Windows XP Stuck at Login, but Works as Secondary Drive

[JayKayeAre]

Hello,


I have an older desktop computer that is running Windows XP. After I turned off the computer (just a normal shutdown), I turned it back on again to do something I forgot to finish and the computer would not move past the blue screen with the XP logo on it. I couldn't get to my user to log in. I then shut it down and tried to start it in safe mode. IT got to the same screen in safe mode and wouldn't move past it.

I pulled the hard drive out and put it in another computer as the slave drive and it worked fine. All the data was there and accessible. I ran check disk just to be sure and it returned that the drive was fine? I am at a lost at what to do from here. If anyone could help me out, that'd be great!

 

[9xer]

First you need to determine if it's a software problem or a hardware problem. Does it boot up ok when the computer is cold? If so, you've got a thermal issue with the hardware.

When diagnosing XP problems, always use Event Viewer; if you're having software problems, an error log will be recorded in Event Viewer. Sounds like you might have drivers that aren't loading at startup.

 

[jimmy171148]

boot up into safe mode, then open my computer find windows folder, in windows folder find Prefetch and delete all the files in there, that worked for me anyway.

 

[Hawkeye22]

You may be able to boot from your XP install CD and do a repair install. Just google "XP repair install". There are plenty of articles on it.

You may want to use a slipstreamed CD/DVD that contains the current service pack level that you are currently running. i.e. If your windows has SP3 installed use a slipstreamed install CD/DVD that contains SP3.