XP Freezes on Boot

[Guest]

I was upgrading the Realtek HD audio drivers on my computer, and accidentally
installed the wrong driver software. The installation failed. The next time
I rebooted my computer, the boot froze on the Windows logo screen with the
progress bar. The bar keeps moving, but the system never boots (even after
12 hours).

I was able to get into safe mode and tried uninstalling the audio driver
software. The uninstall failed. With some research, I was able to identify
that RtkAudHD.sys is the driver that had been installed. I deleted it. This
did not fix the problem.

I've generated a bootlog.txt and it looks like drivers stop loading properly
after Mup.sys loads.

Finally, I used my XP CD to perform a repair install. When the repair
rebooted the machine, it again froze during startup. What's more, I can no
longer get into safe mode because the message "Windows XP Setup cannot run
under SafeMode" comes up.

Do I have to reinstall Windows to get my machine up and running again?

 

[Guest]

Booting to Recovery Console (press 'r' when the xp setup cd boots) will let
you run the command:
bootcfg /rebuild

This will let you get rid of the setup startup, and start the old install.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the post.

I ran bootcfg /list and saw just a single config. I then ran bootcfg
/rebuild and after it found my OS, I re-entered the boot config info for it.

Now I have two configs to choose from when I boot. They are more or less
identical, and if I try to boot to safe mode I still get the message that
setup cannot continue under SafeMode.

What else can I try?

 

[Guest]

In XP, press WinKey-Break,(or start/run 'sysdm.cpl'), Advanced Tab, "Start Up
and Recovery" area, Settings button, then edit the old line out of the
[Operating System] list with the edit button. Be sure the 'default=..." line
has the right pointer. You can tell which line is which by watching the list
during a startup.
Reboot.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I must have been unclear. I can't try what you're suggesting because
I can't get into XP.

I now have two identical boot configs, but my problem has not changed. Boot
freezes, and entering safe mode still gives me the "Windows XP Setup cannot
run
under SafeMode" error.

 

[Guest]

If a Repair fails, your best shot at saving your data is probably going to be
to install XP to a new folder or partition, and taking ownership of your data
files.
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Mark L. Ferguson

Sorry, I must have been unclear. I can't try what you're suggesting because
I can't get into XP.

I now have two identical boot configs, but my problem has not changed. Boot
freezes, and entering safe mode still gives me the "Windows XP Setup cannot
run
under SafeMode" error.

In XP, press WinKey-Break,(or start/run 'sysdm.cpl'), Advanced Tab, "Start Up
and Recovery" area, Settings button, then edit the old line out of the
[Operating System] list with the edit button. Be sure the 'default=..." line
has the right pointer. You can tell which line is which by watching the list
during a startup.
Reboot.