Windows XP Repair

[Brian]

How do I 'repair' Windows XP. I have suddenly got
aproblem with Windows XP loading OK and then not starting
for approx 5 minutes. When I try to 'restart' it goes
to 'saving setting' and then hangs. I have to switch off
CPU to shut down. I cannot access Defrag and some other
Windows add-ons. and some other progammes, like Norton
utilities also just hang and I cannot alt-con-del them,
the computer just hangs. have to switch off CPU. Cannot
even run a virus scan fom Norton but have run one from
their web site which confirms no Virus. My Virus
definitions are always kept up to date. Any Suggestions

 

[Doug]

Have you installed any new hardware or software just prior to your problems?
Cheers Doug

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

How do I 'repair' Windows XP. I have suddenly got
aproblem with Windows XP loading OK and then not starting
for approx 5 minutes. When I try to 'restart' it goes
to 'saving setting' and then hangs. I have to switch off
CPU to shut down. I cannot access Defrag and some other
Windows add-ons. and some other progammes, like Norton
utilities also just hang and I cannot alt-con-del them,
the computer just hangs. have to switch off CPU. Cannot
even run a virus scan fom Norton but have run one from
their web site which confirms no Virus. My Virus
definitions are always kept up to date. Any Suggestions

Brian

MVP MIchael Stevens has a very good step by step procedure for repairing XP
at his website.

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

Please reply to the newsgroup so all may benefit.

 

[The Unknown P]

I used to have the full Symantec utilties and found that
they messed up XP big time. I now only use Norton Ghost
and Anti-Virus. Their "Speed disk" did the most damage to
my OS. Before you attempt the Repair feature which can be
gotten at by booting with the XP disk in the drive and
then do an "Install XP" option and then the "Upgrade"
choice, try this, click>start\run and type in
sfc /scannow This will do a system file check and
replace any missing or corrupt MS OS files off your CD. It
may take up to 15 minutes for the scan. Be sure to put the
space after sfc and before the / . Have fun.

 

[raingod]

Have you tried booting into safe mode and running system
restore?? As long as any major system files haven't been
corupted or deleted and you haven't cleared restore
points using disk cleanup then you may only have to run
the system back to before you had the problem. Could
save you a bit of time.

 

[Brijanhub]

Thanks to all the contributors, there is now a light at
the end of the tunnel, Brian

 

[Alex Nichol]

How do I 'repair' Windows XP. I have suddenly got
aproblem with Windows XP loading OK and then not starting
for approx 5 minutes.

First I'd try a file check scan - it might save time over the repair:

First Start - Run - MSConfig, and uncheck the 'Load Startup group) (it
might be something in that, on the Startup page that is the source of
trouble), and reboot for a clean start.

With the CD ready in the drive, go to Start - Run and run
SFC /SCANNOW

If those fix it, go through that MSConfig Startup page unchecking
suspicious items to inhibit them individually

If not, Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard disk, then boot the XP CD,
start Setup (do not take 'Repair' at this stage), then after the license
agreement take 'Repair Installation'. This will retain your existing
software installations and most settings. But Updates will have to be
run again, especially SP1;
It is important to activate the basic XP Firewall before you ever
connect to the net to get the patches, so as to be protected against
things like the BLAST worm.

If you have drivers that only come with SP1, like USB 2 ones, you will
need to update drivers for the devices concerned. You may find that
things like virtual memory settings and some aspects of appearance have
reverted to defaults