Boot failure..

[marian]

I’m looking for help with a boot-up problem.
I have Windows XP OS. (SP2)
Initial switch on - progress to the first XP Logo screen with scrolling
bars beneath – this appears for few seconds then blank screen. No error
message. No response at all.

If I immediately press Reset at that point can only start in Safe mode.

BUT if I leave the machine idling for @ 5-10 mins I can then press Reset and
‘Start Windows Normally’ everything is fine.

I opened up the case and hoovered out the dust.... the limit of my technical
skill!

Any insight would be welcome before I take it to the shop to be fobbed off
with something that ‘should fix the problem’!!

 

[Leonard Grey]

I do not know what "fobbed off with something" means.

When you arrive at the desktop, whether normally or in Safe Mode, you
can probably find details concerning your problem in Event Viewer.

 

[Gerry]

Marian

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[marian]

Marian

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





Thanks for such quick response.. will check out the event viewer info..

PS. fobbed off.. means to be decieved / fooled....I guess.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm looking for help with a boot-up problem.
I have Windows XP OS. (SP2)
Initial switch on - progress to the first XP Logo screen with scrolling
bars beneath - this appears for few seconds then blank screen. No error
message. No response at all.

This can be the result of many things, including hardware failure.

If I immediately press Reset at that point can only start in Safe mode.

BUT if I leave the machine idling for @ 5-10 mins I can then press Reset
and
'Start Windows Normally' everything is fine.

I opened up the case and hoovered out the dust.... the limit of my
technical
skill!

If you mean that you vaccuumed the dust, this is an extremely bad idea.
You should not ever use a vaccuum on a PC case.

The reason is that the vaccuum can and will generate large amounts of static
electricity, which can and will silently destroy electronic components.

Instead, use cans of compressed air, which do not have this characteristic.

Any insight would be welcome before I take it to the shop to be fobbed off
with something that 'should fix the problem'!!

I agree that checking the event log is the place to start.

However, if you have another hard disk that you can pop in in place of the
original, and do a quick install to it, does the install work or behave the
way the system does now? this will help identify the problem as with the
hardware or with the windows install.

HTH
-pk

 

[marian]

I’m looking for help with a boot-up problem.
I have Windows XP OS. (SP2)
Initial switch on - progress to the first XP Logo screen with scrolling
bars beneath – this appears for few seconds then blank screen. No error
message. No response at all.

If I immediately press Reset at that point can only start in Safe mode.

BUT if I leave the machine idling for @ 5-10 mins I can then press Reset and
‘Start Windows Normally’ everything is fine.

I opened up the case and hoovered out the dust.... the limit of my technical
skill!

Any insight would be welcome before I take it to the shop to be fobbed off
with something that ‘should fix the problem’!!

Thanks all for your assistance!!
I’ll be more cautious with my hoover in future !!

Found Event Viewer which suggested amongst many other things which I
didn’t understand that ‘there is a malfunction in a device attached to this
system’.

Detached + (reattached) one by one the external bits and bobs and found the
wireless USB adapter seemed to be the culprit so have replaced it and so far
so good, Seems to have done the trick.

Thanks again. I have a feeling I’ll be back here in the future.
Marian......

 

[marian]

Thanks all for your assistance!!
I’ll be more cautious with my hoover in future !!

Found Event Viewer which suggested amongst many other things which I
didn’t understand that ‘there is a malfunction in a device attached to this
system’.

Detached + (reattached) one by one the external bits and bobs and found the
wireless USB adapter seemed to be the culprit so have replaced it and so far
so good, seems to have done the trick.

Thanks again. I have a feeling I’ll be back here in the future.
Cheers Marian......