts appreciated.


Regards
buddy b

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

XP Pro with SP3 and updated. 3GHz Processor,1GB RAM.

Can`t boot to Windows; hangs at Windows pic with running progress bar.

I have had intermittent problems with this cpr for months. Main problems
are either not booting or freezing. Runs for days in between problems.
Not overheating.

I have run several diagnostic pgms at different times. on hardware and
every time all results passed.(Memory, graphics, hard drives,etc.)

I have used Acronis True Image for years and keep several backup files.
If I restored an image the cpr usually booted ok.
If the cpr froze, I had to power off.

Recently I upgraded the OS from XP Home to Pro and all was ok for
several days and I saved a new image.

Now I can`t boot again.
I have not restored the new image; wanted to ask for ideas.

Having tested the hardware several times, i`m at a loss.

Yes, I prefer a clean OS install,too, but too many complicated pgms
with a lot of data is installed.

MBR?

Thoughts appreciated.


Regards
buddy b

You have two options:
- Go back to an image that you *know* to be stable.
- Save your data elsewhere, then do a clean install.
In view of the history you report, everything else is a waste of time. Note
also that upgrading from WinXP Home to Pro is not a fix-all. It's an
upgrade, that's all.

 

[Jim]

XP Pro with SP3 and updated. 3GHz Processor,1GB RAM.

Can`t boot to Windows; hangs at Windows pic with running progress bar.

I have had intermittent problems with this cpr for months. Main problems
are either not booting or freezing. Runs for days in between problems.
Not overheating.

I have run several diagnostic pgms at different times. on hardware and
every time all results passed.(Memory, graphics, hard drives,etc.)

I have used Acronis True Image for years and keep several backup files.
If I restored an image the cpr usually booted ok.
If the cpr froze, I had to power off.

Recently I upgraded the OS from XP Home to Pro and all was ok for
several days and I saved a new image.

Now I can`t boot again.
I have not restored the new image; wanted to ask for ideas.

Having tested the hardware several times, i`m at a loss.

Yes, I prefer a clean OS install,too, but too many complicated pgms
with a lot of data is installed.

MBR?

Thoughts appreciated.


Regards
buddy b

Unplug any usb devices and see if that helps ; if so , replug devices
until it happens which will be the culprit . ( Safe mode doesn`t load
drivers ) .

 

[db]

well, if your system performs ok in safe mode,
then this implies that the core system files for
windows are not missing or corrupted.

so reinstalling windows would not help you
resolve the issue.

-------------------

there are a number of processes that occur
when windows is loading its normal mode
of operation.

however, these processes do not get loaded
in safe mode.

for example the startup programs don't get
loaded or third party hard ware drivers do
not as well.

so I would say you eliminated 50% of the
possible problems because windows in safe
mode is functional.

------------------

the first step I would take is to go back into
safe mode so that you can begin to make
modifications to the system.

what I would first try is a process called
clean booting.

click on start>run>msconfig

after you type and run msconfig go the the
start up tab and uncheck all the items that
are checked/enabled at this time.

you may want to jot them down on paper
as well.

next go to the services tab and "hide" all
microsoft services.

what remains can be unchecked and jotted
down as well.

then reboot and see if normal mode
launches.

if not then let us know your status.


--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[buddy b]

Thanks,Ben and others,

I did as Ben suggested with msconfig and rebooted.
Still can`t boot to windows.
More thoughts?
Should I recheck all in msconfig?


US Army,Ret 1973
Arty,Inf(RVN)

well, if your system performs ok in safe mode,
then this implies that the core system files for
windows are not missing or corrupted.

so reinstalling windows would not help you
resolve the issue.

-------------------

there are a number of processes that occur
when windows is loading its normal mode
of operation.

however, these processes do not get loaded
in safe mode.

for example the startup programs don't get
loaded or third party hard ware drivers do
not as well.

so I would say you eliminated 50% of the
possible problems because windows in safe
mode is functional.

------------------

the first step I would take is to go back into
safe mode so that you can begin to make
modifications to the system.

what I would first try is a process called
clean booting.

click on start>run>msconfig

after you type and run msconfig go the
start up tab and uncheck all the items that
are checked/enabled at this time.

you may want to jot them down on paper
as well.

next go to the services tab and "hide" all
microsoft services.

what remains can be unchecked and jotted
down as well.

then reboot and see if normal mode
launches.

if not then let us know your status.

Regards
buddy b

 

[Jose]

XP Pro with SP3 and updated. 3GHz Processor,1GB RAM.

Can`t boot to Windows; hangs at Windows pic with running progress bar.

I have had intermittent problems with this cpr for months. Main problems
are either not booting or freezing. Runs for days in between problems.
Not overheating.

I have run several diagnostic pgms at different times. on hardware and
every time all results passed.(Memory, graphics, hard drives,etc.)

I have used Acronis True Image for years and keep several backup files.
If I restored an image the cpr usually booted ok.
If the cpr froze, I had to power off.

Recently I upgraded the OS from XP Home to Pro and all was ok for
several days and I saved a new image.

Now I can`t boot again.
I have not restored the new image; wanted to ask for ideas.

Having tested the hardware several times, i`m at a loss.

Yes, I prefer a clean OS  install,too, but too many complicated pgms
with a lot of data is installed.

MBR?

Thoughts appreciated.

        Regards  
        buddy b

If you are powering off your running system without doing a graceful
shutdown you run the risk of corrupting the file system.

You should figure out the reason for having to power off in the first
place and fix the problem. That is really a bad idea but sometimes it
is the only way to get out of a hung system situation. Then you
should figure out what happened, why it happened and fix it.

You can spend a lot otherwise productive time cycles using trial and
error methods of troubleshooting, trying things that could be, might
be, might work, or reinstall your entire system (which does not fix
the underlying problem), or you can fix it. You don't need things to
try that might work.

Here are some instructions to help you get started:

Eliminate or repair possible file system corruption from a power
failure,ungraceful shutdown or aborted restart.

You should first boot your PC into the XP Recovery Console using a
bootable XP installation CD or a bootable CD with the XP Recovery
Console on it.

Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or
improper shutdown?

These can cause corruption in the file system which must be fixed
before you do anything else.

If any of those events have occurred, you should boot into the Windows
Recovery Console using a bootable XP installation CD, or create on a
bootable XP Recovery Console CD. This is not the same as any recovery
disks that might have come a store bought system.

For each of your hard disks, you should then run:

chkdsk /r

You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file
and burning it to a CD.

The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

xp_rec_con.iso

Download the ISO file from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ueyyzfymmig

Use this free and easy program to create your bootable CD:

http://www.imgburn.com/

It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on the computer that
is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM
drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. These
adjustments are made before Windows tries to load. If you miss it,
you will have to reboot the system again.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder. This is the same as the C:
\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete, cd,
chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the
afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the
HDD light is still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on
the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will not be present.

 

[db]

ok,

it is unclear where in the process you
can't boot into windows.

can you describe what you see or
get to that point windows stalls?

--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @Hotmail.com
- nntp Postologist
~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[buddy b]

Booting gets me to the windows logo with the progress bar. The bar just
runs and nothing else happens.
Normally booting gets past this logo in 10 or so seconds.

ok,

it is unclear where in the process you
can't boot into windows.

can you describe what you see or
get to that point windows stalls?

Regards
buddy b