can't get in...

[jen l]

when i start winxp, it would show the blue winxp screen
and say "starting up windows" or somethign to that
extent, but it just stays this way, therefore i am not
able to log onto my desktop...any ideas as to why? is
this hardware or software related? thanks

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Have you ever been able to reach the desktop, did XP come preinstalled on
your system or did you install it? If you installed it, did you install
over a previous operating system or did you install clean?

 

[Guest]

can't reach the desktop at all. i built this computer
from scratch and installed winxp from the beginning, so
it was a clean install. any ideas? software or hardware
related?

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Well, if you've never been able to reach the desktop, I assume that is your
answer, then it's hardware. Clearly, there's something in there XP doesn't
like. If you can get to Safe Mode, you may be able to run the compatibility
wizard, it may zero in on something. Boot the system, start tapping F8,
select Safe Mode from the Menu and press enter. When you get to Safe Mode,
decline the offer to go to System Restore, then place the XP CD in the
drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check system compatibility."

If it turns up nothing, I can only surmise that some hardware is either not
functioning correctly or is not properly set.

 

[Guest]

well, it's not like i never was able to get into the
desktop. i built the computer about 1 year ago and
everything was fine until a few days ago, when i was on
the computer. it froze and i manually rebooted the
computer. since then, i'm not able to get past
that "starting windows" blue screen into my desktop.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

That's different and why I asked the questions in the first. More likely,
something has changed that has caused this, maybe some malware, hard to say.

Try last known good configuration and if that doesn't work Safe Mode. Boot
the system, start tapping F8, when the menu appears, select "last known good
configuration" and press enter. If that fails, do the same thing but choose
Safe Mode, accept the option to go to System Restore and try to go back to a
time before this began.

If that fails, try a repair install as follows:

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console. NOTE: Repair Windows Installation is NOT the
selection to make in this instance.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.

 

[Guest]

thanks michael! i'll give it a try

-----Original Message-----
That's different and why I asked the questions in the first. More likely,
something has changed that has caused this, maybe some malware, hard to say.

Try last known good configuration and if that doesn't work Safe Mode. Boot
the system, start tapping F8, when the menu appears, select "last known good
configuration" and press enter. If that fails, do the same thing but choose
Safe Mode, accept the option to go to System Restore and try to go back to a
time before this began.

If that fails, try a repair install as follows:

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive and you have an
actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, boot with the XP
CD in the drive and perform a repair install as outlined below. If the
system isn't set to boot from the CD or you are not sure, you need to enter
the system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console. NOTE: Repair Windows Installation is NOT the
selection to make in this instance.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/




.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You're welcome, good luck.