XP SP2 reboots unless in Safe mode

[Ross S]

After an XP SP2 installation, the computer reboots before
the login screen appears. It then gives the option of
Safe Mode, which does work, so I was able to uninstall
and get back to a functional XP Pro system.

I have checked the knowledge base and the two items
listed for this problem (Bios not up to date and Umax
scanner driver) do not apply to me. My BIOS is up to
date and my machine (2.5 year old pentium 4) does not use
one of the processors that apparently has the issues.

Anyway to debug where the crash is occuring by looking at
log files from safe mode?

I do have a number of devices attached, that is what a
computer is for isn't it...

Any suggestions appreciated.

Ross

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Ross;
Check for possible compatibility issues and follow the Service Pack
Installation Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/xpsp2.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Anyway to debug where the crash is occuring by looking at
log files from safe mode?

Ross,

since the service pack installation proceeded without problems,
it may not be of much use to look at the log files, but if you
want, they are named in
http://www.michna.com/kb/WxSP2.htm#Cannot_install_Service_Pack_2.

I do have a number of devices attached, that is what a
computer is for isn't it...

Sure, but one of their drivers now causes problems. I mostly see
this with USB drivers, sometimes with Firewire, SATA, other hard
disk stuff, and occasionally the graphics adapter. Could be any
though.

Why don't you update all of them to the latest versions? Can't
hurt much.

Hans-Georg

 

[Ron Martell]

After an XP SP2 installation, the computer reboots before
the login screen appears. It then gives the option of
Safe Mode, which does work, so I was able to uninstall
and get back to a functional XP Pro system.

I have checked the knowledge base and the two items
listed for this problem (Bios not up to date and Umax
scanner driver) do not apply to me. My BIOS is up to
date and my machine (2.5 year old pentium 4) does not use
one of the processors that apparently has the issues.

Anyway to debug where the crash is occuring by looking at
log files from safe mode?

I do have a number of devices attached, that is what a
computer is for isn't it...

Any suggestions appreciated.

Ross

Hi Ross.

Right-click on My Computer and select Manage.
Expand the Event Viewer category and browse through each of the 3
sub-categories looking for red-flagged error messages whose date and
time stamps correspond to the SP2 startup crashes. Double click on an
error record to see the details of that error.

Note: The uninstall of SP2 may have cleared out the the log files but
it is worth checking.


If you feel like trying the SP2 install again then first open Control
Panel - System - Advanced and click on the Settings button in the
Startup and Recovery (bottom) section. In the Startup and Recovery
window click on the checkbox for "automatically restart" to clear it
then click on Apply and OK as needed to exit.

Now you could try installing SP2 again. This time you should get a
"Blue Screen Of Death" with a STOP error instead of the reboot. The
STOP message will be a direct clue as to the underlying cause of the
problem.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."