Can't boot up.

[Big Bill]

Powered down as normal, now it goes into a loop and won't get past
booting up. Screen comes up detecting drives etc, the xp screen comes
up were you have the xp symbol and the little dots moving from left to
right under it, then all three lights flash on the keyboard (numlock
etc) the screen blanks and it tries to boot again. And does what I've
described. Again.

I was trying to get a bluetooth device installed. It was installed but
not detected by some software so I reinstalled the software that came
with it. After I'd done this I noticed a screen saying BTW
stack...something or other, I clicked end or cancel, can't remember
which, and rebooted to properly install the software and the device.
Now it won't boot. Any ideas please folks, and is this the right group
to be asking? There seem to be so many...

BB

 

[John John]

Try booting in safe mode.

John

 

[Big Bill]

Try booting in safe mode.

John

Can't. I hit F8, it offers me options, you know, last configuration,
etc, I hit enter for any of them, the screen fills with stuff about
partitions and drivers and windows 32, blanks, and it goes back into
the boot cycle I spoke of earlier. This doesn't look too good.

BB

 

[Malke]

Can't. I hit F8, it offers me options, you know, last configuration,
etc, I hit enter for any of them, the screen fills with stuff about
partitions and drivers and windows 32, blanks, and it goes back into
the boot cycle I spoke of earlier. This doesn't look too good.

BB

At that screen, can you do Safe Mode Command Prompt? If so, try:
c:\Windows\System32\restore\rstrui.exe [enter]

This will run System Restore so you can restore your computer to before
you tried installing the bluetooth device.

If not, then try a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Malke

 

[John John]

Disconnect/remove the device from the pc and try again. I take it that
the pc can't boot to a command prompt so using System Restore is not
possible? The only other thing I can think of would be to use the
Recovery console and try to disable the bluetooth service or device if
you can.

How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Booting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244905/

Other than that an In-Place Upgrade (repair reinstallation) might be the
way out.

John

 

[Big Bill]

At that screen, can you do Safe Mode Command Prompt?

Nope. I get all that crap on the screen again.

If so, try:
c:\Windows\System32\restore\rstrui.exe [enter]

This will run System Restore so you can restore your computer to before
you tried installing the bluetooth device.

If not, then try a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Malke

You think this is a virus? Geez, I hardly have the thing installed
yet! I bookmarked the repair page, I may give it a go.

BB

 

[Big Bill]

Disconnect/remove the device from the pc and try again. I take it that
the pc can't boot to a command prompt so using System Restore is not
possible?

Can't get to it for gubbage onscreen.

The only other thing I can think of would be to use the
Recovery console and try to disable the bluetooth service or device if
you can.

I already disconnected it.

How to Disable a Service or Device that Prevents Windows from Booting
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244905/

OK, I'm bookmarking this too.

Other than that an In-Place Upgrade (repair reinstallation) might be the
way out.

John

Geez, it's all complicated. I should mention also that during the last
functioning session, while I was fumbling around behind the computer,
I pulled the monitor out. It was only loose. I put it back without
turning off or anything. I doubt a hotswap like that would hurt but I
mention it while I remember.

BB

 

[Malke]

At that screen, can you do Safe Mode Command Prompt?

Nope. I get all that crap on the screen again.

If so, try:
c:\Windows\System32\restore\rstrui.exe [enter]

This will run System Restore so you can restore your computer to
before you tried installing the bluetooth device.

If not, then try a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Malke

You think this is a virus? Geez, I hardly have the thing installed
yet! I bookmarked the repair page, I may give it a go.

BB

Where did I say it was a virus? Nowhere. I just suggested that you might
be able to start the system without the graphical user interface
(Explorer) by doing Safe Mode Command Prompt and run the System Restore
to when things worked.

If you are so upset about this that you aren't approaching things
calmly, then either take a well-deserved break or visit your local
professional computer repair shop with the machine and let them get
aggravated instead of you!

