my windows won't open

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have a perplexing problem; when I turn on my computer, it makes it through
the POST ok, and the windows page with the scrolling blue boxes does its
thing, then all I get is a blank screen. No welcome, no login, no nothing.

When I try safe mode, I get text with a lot of files, but then nothing -
just the text. There are no error messages, blue screens or anything like
that. Just no windows.

Don't think it's hardware, cause an Ubuntu live CD works just fine. Can
anyone help?

Thank you in advance.
 
I have a perplexing problem; when I turn on my computer, it makes it
through
the POST ok, and the windows page with the scrolling blue boxes does its
thing, then all I get is a blank screen. No welcome, no login, no
nothing.

When I try safe mode, I get text with a lot of files, but then nothing -
just the text. There are no error messages, blue screens or anything like
that. Just no windows.

Don't think it's hardware, cause an Ubuntu live CD works just fine. Can
anyone help?.
Click to expand...

What changed between the time things worked and now? What is the malware
status of the machine?

Have you tried all the options from the Advanced Options menu (which
contains safe mode) including Last Known Good Configuration and Safe Mode
with Command Prompt?

If none of those work do a repair install. Make sure, first, that there is
a backup of all important information. A repair install should retain data
and apps, but you need to be safe. After the repair install you'll need to
revisit the Windows Update site to reinstall all updates.

Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308041

Computer stops responding with a black screen when you start Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=314503
 
I have tried 'last known good configuration' and safe mode. When I try to
boot in safe mode, I get a text list of files, then it just sits there.

I'm going to put the hard drive in an external enclosure and rescue all my
important data files that I don't have backed up elsewhere. All I have is a
system restore disc from Gateway. I do have an XP Pro disc, but it is SP1
and the version installed is Media Center Edition 2005. Can I use the XP
disc for the repair?
 
You asked about malware; as far as I know, it was free of any. I was using
SpySweeper, Windows Defender, and AdAware, along with PC-cillin for viruses
and ZoneAlarm to keep out the baddies. If I got infected, it was probably
the last time I used the machine.
 
radman said:
I have tried 'last known good configuration' and safe mode. When I try to
boot in safe mode, I get a text list of files, then it just sits there.

I'm going to put the hard drive in an external enclosure and rescue all my
important data files that I don't have backed up elsewhere. All I have is
a
system restore disc from Gateway. I do have an XP Pro disc, but it is SP1
and the version installed is Media Center Edition 2005. Can I use the XP
disc for the repair?
Click to expand...

No you can't use an XP Pro disk to repair an MCE installation.
 
radman said:
I have tried 'last known good configuration' and safe mode. When I try to
boot in safe mode, I get a text list of files, then it just sits there.

I'm going to put the hard drive in an external enclosure and rescue all my
important data files that I don't have backed up elsewhere. All I have is
a
system restore disc from Gateway. I do have an XP Pro disc, but it is SP1
and the version installed is Media Center Edition 2005. Can I use the XP
disc for the repair?
Click to expand...

Additional info, after backing up the data, run a chkdsk /r on the drive
while it's in the external drive enclosure and attached to another XP
computer.
 
When I try safe mode, I get text with a lot of files, but then nothing -
just the text.
Click to expand...

How long did you let that screen sit? Last time I had a problem, it
took close to 20 minutes for Safe Mode to finally load.

Try to do it again and be very patient.
 
I let the system try to boot in Safe Mode for about an hour or more; it still
did nothing. Finally, after saving all of my files from the drive, I used
the system restore disc. Aside from the ordeal of removing the pre-packaged
software that came with the system & re-installing my programs, everything in
now working adequately.

Thank you to all who tried to help.

rad
 
radman said:
I let the system try to boot in Safe Mode for about an hour or more; it still
did nothing. Finally, after saving all of my files from the drive, I used
the system restore disc. Aside from the ordeal of removing the pre-packaged
software that came with the system & re-installing my programs, everything in
now working adequately.
Click to expand...

Cool.

Thanks for posting back
 
Back
Top