Guest MS Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I have no idea what caused this! It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will not boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, it always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone into the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it there. I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, but not into regular mode. While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when the system was functioning. Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had to do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would be fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into Windows, unless I chose safe mode. What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? Thanks to anyone who can help.
Guest neil Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! If you press F8 during boot you can get to a startup menu. (which is perhaps how you are accessing safemode) There is an option to disable auto reboot on error, then you can post the error message. Neil " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:uFG6exiMJHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I > have no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will > not boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain > point, it always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. > I've gone into the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find > anything to fix it there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, > but not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had > to do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it > would be fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into > Windows, unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. >
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! Did this behavior start immediately after you installed WinXP SP3 and rebooted? -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/ MS wrote: > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I > have > no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will > not > boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, > it > always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone > into > the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it > there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, > but > not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had > to > do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would > be > fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into > Windows, > unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help.
Guest MS Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message news:%23Pk0sGjMJHA.3496@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Did this behavior start immediately after you installed WinXP SP3 and > rebooted? No, definitely not. I was working fine with SP3 for weeks, months (I forget when it first came out), and this boot problem just occurred last night.
Guest Ron Badour Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! Since it boots in safe mode, something being loaded at boot is the culprit. Start with this: How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316434 -- Regards Ron Badour MS MVP Windows Desktop Experience " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:uFG6exiMJHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I > have no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will > not boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain > point, it always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. > I've gone into the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find > anything to fix it there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, > but not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had > to do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it > would be fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into > Windows, unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. >
Guest philo Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:uFG6exiMJHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I > have no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will > not boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain > point, it always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. > I've gone into the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find > anything to fix it there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, > but not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had > to do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it > would be fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into > Windows, unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. > Try running msconfig again... but do not select "diagnostic startup" Instead go to the startup tab and take all applications out of startup... then reboot. If the machine boots up normally, you can start putting things back into startup to see where the problem lies... but chances are there are more applications running in "startup" than you need. You may be able to get by just fine with just your anti-virus running and possibly a third party firewall if you use one.
Guest Brian A. Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:uFG6exiMJHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I have no > idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will not > boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, it > always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone into > the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it > there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, but > not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when the > system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had to > do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would be > fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, and > chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading drivers > and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into Windows, unless I > chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe mode, > to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. > How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434/en-us How to troubleshoot by using the System Configuration utility in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/en-us Windows XP Shutdown & Restart Troubleshooting http://aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm -- Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience } Conflicts start where information lacks. http://basconotw.mvps.org/ Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
Guest Leonard Grey Posted October 19, 2008 Posted October 19, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! If you can boot to Safe Mode, you're half way to a solution. Boot into Safe Mode and go to Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > Setup and Recovery - Settings button > System failure > remove the checkmark from 'Automatically restart'. Now start your computer as you would normally. Instead of restarting when it hits a snag, your computer will stop and display a blue screen with lots of text. Look for the word STOP (near the bottom, I think) which is followed by a hexadecimal number beginning with 0x000...<something> and an error code that looks LIKE_THIS. Make note of the hex number and the error code and post back with that information. Briefly: The blue screen is your friend. It means that Windows has discovered an error while booting and has stopped your computer to prevent further damage. --- Leonard Grey Errare Humanum Est MS wrote: > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I have > no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will not > boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, it > always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone into > the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it > there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, but > not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had to > do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would be > fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into Windows, > unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. > >
