Stuck at Windows Log-on page (kinda)

[AlanKW]

I was recently looked at a laptop w/ XPHome (sp unknown) and I could not get it past a screen similair to a GUI log on screen. Its blue, has the yellow lines near the top and the bottom and the XP Logo off-set to the right. The mouse moves, but there is no where to click. Ctrl-Alt-Del does nothing, as does Ctrl-Esc. Booting to last known, Booting to Safe Mode & Boot to VGA all goto the same Blue screen with nothing to do. The computer is as good as DOA.

In googling some newsgroups, the best answer I found was to boot to the XP CD and do a recover with your fingers and toes crossed. Does anyone have any other thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

 

[linney]

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Try running ChkDsk /r from the Recovery Console.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.


If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[AlanKW]

Thank you - I will try once I can get my hands on a Home CD and report back.

 

[AlanKW]

Got it up and running! Thank you. For some reason, I had to do step 3 of DigitalWebcast twice. I must have missed a file. (too bad Recovery Console doesnt recognize USB drives or I could have copied the lines from the web into a batch file) And - I didnt get asked what recovery session to use, but rather just booted directly into windows. Installing Windows Updates, cleaning adware/spyware now...

 

[linney]

HOW TO: Add More Power to Recovery Console By Using Group Policy in Windows XP Professional

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310497&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Recovery console: Allow floppy copy and access to all drives and all folders


Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options

Description
Enabling this option makes the Recovery Console SET command available, which allows you to set the following Recovery Console environment variables:

AllowWildCards: Enable wildcard support for some commands (such as the DEL command).
AllowAllPaths: Allow access to all files and folders on the computer.
AllowRemovableMedia: Allow files to be copied to removable media, such as a floppy disk.
NoCopyPrompt: Do not prompt when overwriting an existing file.
Default: Disabled.