System keeps locking up on bootup

[ComputerNut]

Alright, on another thread I mentioned that I needed to replace a chipset cooling fan on a friends comp, well i solved that prob (got the correct one). But now my problem turns to trying to logon to windows. When i boot up that system, it loads fine and everything, but when I get to the login page (this is XP pro, btw, and they have multiple accounts for each member of the family), and I click on one of these accounts, it begins loading but then the mouse just freezes, and the HDD activity light doesnt do anything else. a couple of times I get one of those XP-like BSOD's. Now im tied between wondering if this is a hardware prob, or a software prob. the system loads fine under Safe-Mode w/ command prompt. So does this mark a re-installation of windows? if so, could I get away with a repair install of some kind? i dont want to have to lose the files on the HDD.

TIA,
CN

[ComputerNut]

bump

[GaryRouth]

How recent is the lockup problem? And does the system operate fairly well in Safe Mode (not the command prompt only, but the GUI version with Window screens). If yes to both of these questions, you might have the option to try a system restore to a date before the current problem. Another choice - the one you mention - would be a repair reinstallation. I can't see any harm in trying that either = however, if the machine has been updated to SP2, it'd be nice to use an XP Pro disk that already has SP2 on it (or slip-streamed into it). And visit Windows Update immediately to grab the latest patches again (if necessary).

None of this will help if its a hardware or configuration problem. Check the Bios settings for any values that might be too aggressive, or incorrect. Check the temperatures overall - run with the case open for a while, if necessary. If any of the error messages that displayed point to data corruption of any sort, might as well test the memory and hard drive. MemTest86 ( http://www.memtest.org ) can test the memory, and a diagnostic for the hard drive should be downloadable from the hard drive manufacturer's website.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[P.S. . . . I suppose I shouldn't neglect to mention the usual precautions: scan for malware as thoroughly as possible, too - with both an antivirus and an antispyware program.]

[ComputerNut]

The lockup problem started recenty. pretty much after I replaced the chipset fan. i dont know if the actual problem started before I began plucking the system apart to install the fan. I did a system restore to jan 30, a date im certain the system was working. but it didnt help. a friend of mine mentioned that having multiple accounts may be the source, cause she had XP with such a setup, and it would keep freezing untill she got rid of the extra accounts. what do you think on this? in the meantime ill do some windows checks and hardware checks. if all fails, ill do a repair/rename install..

CN

[SCRYED]

try safe mode first. and log on as an administrator. disable all the start up items and see if it boots ok. go to start->run-> msconfig.exe click services put a check on hide microsoft services click disable all. Click startup click disable all. Restart

If it does not work Try recovery console. Boot to cd then press "R" on first option. At the prompt type "chkdsk /r" (this will take about 20 minutes). Type "fixboot" at the second prompt press "enter". type "exit".

post back.

[GaryRouth]

. . . it sounds like the system runs fine in the GUI Safe Mode, since you were able to run the System Restore (although it didn't solve the problem). That's a good clue (and if you do happen to get another BSOD, copy the error message & post it here) . . .

& I'll guess that Scryed's 1st repair step will produce a system running in what closely resembles GUI Safe Mode. Can't hurt to try checking the hard drive or a boot fix, either.

I think you should also consider scanning the drive for malware. They can kill a boot sequence as part of their general mayhem. If a driver or some system files have become corrupted, and it's only one or two, you can try a run of the XP version of System File Checker: from the Start/Run box, type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes to start it. You'll need your XP CD handy (or the .cabs on the hard drive to point to). If the corruption is too widespread for these repairs, you can try the repair reinstall. [Boot from the XP CD, type R for repair, follow the prompts]. But remember to take precautions & grab Security patches as soon as possible.

In all the repairs mentioned so far in this thread, the data on the hard drive should survive OK if all goes well.
. . . Gary

[ComputerNut]

Yeah, im gonna try all those things when I get a chance this weekend, ill post back the results.....until then!