Guest styxblue Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 RE: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! I was having a similar problem but it would load windows at times. I found the culprit was called Spy Doctor, I had downloaded it to check for spyware. I deleted it and I have not had a problem since. "MS" wrote: > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I have > no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will not > boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, it > always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone into > the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it > there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, but > not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had to > do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would be > fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into Windows, > unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. > > >
Guest MS Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! Thanks for the suggestion, Neil. I tried that. But even though I chose the option to disable auto-reboot, and saw that option listed at the bottom, it keeps auto-rebooting anyhow. I don't see an error message on boot, just the rebooting. I did find a file in c:\temp, which looked like some kind of log of booting. It had an error message in it: Error code = 0x15 Boot manager is missing or corrupt I checked my root directory, and the ntldr and ntdetect.com files are there, as well as the boot.ini file. How can I check if they are corrupt? Can I replace the first two with those same files from another computer (all sp3)? "neil" <neil@some.com> wrote in message news:e1A6lCjMJHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > If you press F8 during boot you can get to a startup menu. (which is > perhaps how you are accessing safemode) There is an option to disable auto > reboot on error, then you can post the error message. > Neil > " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message > news:uFG6exiMJHA.4440@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... >> One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I >> have no idea what caused this! >> >> It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will >> not boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain >> point, it always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. >> I've gone into the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find >> anything to fix it there. >> >> I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, >> but not into regular mode. >> >> While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when >> the system was functioning. >> >> Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had >> to do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it >> would be fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. >> >> While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to >> msconfig, and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup >> without loading drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not >> boot into Windows, unless I chose safe mode. >> >> What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe >> mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? >> >> Thanks to anyone who can help. >> > >
Guest MS Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "philo" <philo@privacy.net> wrote in message news:uRXPVxjMJHA.4600@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > > Try running msconfig again... > but do not select "diagnostic startup" > > Instead go to the startup tab and take all applications out of startup... > then reboot. > > If the machine boots up normally, > you can start putting things back into startup to see where the problem > lies... > but chances are there are more applications running in "startup" than you > need. > > You may be able to get by just fine with just your anti-virus running > and possibly a third party firewall if you use one. Yes, I really blew it with trying the "diagnostic startup". That turns off the System Restore service, and one screwy bug of XP (don't know if it's been fixed in Vista) is if that service is turned off for even one second, even accidentally, all system restore points are very thoroughly deleted. (Not in recycle bin.) Later I wanted to try to system restore still back farther than I had before, to see if that would solve it, but I have no restore points left. I even tried a deleted file recovery app, which spent hours scanning the drive, and found nothing from the System Volume folder. So, everyone be very wary of "diagnostic startup", unless you have your SR points backed up, or use some kind of alternative to SR. Yes, I'll try as you say, adding things one by one. However, I actually have very little starting automatically. I check regularly, and don't like to have much in the background. I don't even have any mouse software, just using windows default drivers. I have clipmate starting, my antivirus and windows defender in the background. That's about it. Nothing new added recently, that could have caused this. So I doubt a startup app is causing this, but I'll try that.
Guest MS Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "Leonard Grey" <l.grey@invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:Ovi1rDkMJHA.276@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > If you can boot to Safe Mode, you're half way to a solution. > > Boot into Safe Mode and go to Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > > Setup and Recovery - Settings button > System failure > remove the > checkmark from 'Automatically restart'. Thanks as well. I looked there. I had no checkmark by "automatic restart". It was unchecked. Yet, it always ignores my instruction, and automatically restarts anyhow. What can I do?
Guest Leonard Grey Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! At this point you should show your computer to a professional technician. --- Leonard Grey Errare Humanum Est MS wrote: > "Leonard Grey" <l.grey@invalid.invalid> wrote in message > news:Ovi1rDkMJHA.276@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >> If you can boot to Safe Mode, you're half way to a solution. >> >> Boot into Safe Mode and go to Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > >> Setup and Recovery - Settings button > System failure > remove the >> checkmark from 'Automatically restart'. > > Thanks as well. > > I looked there. I had no checkmark by "automatic restart". It was unchecked. > > Yet, it always ignores my instruction, and automatically restarts anyhow. > What can I do? > >
Guest MS Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! I've tried a few more things. For instance, as I said, I had gone back to yesterday with System Restore earlier, before I had the problem, didn't fix it. As I said, now I wanted to try going farther back, but lost all my SR points due to that "diagnostic startup" in msconfig, so could not. However, I found a registry backup (made with ERDNT, good freeware registry backup app) from 9/22. I didn't really want to go back that far, but I figured I'd try. I first backed up the current registry, then reloaded the backup from 9/22, and rebooted. Damn! Still exact same problem. No boot into Windows, other than safe mode. That kind of negates the idea of trying the clean boot thing, adding one startup program or driver at a time. Any app, driver, or service changes would be in the registry. I went all the way back to 9/22. The computer was booting fine since then, until last night. If something changed in my system last night to prevent start up, going back to an earlier registry should have solved it. Now I tried something else. I booted up with a Windows CD, into the Recovery Console. I executed Fixmbr and fixboot, to fix the mbr and boot sectors.I hoped that would work. Rebooted, and same problem--no boot into Windows, other than safe mode. What on earth could be going on?
