XP hangs after login

[Timo Nentwig]

Hi!

My XP freezes after login, i.e. mouse doesn't move no more. I have no
problems when booting in safe mode. I even created a new user but still
have the same problem, it froze while the "Take a tour" balloon help in
system tray was fading in.

Well, what am I doing now?

Timo

 

[Malke]

Hi!

My XP freezes after login, i.e. mouse doesn't move no more. I have no
problems when booting in safe mode. I even created a new user but
still have the same problem, it froze while the "Take a tour" balloon
help in system tray was fading in.

Well, what am I doing now?

Timo

Hi, Timo. It sounds like you are having hardware problems.
Unfortunately, you didn't give us enough information about your system
to get a specific answer. Here are generic troubleshooting steps for
hardware:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

If you need more help, please repost and include information about your
computer and what you've already done to troubleshoot the problem.

Malke

 

[Timo Nentwig]

Hi, Timo. It sounds like you are having hardware problems.

Well, as I mentioned I've no problems in safe mode (which is still the same
RAM, Board, fans, power supply, ...).

I acutally run linux on the same machine pretty well and stable...

Timo

 

[Timo Nentwig]

I acutally run linux on the same machine pretty well and stable...

Ah, and I do have a second XP install runnning on the same machine as well.
It's definitely XP.

 

[Malke]

Ah, and I do have a second XP install runnning on the same machine as
well. It's definitely XP.

See how much more useful it would have been to know all those things in
your *first* post? If all the other installed operating systems are
working well, I'd look for a driver conflict, a virus, or a conflict
with installed software, with the driver conflict being the first
suspect. Without looking at the system, I can't be more specific. Ask
yourself what is different between the two XP installations. If you
can't figure out why the difference would cause the problems, please
post back including pertinent information that will help give a good
picture of your setup.

Cheers,

Malke

 

[Timo Nentwig]

working well, I'd look for a driver conflict, a virus, or a conflict
with installed software, with the driver conflict being the first

OK, how do I look for it? I cannot log in

suspect. Without looking at the system, I can't be more specific. Ask
yourself what is different between the two XP installations. If you
can't figure out why the difference would cause the problems, please

I actually didn't change anything, it worked - and it does no more now.

post back including pertinent information that will help give a good
picture of your setup.

Well, it are actually basic XP installs. DSL, a few applications, nothing
special actually...

 

[Malke]

OK, how do I look for it? I cannot log in


I actually didn't change anything, it worked - and it does no more
now.


Well, it are actually basic XP installs. DSL, a few applications,
nothing special actually...

Is the troubled XP installation on a separate hard drive?

Malke

 

[Timo Nentwig]

Is the troubled XP installation on a separate hard drive?

Well, not quite sure what you mean by "seperate" but - yes, it is on its own
physical hard disk.

 

[Malke]

Well, not quite sure what you mean by "seperate" but - yes, it is on
its own physical hard disk.

That's exactly what I meant by "separate" - a physical entity unrelated
to the other entities on which the other operating systems are
installed. Because you are multibooting at least two other operating
systems, it is very hard to troubleshoot the sick one and give a decent
answer. You've got an elaborate setup which doesn't really lend itself
to the kinds of answers you'll get from a Usenet posting. My suggestion
would be to either just format the drive (after you've determined that
there's nothing wrong with it by running a drive diagnostic) and
reinstall the operating system of your choice and just stop messing
about with it - and you will probably have to repair any other
operating systems' boot information if you were using this XP's boot
manager - OR call someone local to come and look at your system. This
is definitely something that requires hands-on work.

Good luck,

Malke