What is the solution?

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Guest

Ok...this happens time and time again with Windows XP (SP2) and I can't find
a definitive fix anywhere. A client's computer with Windows XP
(SP2)...working fine yesterday - today he turns it on...it won't boot -
keeps re-starting to the "Try last good config screen" - Last good config
causes re-boot....attempting to get into Safe mode results in a re-boot too.

So is there a fix (or a selection of fixes i could try?). Or do I have to go
down the path of backing up the hard disk on another machine, formatting and
re-installing Windows on the Hard disk.....there should be a better fix! My
feeling is that this particular problem has been caused by an automatic
update that has failed to install properly prior to the system closing down
on the last occasion. If there isn't a fix...there ought to be!
 
bitsnpcs said:
Ok...this happens time and time again with Windows XP (SP2) and I can't
find
a definitive fix anywhere. A client's computer with Windows XP
(SP2)...working fine yesterday - today he turns it on...it won't boot -
keeps re-starting to the "Try last good config screen" - Last good config
causes re-boot....attempting to get into Safe mode results in a re-boot
too.

So is there a fix (or a selection of fixes i could try?). Or do I have to
go
down the path of backing up the hard disk on another machine, formatting
and
re-installing Windows on the Hard disk.....there should be a better fix!
My
feeling is that this particular problem has been caused by an automatic
update that has failed to install properly prior to the system closing
down
on the last occasion. If there isn't a fix...there ought to be!
Click to expand...

There should always be a current, full and complete backup so if there isn't
one, back it up first, then do a repair install.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
 
Ok...sure but thats the procedure I was trying to avoid! Let's face it -
backing up a 40GB hard drive is a long slow process....and if its 60GB, 80Gb,
120GB, 250GB arrrgghhh!! Who's got time to do that? Surely there should be
some short sweet procedure you can do to just get the system to bloody boot
.....to safe mode even so you can do a system restore.
 
Oh and I did check out the URL you quoted - some interesting scenarios and
suggestions there I guess....but I just find it frustrating everything is so
"iffy" when this happens....I dunno....anyhow I guess I'll go back it all up
then format the drive and do a clean install and then bring all the data back
and knit the system back to is former state that way. Customer gets a sizable
bill for my time.
 
bitsnpcs said:
Ok...sure but thats the procedure I was trying to avoid! Let's face it -
backing up a 40GB hard drive is a long slow process....and if its 60GB,
80Gb,
120GB, 250GB arrrgghhh!! Who's got time to do that? Surely there should be
some short sweet procedure you can do to just get the system to bloody
boot
....to safe mode even so you can do a system restore.
Click to expand...

So you are telling me there is no backup for this system, and the person is
a client? The first thing someone normally does when working on a system is
image it in case there is a problem. Backups are essential. I don't
understand your reasoning here. Why not teach the client how to use drive
imaging?

A repair install normally goes fine, then just visit windows update to get
the latest updates. Depending on what drivers for hardware were added after
SP2 was originally installed, you might have to reload those drivers.
 
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