Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (
More info?)
Assuming your system came with Windows XP, it sounds as though something
proprietary on the setup is causing a problem. If the system is still under
warranty, I suggest you contact Compaq for help with this issue.
If you don't have a retail version of Windows XP, in other words you have a
disk supplied by Compaq and the disk is essentially a recovery disk, it
likely doesn't have any of the tools that would allow for a repair install
option and that leaves you with only whatever recovery procedure Compaq has
included.
If you can get to the desktop, not safe mode but the actual XP desktop,
there are some diagnostics you can perform as follows. NOTE: usually,
issues such as you describe are caused by some hardware conflict or possibly
dated or corrupted hardware drivers, necessitating reinstall of the drivers
or updating from the device manufacturer's website.
Below are fairly standard instructions for trying to diagnose the source of
issues such as you describe:
First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.
Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com
Note: you should always be well backed up before running an application of
this type.
If your system is clear of viruses, open Control Panel, open System, go to
the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, remove the
check from "Automatically Restart" under System Failure. This will cause
the system to blue screen instead of restarting on errors and the
information on the blue screen may give a clue as to the source of the
issue.
Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer, look for
errors corresponding to the crash, double click the error, the information
contained within may give a clue as to the
source of the problem. If you don't understand the information inside, the
third button down in that dialog box will copy the information,
you can then paste it into a message and post it here and maybe we can
figure out what is going on.
Assuming you have an XP CD and not a recovery CD, place the XP CD in the
drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System Compatibility,"
the report it generates may point to problem hardware or software on your
system. If you do not have an XP CD, you can download this application
known as the Upgrade Advisor from the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Note: If you have access to a broadband connection it might be best to
download using that as this is a rather large download.
Check for the latest drivers for your hardware, especially your graphics
card and soundcard and all peripherals connected to your system. Do not use
Windows Update for this, go to the device manufacturer's web sites and if
you install updated drivers, ignore the message about drivers being unsigned
by Microsoft. *Before installing any drivers, be sure you are well backed
up and it's probably a good idea to manually create a restore point in
System Restore in case you have problems as a result of the driver update
and note, System Restore is not a substitute for a backup. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"-" <dspamnourbane@novoyagerspam.net> wrote in message
news:ODRll0wqEHA.516@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>I have a Compaq laptop that is freezing during the boot cycle. I see the
> Bios info, the screen goes black and the Windows XP Home Edition logo
> appears with the three, green squared progress indicator. That disappears
> and the blue logon screen appears, darker blue at the top and bottom and
> lighter blue in the middle with a smaller WinXP logo right of center.
>
> It freezes at this point. We do not see anything indicating it is loading
> any settings, nor do we see the opportunity to choose a user. When this
> happened the first time, we slaved the drive into another system and
> transfered the data off, then started over to remove some of the Compaq
> baggage that came with the system. We would like to avoid doing that
> again.
>
> It starts the same going into safe mode as well. Starting using the last
> known good configuration yields the same result.
>
> Any insight into this issue is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
>
> Dan
>
>
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram