PLEASE HELP: CANNOT USE DESKTOP + NO SAFE MODE

[Guest]

My learned friends,

Once again I am faced with a problem that is beyond my expertise. Recently,
my PC (XP Professional Ed) crashes as soon as I log-in and gain access to the
desktop. It crashes with immediacy to the extent that when I place the curser
over the start button the egg-timer appears. Hence, the only activity I have
on the desktop is the mouse curser. Therefore, I cannot attempt a system
restore.

Moreover, my second thought was to start in safe mode. However, when I press
F8 to initiate a safe mode start-up, while I am taken to the menu that
includes the safe-mode option, I am unable to select it. The highlighted bar
becomes frozen and I am unable to move it.

I would like to know how to solve this problem as pertaining to the crashing
and if necessary the safe-mode issue. Is there perhaps some way I can access
dos before the machine boots to the sign in screen and solve the problem?

I am in dire need for your assistance.

Please advise.

I am still,

Yours faithfully,

-Joe

 

[Maincat]

My learned friends,

Once again I am faced with a problem that is beyond my expertise.
Recently,
my PC (XP Professional Ed) crashes as soon as I log-in and gain access to
the
desktop. It crashes with immediacy to the extent that when I place the
curser
over the start button the egg-timer appears. Hence, the only activity I
have
on the desktop is the mouse curser. Therefore, I cannot attempt a system
restore.

Moreover, my second thought was to start in safe mode. However, when I
press
F8 to initiate a safe mode start-up, while I am taken to the menu that
includes the safe-mode option, I am unable to select it. The highlighted
bar
becomes frozen and I am unable to move it.

I would like to know how to solve this problem as pertaining to the
crashing
and if necessary the safe-mode issue. Is there perhaps some way I can
access
dos before the machine boots to the sign in screen and solve the problem?

I am in dire need for your assistance.

Please advise.

I am still,

Yours faithfully,

-Joe

Possibly you need to do a repair installation of XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

 

[Malke]

My learned friends,

Once again I am faced with a problem that is beyond my expertise. Recently,
my PC (XP Professional Ed) crashes as soon as I log-in and gain access to the
desktop. It crashes with immediacy to the extent that when I place the curser
over the start button the egg-timer appears. Hence, the only activity I have
on the desktop is the mouse curser. Therefore, I cannot attempt a system
restore.

Moreover, my second thought was to start in safe mode. However, when I press
F8 to initiate a safe mode start-up, while I am taken to the menu that
includes the safe-mode option, I am unable to select it. The highlighted bar
becomes frozen and I am unable to move it.

I would like to know how to solve this problem as pertaining to the crashing
and if necessary the safe-mode issue. Is there perhaps some way I can access
dos before the machine boots to the sign in screen and solve the problem?

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?

Since you haven't told us anything about your computer's hardware, I'd
want to determine if the problems are caused by failing hardware before
doing anything further with Windows such as a Repair Install for
example. Here are some general hardware troubleshooting steps:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

In addition to those steps, I like to boot with a rescue system like
Knoppix. Knoppix is a Linux distro that runs from cd and if the computer
crashes under Linux, then you know the issue isn't coming from Windows
(software).

If all the hardware tests OK, then we need to look to the software
(Windows) as the cause of the problem. I'd need more information from
you - the answer to The First Question and the results of hardware
testing - before going onto the next steps of troubleshooting Windows.

Standard caveat: If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).


Malke

 

[boatman312]

JOE X5 wrote on 04/10/2007 06:24 ET :
Hi,
Only thing u can do is to install a fresh OS in a new location and try to get
your data's back using some software.

An external hard drive is always a good investment for backup (or a
hard-drive enclosure if you have a spare drive).

You can boot with a live Linux CD to backup your data to another media.

 

[Daave]

An external hard drive is always a good investment for backup (or a
hard-drive enclosure if you have a spare drive).

You can boot with a live Linux CD to backup your data to another
media.

Apparently, you and Andrew (and now me, too!) are involved in a thread
that was begun over three years ago...

Something tells me JOE X5 has moved on.

 

[boatman312]

....

Apparently, you and Andrew (and now me, too!) are involved in a thread
that was begun over three years ago...

Something tells me JOE X5 has moved on.

Well, maybe someone with a similar problem will see the posts and follow
the "legacy" advice instead of making a new subject.

<snicker>

 

[Daave]

...

Well, maybe someone with a similar problem will see the posts and
follow the "legacy" advice instead of making a new subject.

<snicker>

Yes, anything is possible.

 

[Db]

there are a number of reasons
why the desktop won't load.

but since you can neither access
normal mode or safe mode then
it may be that there is a problem
with the registry hive.

there are a number of reasons
why the registry hive became
corrupted.

but the above is only an assumption
and there may be another cause
for your issue.

in any case, since, you are unable
to access the file system then your
only option is to access the disk
system.

so try booting with an xp cd
and at the setup menu select
repair.

the repair will launch the
recovery console and take
you to the disk system prompt.

at the prompt try running
the following commands>:

chkdsk /r
fixboot
fixmbr

then exit, remove cd and
see if you can reboot
the system to normal
or safe mode.

--
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

DatabaseBen, Retired Professional

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