Windows wont open

[fkosmakos]

I have this posted elsewhere, but there are no other posts for three days and
I really could use some help. I have to work.

This is the second time for this. Upon reboot, it gets stuck at the Windows
XP screen with the blue status bar. The bar keeps revolving, but the computer
never gets past that screen

Previously, I was told to restore to an earlier date. I did and it worked.
Now, when I try to restore, it says it was unable to restore to an earlier
date. And back to the revolving blue bar

I can work in Safe mode. At first I thought I may have a hard drive problem,
but since I can get to safe mode it appears to be a software problem. I do
run anti-virus and anti-spam software and have a firewall.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have this posted elsewhere, but there are no other posts for three days
and
I really could use some help. I have to work.

This is the second time for this. Upon reboot, it gets stuck at the
Windows
XP screen with the blue status bar. The bar keeps revolving, but the
computer
never gets past that screen

Previously, I was told to restore to an earlier date. I did and it worked.
Now, when I try to restore, it says it was unable to restore to an earlier
date. And back to the revolving blue bar

I can work in Safe mode. At first I thought I may have a hard drive
problem,
but since I can get to safe mode it appears to be a software problem. I do
run anti-virus and anti-spam software and have a firewall.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

It is likely that one of the programs you load in Normal Mode is causing a
problem. Try this:
1. Physically disconnect the machine from the Internet.
2. Boot into Safe Mode.
3. Run msconfig.exe via the Start/Run button.
4. Untick every item under the Startup tab.
5. Boot into Normal Mode.
6. If it works, restore the ticks until you can identify the culprit.
7. When your virus scanner/firewall is ticked, restore your Internet
connection.

 

[fkosmakos]

My heart was beating quickly because I thought you had the answer, but , no.
I unticked, rebootted and got stuck in the same place.

Any other suggestions

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My heart was beating quickly because I thought you had the answer, but ,
no.
I unticked, rebootted and got stuck in the same place.

Any other suggestions

It's back into Safe Mode / msconfig.exe, then as follows:
- Click the Services tab.
- Tick the box that hides Microsoft services.
- Untick the rest.
- Make sure the various items under the Startup tab remain unticked.
- Reboot.

 

[fkosmakos]

I am zero for 2. Still no success. I did check start ups and the only thing
running was MS(ctfmon); in services all were unchecked, but one, check point
software, or truepoint internet monitor, had a running status. However, in
Task Manager, there was no activity for it. So is it running stealthtfully?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have exactly three bullets left in my gun:
a) Perform a manual System Restore - see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.
b) Perform a Repair Installation.
c) Perform a full installation.

Make sure you have backed up your important files (including your EMail
files!) to an independent medium before selection Options b) or c).

 

[HeyBub]

I have exactly three bullets left in my gun:
a) Perform a manual System Restore - see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.
b) Perform a Repair Installation.
c) Perform a full installation.

Make sure you have backed up your important files (including your
EMail files!) to an independent medium before selection Options b) or
c).

If the machine runs okay under SAFE mode but not normal, wouldn't that
sometimes point to a flakey driver?

 

[fkosmakos]

I tried to download Guide Hep, but it quits with: A connection to the server
could not be established......since I went to the net to download, I don't
understand.

Also, what driver are you talking about and where could i download a new one

 

[Daave]

If the machine runs okay under SAFE mode but not normal, wouldn't that
sometimes point to a flakey driver?

It's possible. More likely is malware or a corrupted/conflicting update.

 

[fkosmakos]

Malware:I run software. How would I resolve faulty update other than a new
restoration point

 

[Peter Foldes]

A shot in the dark and a possibility. Used a registry cleaning tool lately ?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q307545

 

[fkosmakos]

You said to try to do a manual system retore and provided a hyperlink. I went
to that page and, to be quite honest, was lost and befuddled: in safe mode
and super large print; as an aside, I also dont have print or volume
function; is that normal in safe mode?. I later went to the page you
suggested on a different computer and printed the page. It is easy to read
and analyze and it does have a manual restore session and I will give it a
try later today. In messages below people have responded with statements
like replacing the drive (? what drive and how does one do it); I have not
done a registry cleaning.

