Problem on startup and with cd drive

[Guest]

When starting up using XP home service pack 2, my laptop just sits on the
windows page and the little blue scroll just keeps going and it won't
startup. I can startup using safe mode with networking. I've done a system
restore to a date back in October and still no luck. Also my cd drive won't
acknoledge any blank media, so I can't backup my docs and pics and stuff. I
was planning on wiping the system and starting over, but I'd like to backup a
few items, I also lost a few program cd's during hurricane katrina. Is there
any program or site I can go to that will help me diagnose my problem?

 

[Juan]

Mitch, try the "Last Known Good Configuration" of the Safe Mode Options...
if that won't help, the problem may not be related to the system but to a
defective hardware or driver... the CD Burner seems like the first hardware
to check... I'd recommend you uninstall it. Logon in safe mode and go to My
Computer\right click and select Manage\Device Manager\and look in CD-ROMs,
select the CD-Device which does not read blank CDs and right click, and
select "Uninstall". Next reboot the computer and see if it will allow you to
logon in normal mode. If still not solved remove the CD-Device or just
disconnect it from the digital and current connections, and see if you can
now logon normally. If still not solved, remove both the CD-Device and
uninstall the driver in the Device Manager...

If still nothing, you can use the File and Settings Transfer Wizard to
backup files and settings to another partition or networked location, for
example an Online File Storage site... most offer a limited time fully free
storage period and variable storage space for a modest price. You could
back your files to a zip file and upload it to a storage site.

www.freewebspace.net/guide/diskstorage.shtml
www.streamload.com/
www.xdrive.com/
www.all-the-free-space.com
www.box.net/
www.filesanywhere.com/
www.lights.com/pickalink/freestorage/

 

[Guest]

Didn't work with the cd-drive. Any other sugestions?

 

[Juan]

If you are sure the problem is not caused by a corrupt or incompatible
driver or damaged device, and you have used the Last Know Good Configuration
and Safe Mode and no solution is achieved, you have two options to my
knowledge, Perform a clean boot or use the Recovery Console to renew the
boot sector or fix the master boot record with the FIXBOOT or FIXMBR
commands. the following links have all the information you need.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
Explains how to perform a clean boot to help troubleshoot a software issue
that has an unknown cause. With a clean boot, you start Windows XP with
frequently used startup programs, settings, and drivers disabled.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
Describes how to use a clean boot to isolate a performance problem with
Windows XP that is caused by a core operating system issue or an
incompatible or corrupted program.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434/en-us

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

How to install the Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216417/en-us

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/en-us

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[Juan]

You can also replace possible corrupt/damaged drivers or files with:
Logon in Safe Mode (only logon option) and insert the Windows XP CD and go
to Start\Run\type; SFC /scannow and wait for the system to detect, copy and
replace damaged files or drivers.

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