Guest Freddie Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 ::Hello.:: ::I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: ::When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom showing the program is loading.:: ::But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: ::I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave me a choice of safe mode options.:: ::In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when I had no problems.:: ::I then restarted the PC hoping the problem would be solved but again XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen appeared.:: ::In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But again the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: ::I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I can start up as normal.:: ::[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs I think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a guess]:: -- Freddie
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up "Freddie" <cadams1962@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:Freddie.3cuazz@no-mx.tabletquestions.com... > > ::Hello.:: > ::I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: > ::When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom > showing the program is loading.:: > ::But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: > ::I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave me > a choice of safe mode options.:: > ::In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when I > had no problems.:: > ::I then restarted the PC hoping the problem would be solved but again > XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank > screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen > appeared.:: > ::In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But again > the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: > ::I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I > can start up as normal.:: > ::[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs I > think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a > guess]:: > > > -- > Freddie Physically disconnect your PC from the Internet for the following test. While in Safe Mode, run msconfig.exe, then untick each and every item under the Startup tab. Does this solve your problem?
Guest Rey Santos Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 RE: XP Will Not Start Up I just had a simillar problem and from the safe mode options screen I chosed "Last known good configuration" and it went well. -- Rey "Freddie" wrote: > > ::Hello.:: > ::I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: > ::When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom > showing the program is loading.:: > ::But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: > ::I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave me > a choice of safe mode options.:: > ::In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when I > had no problems.:: > ::I then restarted the PC hoping the problem would be solved but again > XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank > screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen > appeared.:: > ::In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But again > the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: > ::I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I > can start up as normal.:: > ::[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs I > think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a > guess]:: > > > -- > Freddie >
Guest Anna Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up "Freddie" <cadams1962@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:Freddie.3cuazz@no-mx.tabletquestions.com... > ::Hello.:: > ::I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: > ::When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom > showing the program is loading.:: > ::But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: > ::I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave me > a choice of safe mode options.:: > ::In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when I > had no problems.:: > ::I then restarted the PC hoping the problem would be solved but again > XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank > screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen > appeared.:: > ::In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But again > the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: > ::I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I > can start up as normal.:: > ::[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs I > think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a > guess]:: > -- > Freddie Freddie: Assuming you have a non-OEM-branded XP installation CD at your disposal and not merely an OEM recovery CD or recovery partition situation, you might consider running a Repair install of the XP OS at this point in time in view of your other futile attempts to get the system up & running. I assume you've never done this before so here's some general info on the process... Undertaking a Repair install of the OS is a relatively straightforward process. It would be roughly akin to making a fresh install of the OS, but in nearly every case your existing programs & user-created data would be retained. Notice I said "nearly". While it would be a rather rare situation where data would be lost or corrupted as a result of the Repair install, and as unlikely as it may be, it *could* happen. So if there are any programs and/or other data on your present drive that are absolutely crucial to you and you could not tolerate their loss, then I would strongly suggest that before undertaking this Repair install operation that you first either make a "clone" of your existing HDD (using a disk imaging program) or, if that's not practical, install the HDD in another machine as a secondary HDD so that you can pull off whatever data you want onto some removable media, e.g., flash drive, CD, etc. Again, while it's a relatively rare event that a loss or corruption of data will occur even when the Repair install is unsuccessful, it *can* happen. So I want you to be aware of this. There are a number of websites that contain step-by-step instructions for undertaking a Repair install. Let me assure you that it's not a difficult process and not terribly time-consuming. It's roughly similar to making a fresh install of the XP OS. If you do a Google search on "XP repair install", you'll be pointed to many of