Computer won't boot

[Guest]

I updated and ran CoolWebShredder this morning. It fixed two problems and
said to reboot.

The computer wouldn't shutdown or restart so I powered off.

When I rebooted it went through initial screen and then goes to light blue
screen with windows xp logo. same screen you get after the computer
hibernates except there is no user name to click on. I waited 45 minutes and
it didn't go any further.

I ran low level hardward diagnostics. No problem.
I am running Dell hardware diagnostics. for system lock ups no problems.

I tried to do a safe boot and it went as far as the same screen.

I tried to do a logged boot and it went to a black screen.

TIA.

Brian

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Brian

Can you access the same screen as Safe Mode and try 'Last Known Good
Configuration'?

 

[Guest]

I have tried that and it results to the same screen. It is not the classic
blue screen of death but two tone blue with logo right in the middle.

should i try a repair from the CD?

Thanks Will.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Yes, try a 'Repair' install of XP since none of those options have given you
access to Windows.

 

[Guest]

Trying this here are the results
I boot from the CD and choose the repair option.
select windows as the option to repair
asks for admin pwd. and I just hit enter as i don't think there is one.
I get the command prompt.
Not sure what to do from here.
Thanks.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

You've pressed 'R' in the wrong place. A 'Repair' install doesn't need a
password. Have a look at the following article by Michael Stevens:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

Thanks Will. On my way through the repair install now.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

That first 'R' can be misleading when it also stands for Repair.

 

[Guest]

Ok. Went through the repair and have been able to reboot. So next step is to
reinstall SP1 & SP2. Going to Windows update. They want me to reinstall
BITS2.0 which it does and then I reboot as instructed. Go back to Windows
UPdate and says I need to update to BITS2.0 so it didn't take. I did this
twice. Reboot time is horribly slow. At least 3 minutes each time. Nothing
seems to be working. Is this progress? What should my next step be? Thanks.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

There is no need to install SP1 before SP2. Windows Update should give you
the option to install that. Are you trying to install BITS via the WU page?
If you have a fast Internet connection, you maybe download/install BITS
manually:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...b1-ba43-480f-983d-eb19368f9047&DisplayLang=en

 

[Guest]

Hi Will,

Ok, I downloaded as you indicated, installed and rebooted. Still having
troubles installing SP2. I am still having problems with the Windows update
module. On the MS website I can not proceed to the update for SP2 because it
keeps saying I need to install Bits2.0 and WinHTTP5.1 or something like that.

I had Automatic Updates turned off. When I clicked on the link to turn
Automatic Updates on it redirected to a page that said "Congratulations you
have SP2 installed" When I go to Control Panel,Help,About Windows it says:
Version 5.1 (Build 2600 xpsp 1.020828-1920:Service Pack 1)

Is SP2 still somewhere on my computer to be reinstalled?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[Guest]

After several tries I was able to get the update scan to work. Since I have
previously downloaded SP2 it does not indicate that it is a needed update.
After doing a repair install of XP I need to reinstall SP2 correct? Is there
a way to download and install without using the Update feature?
Thanks.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If you used a previous version of XP, then you can download SP2 from:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx