Windows XP freezes during startup

[Milleniumaire]

At the weekend I was doing some low level maintenance on a PC I built
for the children a year ago, which has been running problem free.

I had reinstalled some HP printer software, done a live update of NIS
2005 and a windows update. The HP printer software insisted on a
reboot.

When trying to reboot, the Windows XP Logo screen was displayed and
the blue squares continued to move backwards and forwards but it was
apparent it wasn't going to get any further. I hit reset and Windows
rebooted without problems. I tested printing to the HP printer and it
worked perfectly. I did a little browsing and then shut the PC down.

When my son tried using the PC later in the day it hung at the Windows
XP Logo screen. This time resetting did not solve the problem and I
spent the next 4 hours trying to get the thing to boot without
success.

I am able to boot into Safe Mode, however, if I try performing a clean
boot by using msconfig to perform a selective startup (with all items
unchecked - i.e. a bare minimum running), then it still hangs. What
is the difference between booting into Safe Mode and booting without
the SYSTEM.INI file, the WIN.INI file, loading System Services or
loading startup items? Whatever the difference is, this is
contributing to my problem.

I have tried performing a System Restore in Safe Mode, however Windows
won't let me do this (typical Windows; just when I need to use a
feature I can't). I have also tried uninstalling the HP Software, but
I get lots of errors and the impression it hasn't de-installed fully
(again due to being in Safe Mode). I have tried starting with Boot
Logging and checked the resulting txt file but this doesn' appear to
show what the problem is (this also hangs during startup). I have
followed a MS Support article on how to determine if non-signed
drivers are causing a problem. Even when I sidelined all non-signed
drivers, Windows is still unable to boot.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how I can track down exactly
what is causing Windows XP to hang.

Before the problems, Windows autoupdate downloaded and installed an
update and I wonder if this is somehow stopping windows from
starting. I've had trouble with Windows Update before on a laptop to
the extent that I had to disable System Restore.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JBrunelle]

Have you checked your event viewer for any error messages? If you find
anything, post it.

 

[Milleniumaire]

Have you checked your event viewer for any error messages? If you find
anything, post it.











- Show quoted text -

When I tried using the event viewer it simply gave me errors and
didn't show anything in the right side of the window. I wonder if it
requires a service to be running and because I was in Safe Mode this
wasn't available?

 

[Guest]

I have this problem right now and MS does not have a clue but I did find out
how to get around the problem. This happens when I load new software
including MS software. The system gets to the XP logo and just quits. I went
crazy using MSCONFIG also and finally turned off all startup items and the
system rebooted. Thinking I found the problem I returned the system to normal
then started turning off startup items 5 at a time then rebooting and finally
got through them all and the system re-booted ok. I then loaded another
program and the systems hangs again. Now when the system hangs, I startup in
safe mode, turn off all startup, reboot, (it boots ok) use msconfig and turn

 

[BillW50]

I have this problem right now and MS does not have a clue but I did
find out how to get around the problem. This happens when I load new
software including MS software. The system gets to the XP logo and
just quits. I went crazy using MSCONFIG also and finally turned off
all startup items and the system rebooted. Thinking I found the
problem I returned the system to normal then started turning off
startup items 5 at a time then rebooting and finally got through them
all and the system re-booted ok. I then loaded another program and
the systems hangs again. Now when the system hangs, I startup in safe
mode, turn off all startup, reboot, (it boots ok) use msconfig and
turn on all startup, reboot again and all is ok. I hope this helps.

Oh did you know when you check and uncheck things under the Selective
Startup and pick the Startup (tab) that the order changes all of the
time? Meaning you have to remember (on paper or whatever) which items
was selected and which ones wasn't?

If you knew this, sorry! That is what got me at first.

 

[Guest]

Thank you, I just "unselect" everything, reboot then select all.

 

[BillW50]

Thank you, I just "unselect" everything, reboot then select all.

Well that is great! But one of them is the problem I would bet. And it
is best to take half of them at a time. But write which ones you have
turned on or off or something. Then figure out which half is acting up.
Then take that half (that troubled one) and figure out which half of a
half is acting up. Then split that half and so on until you find the
one.