Very strange Startup Problem! Please advise

[Mojojojo]

I have XP home running with SP2 but I have a really annoying start-up issue.

When I boot it up I get to the login screen, it logs in ok and then the
desktop starts to load (icons and task bar etc).
The problem occurs during the loading of the desktop. The icons disappear
along with the taskbar and then they start to reload. This is looped and
carries on until I have to switch the pc off. This also happens in safe mode
as well so I'm doomed with trying to fix through windows.

I have tried to watch what is going on in the task manager and I have
noticed that explorer.exe goes and comes back then goes again etc.

This all started after XP did an auto update but I am not sure what was
updated.

First of all is there a quick solution?
I would like to try a system restore but I cannot do it through windows but
I'm not sure if there is another way.
Secondly, is there a command that I can turn off in Xp repair through the cd
boot to let me get into windows to do a restore.

 

[BEGEs]

I have XP home running with SP2 but I have a really annoying start-up
issue.

When I boot it up I get to the login screen, it logs in ok and then the
desktop starts to load (icons and task bar etc).
The problem occurs during the loading of the desktop. The icons disappear
along with the taskbar and then they start to reload. This is looped and
carries on until I have to switch the pc off. This also happens in safe
mode as well so I'm doomed with trying to fix through windows.

I have tried to watch what is going on in the task manager and I have
noticed that explorer.exe goes and comes back then goes again etc.

This all started after XP did an auto update but I am not sure what was
updated.

Secondly, is there a command that I can turn off in Xp repair through the
cd boot to let me get into windows to do a restore.

Hold down the SHIFT key when inserting the cd

 

[Mojojojo]

Holding down the shift key does nothing.
The cd is already in the drive and the bios is set to boot from the cd.

 

[Dana Brash]

Hi MojoJojo,

Are you able to get any access to your system other than task manager?

I'd probably do any and all of this in safe mode...

(WinKey+F1) should open your Help and Support menu from you from where you
can do the System Restore. This should be independent of explorer.exe and
should persist despite explorer.exe restarting constantly. To test this I
killed explorer.exe on my system with the Help menu open, and it all worked,
but once you're in SysRestore I can't confirm....

Other things to try:
From Task manager can you run any tools? In File > New Task (Run) try
opening a command prompt (cmd). If that's successful, can you call the
executible for your anti-virus software and run a full scan? How about
"eventvwr" and checking the logs... perhaps there is something useful there.

If you can run a cmd window, then perhaps you can call a script to run
system restore. From
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
please reference:

Q. How do I use scripts with System Restore?

A. WMI scripts can be used to locally or remotely create or list restore
points, select a restore point to restore to, view the status of a restore
operation, and adjust system restore parameters. Please refer to the System
Restore Scripting Samples|
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/productdoc/scriptsamples.mspx
document, which lists functions and parameter descriptions along with script
samples provided as a guide to administrators who need local or remote
access to the System Restore features and settings.

If you can get the script onto your computer (floppy?), I'd run the script
first with the "/rpenum" option to get the Restore Point number you want to
restore, then run it with the "/restore <rp number>" options to run the
restore.

If you get desperate, you might try a repair installation.
Instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341
and here:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Please be aware of their warnings....

HTH
=d=

--
Dana Brash
MCSE, MCDBA, MCSA

(e-mail address removed)


--
Dana Brash
MCSE, MCDBA, MCSA

(e-mail address removed)

Holding down the shift key does nothing.
The cd is already in the drive and the bios is set to boot from the cd.

 

[Dana Brash]

Also, this article may help:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=883791

--
Dana Brash
MCSE, MCDBA, MCSA

(e-mail address removed)

Holding down the shift key does nothing.
The cd is already in the drive and the bios is set to boot from the cd.

 

[Mojojojo]

Thanks Dana,

Unfortunately it has had to be re-installed.


Thanks anyway

Mojo

Hi MojoJojo,

Are you able to get any access to your system other than task manager?

I'd probably do any and all of this in safe mode...

(WinKey+F1) should open your Help and Support menu from you from where you
can do the System Restore. This should be independent of explorer.exe and
should persist despite explorer.exe restarting constantly. To test this I
killed explorer.exe on my system with the Help menu open, and it all
worked, but once you're in SysRestore I can't confirm....

Other things to try:
From Task manager can you run any tools? In File > New Task (Run) try
opening a command prompt (cmd). If that's successful, can you call the
executible for your anti-virus software and run a full scan? How about
"eventvwr" and checking the logs... perhaps there is something useful
there.

If you can run a cmd window, then perhaps you can call a script to run
system restore. From
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
please reference:

Q. How do I use scripts with System Restore?

A. WMI scripts can be used to locally or remotely create or list restore
points, select a restore point to restore to, view the status of a restore
operation, and adjust system restore parameters. Please refer to the
System Restore Scripting Samples|
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/productdoc/scriptsamples.mspx
document, which lists functions and parameter descriptions along with
script samples provided as a guide to administrators who need local or
remote access to the System Restore features and settings.

If you can get the script onto your computer (floppy?), I'd run the script
first with the "/rpenum" option to get the Restore Point number you want
to restore, then run it with the "/restore <rp number>" options to run the
restore.

If you get desperate, you might try a repair installation.
Instructions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341
and here:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Please be aware of their warnings....

HTH
=d=

--
Dana Brash
MCSE, MCDBA, MCSA

(e-mail address removed)