Guest MS Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! No more suggestions? Has everyone given up?
Guest Peter Foldes Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! Did you by any chance use a Registry Cleaning tool before this issue popped up ? -- Peter Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged. " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:efB1f7tMJHA.5696@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > No more suggestions? Has everyone given up? > >
Guest neil Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! When you booted the recovery console did you try chkdsk (I think chkdsk /f) to fix disk errors. Neil " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:efB1f7tMJHA.5696@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > No more suggestions? Has everyone given up? >
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! MS wrote: <paste> > One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I > have > no idea what caused this! > > It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will > not > boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, > it > always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone > into > the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it > there. > > I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, > but > not into regular mode. > > While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when > the system was functioning. > > Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had > to > do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would > be > fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. > > While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to msconfig, > and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without loading > drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into > Windows, > unless I chose safe mode. > > What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe > mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? > > Thanks to anyone who can help. </paste> > >> Did this behavior start immediately after you installed WinXP SP3 and >> rebooted? > > No, definitely not. I was working fine with SP3 for weeks, months (I > forget > when it first came out), and this boot problem just occurred last night. 1. Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3" 2. Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315 Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log to an appropriate forum. Checking for/Help with Hijackware http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878 http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/ http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2 (http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in conjunction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0, http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for review by an expert in such matters, not here.** If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop. -- ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
Guest Bill in Co. Posted October 20, 2008 Posted October 20, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! MS wrote: > No more suggestions? Has everyone given up? IIRC, you used both System Restore and ERUNT at various points in this juncture, so it's getting a bit confusing to me as what to suggest. But I may be misremembering this.
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "Peter Foldes" <okf22@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:upr4BKuMJHA.5692@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... Did you by any chance use a Registry Cleaning tool before this issue popped up ? -- Peter No, I didn't. And, as I wrote, when I restored an earlier version of the registry, that did not solve the problem. Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged. " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:efB1f7tMJHA.5696@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > No more suggestions? Has everyone given up? > >
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "neil" <neilp67_@_hotmail.com> wrote in message news:u0nCIQuMJHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > When you booted the recovery console did you try chkdsk (I think chkdsk > /f) to fix disk errors. > Neil Yes, I did. And it reported errors, that it could not fix. (I don't remember the exact message. It didn't try to fix the errors, but just stopped with the error message.) (Interestingly, if I run chkdsk from the recovery console without any flags,it reports no errors. But if I run it with the flags, it reports errors that it cannot fix.) Yet, if I run chkdsk from safe mode, including with /f and /r flags, no errors are reported.
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message news:ewTtuKvMJHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > MS wrote: >> No more suggestions? Has everyone given up? > > IIRC, you used both System Restore and ERUNT at various points in this > juncture, so it's getting a bit confusing to me as what to suggest. But I > may be misremembering this. Yes, I used both of those. Both very similar, actually. ERUNT only restores the registry, SR restores registry and some files. The reason I used ERUNT later, was that by then I had lost all my SR points due to trying the diagnostic startup from msconfig. That rules out a registry problem. So--where else to look, that I have not done yet?
