XP Boots to a blank screen

[Guest]

I am having an issue with XP Media Center. My 1 year old turn of the surge
protector which shut everything down (including the internet phone service).

Now when I try to boot, I get nothing but a blank screen, however it will
boot into safe mode just not normal mode. I have followed the KB article
(can't remember which one), installed the recovery console, booted into the
recovery console, did a FIXBOOT, FIXMBR (which said it was corrupt) and a
CHKDSK /P. All to no avail.

I can not do an install over it since it is an HP and one of the types that,
sure they give you recovery CD's but they re-format the hard drive.

Anybody have any thoughts on how to fix?

TIA

 

[philo]

Now when I try to boot, I get nothing but a blank screen, however it will
boot into safe mode just not normal mode. I have followed the KB article
(can't remember which one), installed the recovery console, booted into the
recovery console, did a FIXBOOT, FIXMBR (which said it was corrupt) and a
CHKDSK /P. All to no avail.

I can not do an install over it since it is an HP and one of the types that,
sure they give you recovery CD's but they re-format the hard drive.

Anybody have any thoughts on how to fix?

Is that a typo?

you should have run chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r

 

[Guest]

Is that a typo?

you should have run chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r

In the recovery console it is either /p or /r. the /r implies /p

 

[AJR]

Success with safe mode boot and not a normal boot - indicates (99.9% pure) a
driver problem. Consider using bootlog.txt.

 

[philo]

In the recovery console it is either /p or /r. the /r implies /p

but if there were errors the /p switch would not correct them

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/.../proddocs/en-us/bootcons_chkdsk.mspx?mfr=true


another thing you could try
would be to run msconfig and take everything out of startup...
if the machine boots. start putting them in to see where the problem is

 

[Guest]

No new drivers have been installed. A registry cleaner program was run
(trial version) right before the problem. Since the system was not shut down
properly, I am thinking a registry issue. Last known good does not work.
but directory restore mode that loads only microsoft drivers allows more
functionality then normal safe mode.

 

[John John]

It's a registry issue indeed, the registry "cleaner" has compromised and
trashed your Windows installation. It will never be said often enough
that more often than not these things cause more harm than good.

Try using the undo feature in the program and see if you can restore the
registry entries that it deleted. Try reinstalling your video drivers.
For all its worth it will be difficult to fully trust the Windows
installation from here on, you may have to reinstall Windows to repair
the damages done by the registry cleaner.

John

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

No new drivers have been installed. A registry cleaner program was
run (trial version) right before the problem.

Then that's very likely the cause of your problem. Registry cleaners are
very dangerous programs, they don't do anything worthwhile, and I always
recommend against them.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit it may
have.