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Windows did not close properly

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alahol2

Programmer
Dec 17, 2002
13
GB
I suspect one of my kids has installed something that disagrees with Win XP Home. Now, whenever we start the PC, we get the message about windows not closing properly (which it does) and having to hit the button to start normally. Any way of re-setting the flag to stop it doing this? Or to find out what XP doesn't like?
 
Do you have an HP 5100C scanner?

Also and excerpt from Another Option: Go to Start/Run/Regedit and navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager

Look for the REG_MULTI_SZ value with the following name: BootExecute. This value contains commands that will be executed at startup. The default value is: autocheck autochk *

After scheduling one or more chkdsks, the entry will contain one or more autochk lines. Delete each of these lines and put the default one in place. If you always want a check to be performedf at startup, change the value to: autocheck autochk /f *
If you don't want any checks to be performed, delete all autocheck entries

Trouble shooting shutdown problems:
 
Thanks smash
Answers...No scanner
Registry says autocheck autochk *

Now I must own up to not reading the screen on startup, it says...
"We apologise for the inconvenience, but windows did not START successfully."
It does not run chkdsk but waits for 30 secs for me to choose a startup mode, suggesting that I use 'start normally'.
When I choose that option, it starts normally, surprise.
Is there a log of the startup that may show what it thinks is failing?
 
I guess I didn't read your post to well either. Is your F8 key stuck by any chance?
 
If it's not your F8 key...

Start, Run, msconfig, make sure the general tab is set to Normal startup, on the Boot.ini tab make sure all the boot options are not checked.
 
F8 is OK
There's lots of options on MSCONFIG so I'll try some of those to see if I can make a differnce.
I'll report back...
 
Well, I tried everything in MSCONFIG but I've still got the problem...
NTBTLOG.txt shows a few 'did not load driver...' lines but no errors.
This is starting to bug me now!

Any more ideas out there?
 
Similar story here, might help you.


Go to this site and download "Spybot" to check your machine for Spyware and Adware which might be interfering with your setup.

Also at the same site you can download "Startuplist". This will give you a text file of everything starting on your machine. If you post that list here, somebody might recognise some things.

Both programs are freeware.


And finally if all else fails.
Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Windows.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself 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)
 
linney
Wow! this is going to take some time...
I've checked out spybot and startup list and there's nothing very wierd in there.
I've got a dozen or so unsigned drivers so it's going to take a while to work through them. Thanks very much and I'll report back.
 
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