XP Pro hangs on startup

[dustbuster]

My XP Pro machine hangs when starting up at the Windows XP screen with the dots moving by.

I've tried to figure out what's going on but I'm not really getting anywhere.

- I can logon using safe mode
- I've removed all PCI devices and replaced the AGP video card
- I've done CHKDSK using the Recovery Console
- Tried using different memory slots and sticks
- Use a USB mouse instead of PS/2

I've modifed boot.ini to use /SOS to see which drivers are loaded. The last one to load MUP.sys loads and I get to a nice Windows XP blue screen that has my system information:

Microsoft Windows (Build XXXXX)
1 System Processor (512MB Memory)

And then it just sits there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bcastner]

Use Recovery Console again. Do a:

fixmbr
fixboot
exit

Restart and test.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503

.

 

[linney]

While in Safe Mode you can have a look at the Event Viewer. You will have to ignore errors caused by being in Safe Mode, but check other errors which have occurred just before, or at the time, of your problems.

Have you tried to login as another user in Normal Mode?

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

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.

 

[dustbuster]

I tried the fixMBR and fixBoot but there's still no go.

As for trying to login in normal mode I don't even get to the login screen. It either sits there witht the dots moving about or, if I modify boot.ini, it stops at the multicolored blue screen message I gave before.

 

[linney]

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.

And see some of the other suggestions mentioned in this thread too.

Cannot logon to winxp...losing lots of valuable documents
thread779-975236