CN

[glc]

Boot from the XP CD, type R for repair, follow the prompts

All that does is put you in the console. To do a repair reinstall, you have to choose Setup, then when it finds the existing install, it offers you a repair option.

[GaryRouth]

[. . . thanks for the correction, glc: looks like I was doing the Win2000 flashback version . . . still getting used to the XP way of doing things. I wish a fair portion of the XP procedures had followed the Win2k models - in general they seem to offer much better control of details . . .]

[ComputerNut]

Originally Posted by scryed try safe mode first. and log on as an administrator. disable all the start up items and see if it boots ok. go to start->run-> msconfig.exe click services put a check on hide microsoft services click disable all. Click startup click disable all. Restart If it does not work Try recovery console. Boot to cd then press "R" on first option. At the prompt type "chkdsk /r" (this will take about 20 minutes). Type "fixboot" at the second prompt press "enter". type "exit". post back.

Ive tried these methods, chkdsk reported nothing about bad sectors, and i tried re-writing the boot sector, didnt fix the freezing problem.

I'll try GaryRouth's suggestion and check for malware and see if theres any of that junk in the HDD, but if the damage is too great to fix after that, I'll attempt a repair install, since it seems the easiest way to replace the XP system files. and if all else fails, i may have to resort to good ol' back up and format (hopefully not! )

CN

[ComputerNut]

Repair install was unsuccessful. after it came to the XP welcome screen, it still freezes . i guess its time for a reformat.......iM gonna start doing some backups and go from there.

CN

[ComputerNut]

Alright, i backed up important files, deleted and recreated a new partition, and formatted the drive all using the XP Setup CD. I installed a fresh copy of windows, but when it gets to the welcome screen.......it still freezes! So what are my options? bad sectors on the drive? bad memory? Im running out of ideas! And to think, i was initially supposed to install a network for them.....

UPDATE: I downloaded and tried maxtors HDD Diagnostic utility, but I get a "bad or missing command interpreter" error

TIA,
CN

[glc]

Run diagnostics from the hard drive manufacturer on the hard drive, and test the ram with Memtest86+. Set the bios to defaults.

[ComputerNut]

Yeah, as i mentioned before, I tried the maxtor diagnostic utility, but when I try to boot form the disk, i get one of those "Bad or missing command interepreter" errors, and asks me to choose the location of a working one (command.com), i tell it to point to the one included on the floppy disk, but it brings back that error. I tried recreating the disk twice, no luck. Im running a Memtest check right now, and I set the BIOS to defaults. I'll post back Memtests results.

CN

CN

[ComputerNut]

Alright, memtest reported no errrors, ECC errors, or any thing error-related after the first pass. Ive still yet to get maxtors HDD diagnostic utility to work. At this point, things are looking very grim.

CN

[Cricket]

Have you tried replacing the IDE (or SATA) cables yet?

Cricket

[ComputerNut]

i tried a fresh new IDE cable that came with my WD that I didnt use, no luck. At first I thought it may have been an IRQ conflict with the network card I recently installed, but after plucking that out, and starting the system, no change. any other ideas? at this point, any idea is a good idea

CN

[glc]

Unplug all your peripherals except the keyboard and mouse - ESPECIALLY any USB devices, remove all cards from the computer except the video card, disconnect all drives except the floppy, the main hard drive, and one optical drive. Try a fresh Powermax bootdisk, if it works, run full diags, if they come up good, zero fill the drive and try installing XP again - leaving all the stuff disconnected. If you get a good install, add the other devices back one at a time.

[ComputerNut]

Well actually I think I figured it out. At one point it hit my mind to try removing any PCI devices in the system, because the thought of an IRQ conflict crossed my mind. so i tried removing the sound card and network card I installed recently, and guess what? It worked! I re-installed those cards, and even after that it continued to work. Thanks for the tips guys, and hopefully this system will remain in one peice so i can finally get it back to my friends place!

TIA,
CN