Windows XP failure

[13thmonkey]

I've just discovered a problem with my main system.

It starts to load windows XP, gets past the scrolling bar and then reboots, safe mode and last known good config does the same.

I've previously (>1 year ago) had trouble where it would hang on the blue windows loading screen, and restored it to a previous registry config using UBCD4WIn, it sounds similar but previously it didn't force a reboot.

Firstly, would this resolve the issue (i'll probably reinstall afterwards), if its not likely any other ideas
Secondly, how do i do a restore to a previous registry as I can't recall at the moment.

Thanks for the help

 

[curnel_D]

By the sound of it you have another pc aside from your main system. If that's the case, I'd strongly reccomend that you just throw the hard drive from your main system in your 'secondary' system and backup what data you need and then reformat your main system.

 

[13thmonkey]

its a laptop (a works laptop), so its not so easy, i can probably get into it using ubcd4win, so as a last resort I'll get a new hdd, and manipulate all the data I want onto some safe areas using that and then rebuild.

This was working fine last night, and then a windows update came down, not sure its related.

any other thoughts.

 

[Proximon]

Agreed that a backup would be the first order of business. A USB HD enclosure would be another solution.

Rolling back would be the first thing to try, then maybe a repair from the XP CD. Hard to say more until you get more data.

 

[13thmonkey]

Will update as I find out more, I appreciate any suggestions although it may be a little while till I am able to try some.

 

[aziraphale]

Get a knoppix distro and back your files up via samba server...

 

[13thmonkey]

well I sorted it (again), registry corruption, time for a new HDD I think.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/250264-13-help-hand-problem-starting

it was the same problem as last time, which zorg helped me fix.

thanks for the help.