Updated Drivers, and now can't boot up.

[Stu Hagen]

Well, I have used this program awhile now, but this time it seemed
disasterous. I have been using Paretologic DriverCure for awhile. Last night,
I tried updating a driver that was a PCi or something new update. I went to
reboot and it went to the "Safe-Mode" screen. I tried Safe Mode, Prompt Cmd
and Normal, but none would allow a Windows boot up. I went and read about W
XP Repair via CD. I loaded the CD and did as required by not pressing "R" in
the beginning. It proceeded to load all of the default drivers. I walked away
for a bit, and when I got back Windows was attempting to reboot. At this
point, Windows went into a continual sequence of trying to reboot. I watched
this for about 6 or 7 attempts, then I quit. If I keep the CD in the tray, on
boot up it ask's if I should boot again with the CD. First attempt I said
yes, but that appeared to start the repair process all over again. So I
removed it and tried agian to find I am in the continual loop of no boot up.
It loads the drivers, notes all of the periphials, then goes to the W XP
screed. But the little cyclops movement bar never starts. After about a
second or two, it reverts back to the driver loading DOS screen again, And so
on and so on it loops.

I assume at this time I have lost most of my existing programs. Another
note, is this system uses the "J" drive, not "C" drive as the master. I guess
when I re-installed Windows a few months ago, that was the drive letter it
assigned me.

So I was wondering if this Driver update messed up my BIOS at all. Maybe
going into the "Failsafe" section of the BIOS and click that? I am not sure
whether this Driver Update messes with BIOS at all, or whether this is just a
Windows thing.
So ya, I need some help here.

TIA....Stuart

 

[R. McCarty]

The program would not have changed BIOS settings. What you should
have done at the failed boot, is Safe Mode - Last Known Working config.

At this point you've probably taken too many extreme steps that may not
be fixable. But don't feel too bad, everybody that deals with computers
has at one time or another made a fixable situation worse - in some cases
much worse.

Why pay for driver updates that are available for free ? All it takes is
just
of bit time to locate & bookmark update URLs for your hardware. If the
PC is an OEM the drivers are usually very easy to locate/download based
on the unique System ID OEMs use.

 

[Stu Hagen]

Thanks for the "up lifting" note. ha..ha..

Well, you may have missed in my original text, but in the very beginning on
the 1st reboot, I could not starts Windows in "ANy" method. I know, I tried
Safe mode, Cmd Prompt, and Normal Mode. NONE would work, just the continual
loop.

Stu

PS: I suppose as a last resort, I could follow thru with a complete WXP
re-install?

 

[smlunatick]

Thanks for the "up lifting" note.  ha..ha..

Well, you may have missed in my original text, but in the very beginning on
the 1st reboot, I could not starts Windows in "ANy" method. I know, I tried
Safe mode, Cmd Prompt, and Normal Mode. NONE would work, just the continual
loop.

Stu

PS: I suppose as a last resort, I could follow thru with a complete WXP
re-install?

Or try at least an XP repair install.


The category of all-in-one driver update installer software can be
very dangerous.

Follow the basic recommendation: if it ain't broken, do not fix it.

If the drivers are working for you, you are not required to do any
update.

 

[Mark Adams]

Thanks for the "up lifting" note. ha..ha..

Well, you may have missed in my original text, but in the very beginning on
the 1st reboot, I could not starts Windows in "ANy" method. I know, I tried
Safe mode, Cmd Prompt, and Normal Mode. NONE would work, just the continual
loop.

Stu

PS: I suppose as a last resort, I could follow thru with a complete WXP
re-install?

You can always do a complete reinstall. Take the hard drive out of the
computer and slave it into another XP machine and copy all your data off
before you go any further. You can put it in a USB enclosure and use a laptop
to copy the data off as an option. Also, check out the following KB article.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545
You may be able to restore your registry if it's still there.