Can't reboot after installing SP3

D

DRM

I installed SP3 this morning but when rebooting it loops between startup
screen and restarting screen. I can boot into safe mode. Is uninstalling XP
service pack 3 the only resolution.
Running XP Home Edition, Version 2002 Service Pack 3 with IE 7.0.5730.13.

Thanks in advance .

Dan
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

DRM said:
I installed SP3 this morning but when rebooting it loops between startup
screen and restarting screen. I can boot into safe mode. Is uninstalling
XP
service pack 3 the only resolution.
Running XP Home Edition, Version 2002 Service Pack 3 with IE 7.0.5730.13.

Thanks in advance .

Dan
Click to expand...

The fact that things work normally in Safe Mode and not so well
in Normal Mode indicates that you have some agent in Normal Mode
that intereferes with your boot-up process. You can do this to
identify this agent:
- Physically disconnect your machine from the Internet.
- Run msconfig.exe (via Start / Run).
- Untick every item under the Startup tab.
- Tick "Hide Microsoft Services" under the Services tab.
- Untick all remaining services.
- Reboot the machine in Normal Mode.

Does the machine boot up normally? If yes then you need to
restore the various services and startup tasks singly or in
pairs until you have identified the culprit.
 
D

DRM

Thanks for the quick response. Looks like tedious job. Have to go out but
will work on it upon my return.

Will post back.

Thanks again.

Dan
 
D

DRM

I had a few minutes before leaving and tried this. It will not reboot; it
simply loops between startup screnn and reboot screen. Any other
suggestions?

Thanks

Dan
 
P

Pegasus \(MVP\)

Did you disable each and every Startup task?
Did you disable each and every non-Microsoft service?
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-ca&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-uk&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-au&prid=11273&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3
 
D

Dapper Dan

Thanks Bear. I elected to uninstall SP3 and tackle the problem another day
when I have more time to devote to this. In the meantime I will do a bit
more research so as to ensure that the problems are not associated with
something I should be doing.

Dan
 
P

PA Bear [MS MVP]

You're welcome.

Steps to take before you install WinXP SP3
(includes numerous windowsupdate.log Error Codes, if encountered during
installation)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

<IMHO>
Temporarily disable all real-time protections afforded by your anti-virus
application, any anti-spyware applications, and any third-party firewall
prior to installing SP3. If you disable a third-party firewall, make sure
you then enable the Windows Firewall: The machine should not be connected to
the internet without an active firewall.

After installing SP3 /and rebooting twice/, check to make sure your
real-time protections have been re-enabled; If you disabled a third-party
firewall, remember to re-enable it and disable the Windows Firewall.
</IMHO>
 
I

IanB

Thanks Bear. I elected to uninstall SP3 and tackle the problem another day
when I have more time to devote to this. In the meantime I will do a bit
more research so as to ensure that the problems are not associated with
something I should be doing.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I've got the same problem with the continual reboot loop and
that's exactly what I did - SP3 can wait for another day :)

For anyone having the same problem and looking for a simple way of
uninstalling SP3 then selecting safe mode and doing a system restore
(created by the SP3 installation) does work.

One thing I did try was reformatting the disk and doing a full
reinstall of the original manufacturers disk image (containing XP SP2)
that came with the system. Installing SP3 immediately after this
restore still resulted in the rebooting problem so I know it was
nothing _I_ added.
 
D

Dapper Dan

Thanks for the additional feedback Bear. I had deactivated Avast before
downloading SP3 and I don't use a third party firewall.
I may try again today. In researching some of these problems, there appears
to be an issue with an AMD processor which is what I have. If I understood
it correctly, changing a value for intelppm/start from 1 to 4 in the
registry may solve the problem!

Will advise further.

Dan
 
D

Dapper Dan

Bingo!

Reinstalled SP3 and ran into the same problem as yesterday. When told to
reboot, the startup initial screen starts, then the Windows XP screen and it
goes back to a startup screen showing various options to startup. If I
select normal startup it loops back. I subsequently selected SAFE MODE and
once there I went into the registry and changed the value of a key and
rebooted. This time it rebooted as normal.

I have a HP with an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor. The key I changed is as
follows;Start/Run and type REGEDIT. Select,
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CURRENT CONTROL SET/SERVICES/INTELPPM

In the right hand pane, double click START and change the value from 1 to 4.

Hope this helps others experiencing the same problem

Dan
 
D

Doug W.

"Dapper Dan": Exactly the same scenario here...thank goodness
for Google. My computer is the same as yours...too bad Microsoft
had to put us through all of this BS when the "problem" was
known right from the first release of SP3, at least among the
Techies. Oh well, live and learn.

Doug W.
 
N

Nick Payne

We have this continual rebooting problem on Intel-based Dells after SP3 is
installed. Has happened on about 50% of the workstations where we have
tested SP3...
 
T

Terry R.

The date and time was 5/9/2008 4:03 PM, and on a whim, Nick Payne
pounded out on the keyboard:
We have this continual rebooting problem on Intel-based Dells after SP3 is
installed. Has happened on about 50% of the workstations where we have
tested SP3...
Click to expand...

Installed SP3 to a couple dozen Intel-Dell workstations Wednesday &
Thursday and only one had Explorer crash on reboot. But subsequent
boots on even that one is okay now.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
P

PetePixxx

Pegasus,

Great quick rundown on msconfig. I was wondering if you think it possible
to use the 20 questions version for the Services re-start. ie. Start half,
and check. If it works start another half, and check. 75% checked in first
two reboots.

But which half to start first? second? Any services you can think of that
may be considered "safer"?

I had to re-boot cause I change the virtual memory but sp3 didn't recognize
it and force a reboot. So for me, this time, I knew where to start looking.

Again thanks for your advice!

PetePixxx
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

Cannot boot from disk 4
error after installing XP SP3 1
XP SP3 - blue screen of death 4
problem with installing sp3 6
Service Pack 3 - will not boot after installation 3
pc won't boot after sp3 install 1
Service Pack 3 questions 4
Continuous Restart After sp3 1

Top