these sites. Here are a few... http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#RI http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138 http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341 Assuming the Repair install is successful, you should use your A-V program to immediately check out your PC for any virus infestation. Also, you will need to download/install *all* the MS critical updates since SP3. (I'm assuming that if you undertake this Repair install of the XP OS, you will be doing so with a XP installation CD that contains SP3). That, of course, is one of the downsides re undertaking a Repair install in that it's usually an onerous task to download all the Critical Updates from MS especially if you have a dialup phone connection rather than broadband. However, if you're using an XP installation CD that contains SP3 to undertake the Repair install that shouldn't be a problem because the number of critical updates since SP3 was released is minimal. Anyway, give this some thought if you can't get your system back to a functional state any other way. (NOTE: There have been a number of reports, including one from Microsoft, see (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917964), that there could be a problem undertaking the Repair install should the user have previously installed Internet Explorer 7. Our experience has been that when the Repair install is successful the system simply reverts to IE6. Obviously the user can then reinstall IE7 should he or she wish). Just one other thing... It's conceivable that you're dealing with some hardware-type problem here and not just a corruption of the OS. Where a hardware-type problem is the culprit in cases like the one you describe, it's usually the HDD that's defective although it's entirely possible some other major component of your system may be at the root of the problem you're experiencing. In any event, it's possible that you may be dealing with a defective HDD so it probably would be wise at this point to check out the HDD with a HDD diagnostic utility you can (usually) download from the website of the disk's manufacturer. It's very easy to use - the downloaded program allows you to create either as a bootable floppy disk or bootable CD containing the HDD diagnostic program. So give that some consideration. Anna
Guest Anna Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up Freddie: I neglected to mention in my previous post that assuming you're able to access the XP Recovery Console... see - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 - you should first try the chkdsk /r command (assuming you haven't already tried that) before undertaking a Repair install. Perhaps you'll be lucky and the chkdsk process will correct any existing OS corruption to the point where the drive will become bootable & functional once again. Assuming the chkdsk command does not correct the problem, it probably would be wise to run a Repair install of the XP OS as previously suggested. Anna
Guest Keith W Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up "Freddie" <cadams1962@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:Freddie.3cuazz@no-mx.tabletquestions.com... > > ::Hello.:: > ::I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: > ::When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom > showing the program is loading.:: > ::But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: > ::I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave me > a choice of safe mode options.:: > ::In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when I > had no problems.:: > ::I then restarted the PC hoping the problem would be solved but again > XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank > screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen > appeared.:: > ::In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But again > the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: > ::I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I > can start up as normal.:: > ::[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs I > think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a > guess]:: > I also had a similar problem two days ago. Was getting around to thinking that I would have to reinstall Windows when a stray thought entered my head suggesting cabling. Opened the PC and pressed home all hard drive and CD drive cables, including the plugs into the motherboard. None felt loose but the PC has behaved perfectly ever since. -- Keith W Sunbury on Thames (If you can't laugh at life, it ain't worth living)
Guest HeyBub Posted July 20, 2008 Posted July 20, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up Freddie wrote: >>> Hello.:: >>> I use Windows XP home edition (Version 5.1 Service pack 3).:: >>> When I switch my PC on I see the XP logo and the bar at the bottom > showing the program is loading.:: >>> But the welcome screen does not appear, I get a blank screen.:: >>> I held the restart button down and the programme reloaded and gave >>> me > a choice of safe mode options.:: >>> In safe mode I did a system restore to a date about a week ago when >>> I had no problems.:: I then restarted the PC hoping the problem >>> would be solved but again > XP started to load but the welcome page did not appear just a blank > screen. I held down restart and the safe mode options screen > appeared.:: >>> In safe mode I changed the start up to diagnostic start up. But >>> again > the XP screen appeared and loaded then just a blank screen.:: >>> I am using the net and all the programs as normal in safe mode but I > can start up as normal.:: >> :[A little knowledge is a dangerous thing ,but looking at error logs >> I > think the registry might have become corrupted but that is just a > guess]:: It's not the registry. It virtually never IS the registry. More likely than a problem with the registry is bit rot caused by a stray neutrino from the solar wind. There's nothing wrong with the registry.
Guest Freddie Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up Many thanks for the posts. To rub salt into the my wounds (it appears) I have lost DSL at home. Although BT checked the line and said its good, I could not respond earlier. I spent most of Sunday speaking to AOL helpdesk, without success. I am hoping a new cable into the telephone socket will work ok. -- Freddie
Guest Freddie Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Re: XP Will Not Start Up Many thanks all. chkdsk did the trick for me. Many thanks Anna. -- Freddie
Recommended Posts