Cannot even start in safe mode!

[LMG]

After a failed attempt to install svc. pk 3 (I received only a black screen)
I booted from my svc. pk 2 operating disk. Worked fine for a while, but other
programs did not function properly (eg McAfee, Roxio, etc.) Occasionally had
start problems, so rebooted a couple more times from the operating disk.
Tried to reinstall Roxio yesterday, and when it went to reboot, I received
the black screen with white letters asking if i wanted to start in safe mode.
(reverting to last successful configuration did not work.) I am unable to
start in safe mode--it just keeps restarting, even when I use the F8 tap
method. I tried yet another reinstall from the disk, but that froze up. I
suspect I have too many copies of Windows running, but from the black screen,
I can't do anything to solve the problem. Any suggestions? I'm running
Windows WP home edition.

 

[Gerry]

LMG

Are there important data files not backed up you need to recover. If yes
you need to do that first.

Can you please post a complete copy of the Stop Error report?

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Keep pressing the F8
key during Start-Up and select option - Disable automatic restart on
system failure. Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure.
Check for variants of the Stop Error message.

If the computer does not boot to safe mode this excludes those things
which are not loaded in safe mode.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

your anti virals may have
prevented the installation
of sp3.

next time you may want
to ensure they are disabled
or uninstalled before you
updated thousands of system
files with sp3.

at this time what you can
do is to boot with a winxp cd
and log into the repair/recovery
console.

then at the disk prompt run
the following commands>:

chkdsk
fixboot
fixmbr

then "exit" and try to reboot
w/o your cd.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

 

[LMG]

Gerry--thanks. How do I back up important files before trying to fix the
problem when I can't open Windows? Sorry to sound stupid, but this problem
happened when I was trying to back up my files!

 

[Gerry]

LMG

What is your computer make and model?

Do you have access to a second computer? What is that computer make and
model?

You could remove the hard disk from the computer and put it in another
desktop as a slave drive. An alternative is put the drive in a external
cradle linked to another computer. Often you can then read / access the
drive. This is one way to recover data but also you can look at Event
Viewer reports and logs to see what brought the computer to a halt.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Gerry--thanks. How do I back up important files before trying to fix the
problem when I can't open Windows? Sorry to sound stupid, but this problem
happened when I was trying to back up my files!

At this point, the easiest thing to do is to connect the drive to another
system with enough space and copy your data to that system.

While you're there, look in the root folder of your drive for the files
pagefile.sys and hiberfil.sys. Delete them, and empty the wastebasket.
Put the drive back in and attempt a restart. I find that deleting those two
files often solves non-start problems.

HTH
-pk