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! Thank you, PABear. Yes, I have HijackThis, and know how to use it. I doubt a virus or spyware is the cause of the problem though. That is a good idea, to contact MS tech support, that gives free support for SP3. I kind of doubt they would give better support than members of this forum could, and I would probably be waiting on the phone for hours, to speak to someone overseas who has me go through all the same steps I already have done. But if nothing else works, I guess I should try that. "PA Bear [MS MVP]" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message news:%232LASFvMJHA.5228@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl... > MS wrote: > <paste> >> One of my computers (running XP Pro SP3) will not boot into Windows! I >> have >> no idea what caused this! >> >> It starts up, goes through the first part of the boot process, but will >> not >> boot into Windows, other than safe mode. When it gets to a certain point, >> it >> always reboots and starts over, never loading Windows at all. I've gone >> into >> the BIOS setup utility (Thinkpad R60), but cannot find anything to fix it >> there. >> >> I can boot into safe (regular, with networking, or command prompt) mode, >> but >> not into regular mode. >> >> While in safe mode I did a "System Restore", back to a restore point when >> the system was functioning. >> >> Yet still, it does not boot, other than safe mode. So--if the problem had >> to >> do with registry, services, drivers, etc., one would think that it would >> be >> fixed by a system restore to a time the system booted fine. >> >> While booted in safe mode, I tried the following also--I went to >> msconfig, >> and chose diagnostic startup, which is supposed to startup without >> loading >> drivers and services. I rebooted, and again it would not boot into >> Windows, >> unless I chose safe mode. >> >> What other diagnostic steps can I take? What else should I try from safe >> mode, to get it to boot in normal mode again? >> >> Thanks to anyone who can help. > </paste> >> >>> Did this behavior start immediately after you installed WinXP SP3 and >>> rebooted? >> >> No, definitely not. I was working fine with SP3 for weeks, months (I >> forget >> when it first came out), and this boot problem just occurred last night. > > 1. Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for > Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and > e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada. Go to > http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=1173 | select "Windows > XP" then select "Windows XP Service Pack 3" > > 2. Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315 > > Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis > log to an appropriate forum. > > Checking for/Help with Hijackware > http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm > http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm > http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878 > http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction > http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm > http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm > http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html > http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm > http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/ > http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware > > When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2 > (http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use > (in conjunction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix > anything on its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any > hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to > http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0, > http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22, > http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or another appropriate forum for > review by an expert in such matters, not here.** > > If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting > this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and > independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop. > -- > ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear) > MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002 > AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net > DTS-L http://dts-l.net/
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! I discovered something else. I managed once to attempt to boot in regular mode, without the auto-restart. I had also put the flag in boot.ini to show all the drivers as they load. The last one on the screen, when it froze, was called mup.sys. I put that in Google, and that is apparently a common problem, for a computer to freeze at boot right after displaying mup.sys. The consensus seemed to be however, that it is not the file mup.sys itself that causes the problem, and there seem to be many possible explanations for why a computer can freeze right after loading mup.sys. So, still no clear resolution. If someone here knows anything about mup.sys boot failures, please help to clarify what I can try. Thank you.
Guest MS Posted October 21, 2008 Posted October 21, 2008 Re: HELP!!! Computer will not boot into Windows! PS--my original XP disk is SP1, and I now have SP3 running. I don't know if that perhaps could cause a problem with running chkdsk from that CD, or other recovery console problems. " MS" <ms@nospam.com> wrote in message news:O7yf1qxMJHA.4676@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > > "neil" <neilp67_@_hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:u0nCIQuMJHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> When you booted the recovery console did you try chkdsk (I think chkdsk >> /f) to fix disk errors. >> Neil > > Yes, I did. And it reported errors, that it could not fix. (I don't > remember the exact message. It didn't try to fix the errors, but just > stopped with the error message.) (Interestingly, if I run chkdsk from the > recovery console without any flags,it reports no errors. But if I run it > with the flags, it reports errors that it cannot fix.) > > Yet, if I run chkdsk from safe mode, including with /f and /r flags, no > errors are reported. >
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