Can't get past Windows XP Home startup screen

[Guest]

I am using a custom built (by Monarch) system with an MSI mainboard and RAID
and IDE hard drives. System keeps freezing up and I cannot get past the
Startup screen. Is there anyway to reinstall Windows w/o getting into a user
account screen to uninstall, etc.? By the way, I just got this system back
from the manufacturer with brand new hard drives and mainboard (so I know
these are good- even checked cable connection). I can get into safe-mode
(briefly) for about a minute before the system reboots and freezes up again.
I am not able to do a system restore, or last good setting config.

Thanks

 

[Malke]

I am using a custom built (by Monarch) system with an MSI mainboard
and RAID and IDE hard drives. System keeps freezing up and I cannot
get past the Startup screen. Is there anyway to reinstall Windows w/o
getting into a user account screen to uninstall, etc.? By the way, I
just got this system back from the manufacturer with brand new hard
drives and mainboard (so I know these are good- even checked cable
connection). I can get into safe-mode (briefly) for about a minute
before the system reboots and freezes up again. I am not able to do a
system restore, or last good setting config.

Thanks

If the system is freezing up even in Safe Mode, I suspect that you have
hardware problems even though you just got it back. You can run through
these hardware troubleshooting steps, but I'd take it back again.

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Malke

 

[Guest]

You could try to install to known good drive(s), but I'd follow the other
posters advise and let the customizers figure it out.