 

[fkosmakos]

no registry cleaning; have been warned about that much earlier. I also have
the hyperlink you posted and will do due diligence later this afternoon

 

[fkosmakos]

I accidently wrote this above and it is out of sequence so i am trying to
move it to the proper sequence:

I was told to do a manual system retore and was provided a hyperlink. I went
to that page and, to be quite honest, was lost and befuddled: in safe mode
and super large print; as an aside, I also dont have print or volume
function; is that normal in safe mode?. I later went to the page you
suggested on a different computer and printed the page. It is easy to read
and analyze and it does have a manual restore session and I will give it a
try later today. Some one has suggested replacing the driver; i dont know
what driver and how. And I have not done a registry cleaning.

thanks and sorry for the duplication

 

[Daave]

Malware:I run software.

Running anti-malware software (it would help to identify it) is not an
absolute guarantee you will never get malware. In fact, the above
scenario happens frequently.

How would I resolve faulty update other than
a new restoration point

Actually, I am going to elaborate on Hey Bub's question. Very often, if
someone downloads a driver from the Microsoft site (rather than the
preferred place -- the site of the manufacturer of the hardware),
problems result.

If the above situation is yours, all you need to do is run in Safe Mode
and uninstall the offending update (or updates). Then reboot.

I would also recommend manually downloading Microsoft updates and to
install only the critical ones.

But I am not convinced you are malware-free. That would be my first
guess.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Malware:I run software. How would I resolve faulty update other than a new
restoration point

Let's take this in nice and easy steps. In cases like yours the question is
often: Is the registry damaged or are some of the system or driver files
damaged? Temporarily restoring your machine to its "factory condition"
should help you resolve this question. Follow the steps below. If you
perform them carefully, one after the other, then they are fully reversible.
1. Boot into the Recovery Console. Use "Windows Help" if unsure how to do
this.
2. Type the following commands. Press the Enter key after each of them:
md \Windows\Regback
cd \windows\system32\config
copy sam \windows\regback
copy security \windows\regback
copy system \windows\regback
copy software \windows\regback
dir \windows\regback
3. Convince yourself that you see the following four files:
sam, security, system, software
Do not proceed unless you see them.
4. Type the following commands. Press the Enter key after each of them:
copy \windows\repair\sam
copy \windows\repair\security
copy \windows\repair\system
copy \windows\repair\software
You will be prompted each time to allow the file to be overwritten.
Press Y in each case, then Enter.
5. Boot normally into Windows.

If this still fails then you probably have a bad driver or some corrupted
files. A "Repair Installation" may fix the problem.

If it works then it may be possible to perform a manual System Restore. The
process is similar as the process above. Post again with your results.

 

[fkosmakos]

I want to cry. I tried to do as described in Article 307545. It asked for the
administrator password. I typed it in. It said i was wrong. After 3 failures,
i had to reboot. I tried again with the same results. I went to safe mode and
made bboth administrators the same password. I rebooted, same problem. I am
wrong.

I went back to safe mode and opened my computer. It does not show either of
my CD/DVD drives, so I cannot try to open it from the cd. I am in the
basement of my house, otherwise I would throw this thing out the window.

I have no sound or print funcion in safe mode. Is that normal

 

[Paul]

Hi,
I Had exactly the same problem,
Tried everything and in the end reformatted my hard disk and guess what....
it came back again.
I had CA Etrust security suit, I booted up in safe maode and uninstalled
this program and everything is fine now and i have a perfectly good Norton
antivirus now.
Disabeling this program will not help you must uninstall.
Out of interest, do you run this program??

Regards, Paul

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

*** Your response is a little ambiguous - see below.

Hi,
I Had exactly the same problem,
Tried everything and in the end reformatted my hard disk and guess
what.... it came back again.

*** What came back again? Windows? The problem?

I had CA Etrust security suit, I booted up in safe maode and uninstalled
this program and everything is fine now and i have a perfectly good Norton
antivirus now.
Disabeling this program will not help you must uninstall.

*** Which program? ETrust? NAV?

Out of interest, do you run this program??

*** Which program?

 

[Paul]

HI,
Yes the problem came back.
Yes Etrust
Etrust.
hope this helps.
Paul