Windows XP startup problems.

[peter]

I running windows xp home edition. When I turn on the PC windows
starts up but never get to the point where the icons appear and then
stays there for hours, never actually loading. If I leave it long
enough the screensaver kicks in and the mouse cursor appears. I can't
do a restart as I don't get any of the icons. I've held down the pc on/
off button for 10 seconds to switch off the pc and tried restarting in
safe mode. Again the same result - I don't even get to the point where
it explains what safe mode is and asks yes/no - therefore I can't do a
system restore. It's as if it's frozen just before the bulk of windows
starts.

I don't want to keep on turning the pc off at the power button but it
seems the only way.

Would one of the other startup options (Debugging etc) help?

Very grateful for any useful feedback.

Petter

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I running windows xp home edition. When I turn on the PC windows
starts up but never get to the point where the icons appear and then
stays there for hours, never actually loading. If I leave it long
enough the screensaver kicks in and the mouse cursor appears. I can't
do a restart as I don't get any of the icons. I've held down the pc on/
off button for 10 seconds to switch off the pc and tried restarting in
safe mode. Again the same result - I don't even get to the point where
it explains what safe mode is and asks yes/no - therefore I can't do a
system restore. It's as if it's frozen just before the bulk of windows
starts.

I don't want to keep on turning the pc off at the power button but it
seems the only way.

Would one of the other startup options (Debugging etc) help?

Very grateful for any useful feedback.

Petter

Can you start the Program Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc? If so then you
could click the Applications tab, click the New Task button and launch
explorer.exe. This will probably restore your desktop. You should then have
a look at the Event Logger (eventvwr.exe) to see what's going on.

 

[peter]

Can you start the Program Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc? If so then you
could click the Applications tab, click the New Task button and launch
explorer.exe. This will probably restore your desktop. You should then have
a look at the Event Logger (eventvwr.exe) to see what's going on.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

OK, I can do that. I will try this tonight. I will keep you informed
of how it went.

 

[db]

if you are having issues in safe
mode as well as normal mode,

then it is likely your file system
is below par.

although running explorer.exe
is a reasonable idea,

in doing so also implies that
the registry may be too fragmented

and it too requires to be defrag
in order to reduce its fragmentation
and file size.

so my suggestion is to boot up with
a winxp cd, launch recovery console
and run a chkdsk.

see option2 for instructions:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

then at the command prompt run>:

chkdsk /p
fixboot

then exit, remove cd and try to
boot into normal mode


--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
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~ "share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[BillW50]

In Pegasus [MVP] typed on Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:59:18 +0200:

Can you start the Program Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc? If so
then you could click the Applications tab, click the New Task button
and launch explorer.exe...

Program Manager? I haven't heard that term since the Windows 3.1 days.
You must mean the Task Manager. I seem to recall Windows 3.1 had one of
those too.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

In Pegasus [MVP] typed on Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:59:18 +0200:

Program Manager? I haven't heard that term since the Windows 3.1 days. You
must mean the Task Manager. I seem to recall Windows 3.1 had one of those
too.

Slip of then pen, premature senility, call it whatever you like but you're
correct, of course!

 

[peter]

Slip of then pen, premature senility, call it whatever you like but you're
correct, of course!

OK, quick update: I managed to use the CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to access
programs. I can run some like internet explorer, but explorer.exe says
that I don't have the permission required!

Any ideas? Is there a way that I can system restore and bypass this?

Peter

 

[Elmo]

I running Windows XP home edition. When I turn on the PC, Windows
starts up but never gets to the point where the icons appear, and then
stays there for hours, never actually loading. If I leave it long
enough the screensaver kicks in and the mouse cursor appears. I can't
do a restart as I don't get any of the icons. I've held down the PC on/
off button for 10 seconds to switch off the PC and tried restarting in
Safe Mode. Again the same result - I don't even get to the point where
it explains what Safe Mode is and asks yes/no - therefore I can't do a
system restore. It's as if it's frozen just before the bulk of Windows
starts.

I don't want to keep on turning the pc off at the power button but it
seems the only way.

Would one of the other startup options (Debugging etc.) help?

Very grateful for any useful feedback.

Petter

Since you receive the Permissions message when trying to run
Explorer.exe, I suspect malware.

Burn BitDefender, or another program listed at the link below, to a CD
(using a working machine) and test the infected machine with it.
BitDefender also has a Rootkit checker on the Linux Desktop; run it if
you think that's the problem:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/

Download the executable rather than the .iso image, if one is
available.. it prompts you to insert a CD and burns the file, no problem.

Then run these:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

OK, quick update: I managed to use the CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to access
programs. I can run some like internet explorer, but explorer.exe says
that I don't have the permission required!

Any ideas? Is there a way that I can system restore and bypass this?

Peter

This is getting a little intriguing. Every user is allowed to run
explorer.exe. The fact that you can't probably explains why you cannot see
the desktop. If this is a recent event then System Restore may help you. You
can invoke it like so:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe

 

[peter]

This is getting a little intriguing. Every user is allowed to run
explorer.exe. The fact that you can't probably explains why you cannot see
the desktop. If this is a recent event then System Restore may help you. You
can invoke it like so:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\Restore\rstrui.exe- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Looks like Malware. Can't startup in normal mode as I get the error
message 1073741482 - checking this online all seems to point to
malware. So seeing as I only have access to my pc in safe mode (albeit
with networking) how can I get rid of this malware?

Peter

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Looks like Malware. Can't startup in normal mode as I get the error
message 1073741482 - checking this online all seems to point to
malware. So seeing as I only have access to my pc in safe mode (albeit
with networking) how can I get rid of this malware?

Peter

Did you try System Restore from Safe Mode?

I know very little about malware and malware removal. I recommend you start
another thread, this time with a different Subject line, e.g. "Malware
Removal".

 

[peter]

Did you try System Restore from Safe Mode?

I know very little about malware and malware removal. I recommend you start
another thread, this time with a different Subject line, e.g. "Malware
Removal".- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Yep, I think the thread is now moving into a malware one. Just wanted
to keep the group updated. BTW: I don't know how to do system restore
when I don't have the desktop items.. Is there an .exe file for system
restore?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

Yep, I think the thread is now moving into a malware one. Just wanted
to keep the group updated. BTW: I don't know how to do system restore
when I don't have the desktop items.. Is there an .exe file for system
restore?

You run rstrui.exe the same way as you previously ran Internet Explorer:
Either by following the usual path via the Start button, or by launching a
New Task via the Task Manager (I got it right this time!), or by clicking
Start/Run and typing the path I gave you.

 

[Daave]

I don't know how to do system restore when I don't have the
desktop items.. Is there an .exe file for system restore?

"How to start the System Restore tool by using the safe mode option with
the Command prompt in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

(But if you have malware, I doubt SR will be of much help.)