booting problems

[Martinspy]

Hi all, I have a severe problem with my computer that I really need solved; I have papers to type and limited access to other computers.

 

My major problem is that somehow a peice of malware was put on my computer. I ran AVG several times and thought I had the problem in control. Later Windows(XP) updated and restarted while I was away and would not reboot normally. Instead after the load bar goes by a few times it pauses then a blue screen is flashed and it restarts. I can't read the blue screen because it goes by so fast.

 

I was then restricted to safe mode for a time. Now when I try to reboot it it still gives me a blue screen but after it restarts it no longer gives me a list of options (including safe mode) but continues to go forth with booting, then it fails and so on and so forth.

 

I tried going to safe mode by hitting f8 during the boot but that only brings up a list of drives on my computer to boot from including my hard drive, Ipod, flash drive, and floppy drive.

 

I do have a XP cd and have tried repairing windows with a reinstall but that fails when It tries to reboot.

 

please if you can at least get me to safe mode I would be ever thankful

 

-martinspy

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Have a read of this Martin and get back to us if it does not work.

 

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

[Seth]

I tried going to safe mode by hitting f8 during the boot but that only brings up a list of drives on my computer to boot from including my hard drive, Ipod, flash drive, and floppy drive.

 

That normally occurs on some computers when you hit F8 too early. When that happens again and you want to boot from the hard drive, then choose the hard drive from the list, press enter, then immediately tap f8 for the startup menu.

[Seth]

This as well Martin:

 

Many boot problems can be resolved without having to resort to a repair install.

 

The first option is to try "Last Known Good Configuration" and "Safe Mode". If that doesn't work, you should try hard drive error checking:

 

Boot to the XP cd and press R at the first option to enter the Recovery Console command prompt. If asked what Window's you want to log in, choose #1. Also just press enter if asked for an administrator password. At the command prompt, type in chkdsk /r and press enter (space between the K and the /). When complete, type exit and remove the cd as the computer restarts.

 

If the above steps fail, then a repair install is warranted.

[Martinspy]

Thanks, but that didn't help. I still got the blue screen when it tried to reboot after it copied the files. Is there any way I can keep the computer from automatically rebooting when the blue screen comes up?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

What didn't help?

 

My suggestion or Seths?

[Martinspy]

sorry, I meant the repair install did not work. Thanks Seth you were correct about the safe mode thing I am now able to log in via safe mode.

[Martinspy]

scratch that, it is still trying to run Windows setup and it gives me a message saying that windows setup cannot run in safe mode.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

What EXACTLY does it say on that copy of XP that you have Martin?

[Martinspy]

Where? on the CD? It says Window XP Professional with service pack 2.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok

 

Have you altered the boot sequence in the bios to boot from the CD as this has nothing to do with Safe Mode.

 

Alter the boot sequence, insert the XP cd and save the settings on exit by usually pressing F10.

[Martinspy]

Oh, it also say's Version 2002.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, from my small amount of knowledge your problem may be a faulty power supply, any chance of trying another from somewhere to prove it, before going out to buy a new one?

[Martinspy]

I took the CD out of the drive and changed the BIOS to only boot from the Hard Drive but it still gives me the message.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Martin can I ask why you are not doing what we ask?

[Martinspy]

Thanks Nev but I tried that before I got on the forum. I'm pretty sure my problem lies in the software.

[Martinspy]

I already tried booting from the CD and that doesn't work, so I was trying to get to safe mode by stopping the setup.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Why?

 

There is no reason why it should not work

 

What exactly are you trying to do here?

[Martinspy]

Alright, I configured the BIOS to boot from the CD and put the CD in the drive and restarted the computer, I let the computer run and when It got to the load screen it crashed again.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Did you save the setting before leaving the bios?

 

How far did it get before crashing, did you see the screen saying "Press any key to boot from CD"?

[Martinspy]

Yes, I saved the bios.

 

It got to the windows xp load screen, and yes I did see the "Press any key to boot from CD." message. When I do press a key to boot from the CD it goes into setup. Should I run setup again?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Yes.

 

Then follow the instructions in the earlier link.

[Seth]

You can't abort a repair install. You can however get into Safe Mode which will then inform you that the repair can't continue in Safe Mode. That's all normal behavior.

 

If your data is backed up, then I suggest you try a clean install of XP. If that still produces the error, then either the cd is scratched, the optical drive is faulty, or you have a hardware problem on the computer (such as a defective ram module).

[Martinspy]

It crashed at the same place again. right after the windows load screen

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Just do a clean install as Seth suggests Martin ok.

 

XP Clean Install