XP SP2 Reboot Fails

[Joe Magalsk]

The XP SP2 installtion finished with no problems. After
restarting, the Windows logo screen comes up for a few
seconds and then stops and the black and white screen
where you can select to startup in Safe Mode appears. If
I select start Widows normally, it fails again and then
displays the same screen. I can bootup in Safe Mde and it
appears everything is working. I removed all applications
from the startup via msconfig and then tried re-booting
and I got the same problem. I have checked the Event
Viewer and I do not see any errors in there when it gets
the error. I did a system restore and got the it working
withut SP2. I have done the install again by opening IE,
then going to Tools>Windows Update. I got the same
problem.

The computer has all of the latest updates. There are no
viruses or spyware on it. It is the home edition of XP.

What should I try next?

 

[Guest]

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP
Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx

 

[Jack]

Boot to safe mode. Copy all your important data to storage other than your
boot drive/partition. Install Xp anew with a complete format. Get your
system back to where it was pre sp2 and leave it that way!

After sp2 my system wouldn't even boot past the BIOS (Intel) splash screen.
I had to do an XP 'repair'. That allowed me to salvage my data but, like
MANY reports here, my system was DEAD slow - 2½ minute boot and then
crawled. I did a 'clean' install and now everything is as good as any XP
machine can be.
The only way I'll ever have sp2 on a computer is if I have to buy a new one
with it already in place.

 

[Clark]

Possibly the type of problems folks are having might be connected to their
"installation history". By that I mean was XP installed on a clean drive or
and updated install of and earlier windows. It might also depend on the
integrity of the download, which is why I went the CD route. It seems what
devices or software you have could also cause some conflicts.

I don't remember if it does the step by step boot, but you might try that if
it does. I would also check my CD drives see if one of those is running
longer than normal during boot and make sure there are no CDs in the drives.

Mine was taking a long time after I entered my password to come up, until I
turned off the Security Center.

Clark