Malke

 

[Malke]

Geez, it's all complicated. I should mention also that during the last
functioning session, while I was fumbling around behind the computer,
I pulled the monitor out. It was only loose. I put it back without
turning off or anything. I doubt a hotswap like that would hurt but I
mention it while I remember.

BB

You *really* need to take a break now. Pulling out hardware except for
usb devices when the computer is on is a good way to fry it.

Malke

 

[John John]

In-line.

Can't get to it for gubbage onscreen.

What is this "gubbage"?

I already disconnected it.

Even if it is disconnected Windows may still be trying to start services
or drivers that are causing problems. The associated items have to be
disabled.

OK, I'm bookmarking this too.




Geez, it's all complicated.

Doing a repair installation is not that complicated but you will have to
reinstall all your Windows updates and hot fixes.


I should mention also that during the last

functioning session, while I was fumbling around behind the computer,
I pulled the monitor out. It was only loose. I put it back without
turning off or anything. I doubt a hotswap like that would hurt but I
mention it while I remember.

If you reconnected the monitor and it still functions properly then that
is probably a non issue. Can you read the information on screen and see
the Windows or pc logos when the pc starts? If yes I would say it
didn't hurt anything.

A final clutching at straws before doing a repair installation would be
to try to replace the system hive with one that would be in the
%systemroot%\Repair folder... if you did a backup at one time or
another. If that fails the repair process replaces it anyway.

John

 

[Big Bill]

You *really* need to take a break now. Pulling out hardware except for
usb devices when the computer is on is a good way to fry it.

Yup I know that, it fries part of the board potentially, although
hotswapping monitors is usually ok. But I'm very inexperienced with xp
as yet.
I'm leaving it till the morning.

BB

 

[Big Bill]

At that screen, can you do Safe Mode Command Prompt?

Nope. I get all that crap on the screen again.

If so, try:
c:\Windows\System32\restore\rstrui.exe [enter]

This will run System Restore so you can restore your computer to
before you tried installing the bluetooth device.

If not, then try a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Malke

You think this is a virus? Geez, I hardly have the thing installed
yet! I bookmarked the repair page, I may give it a go.

BB

Where did I say it was a virus? Nowhere. I just suggested that you might
be able to start the system without the graphical user interface
(Explorer) by doing Safe Mode Command Prompt and run the System Restore
to when things worked.

If you are so upset about this that you aren't approaching things
calmly, then either take a well-deserved break or visit your local
professional computer repair shop with the machine and let them get
aggravated instead of you!

Malke

I wasn't upset, just surprised

BB

 

[Big Bill]

In-line.



What is this "gubbage"?

It kept repeating a line about windows and partitions and other
things.

Even if it is disconnected Windows may still be trying to start services
or drivers that are causing problems. The associated items have to be
disabled.
Right.


Doing a repair installation is not that complicated but you will have to
reinstall all your Windows updates and hot fixes.


I should mention also that during the last

If you reconnected the monitor and it still functions properly then that
is probably a non issue. Can you read the information on screen and see
the Windows or pc logos when the pc starts?

Yup, which is why I figure it's ok.

If yes I would say it
didn't hurt anything.

A final clutching at straws before doing a repair installation would be
to try to replace the system hive with one that would be in the
%systemroot%\Repair folder... if you did a backup at one time or
another.

I don't have one yet.

If that fails the repair process replaces it anyway.

John

Gulpo! I'll give it a go in the morning.

BB

 

[Sharon F]

Nope. I get all that crap on the screen again.

Just an aside: Seeing a long list of drivers loading when booting to Safe
Mode is normal.

What isn't normal or at least not expected is that the system is still
rebooting when booting to Safe Mode. This is almost always due to
incompatible drivers but occasionally due to a service (or malware running
as a service) that is not "quite right."

Malke suggested starting with command line only because even less drivers
load - lessening the chance of a reboot. Someone else suggested disabling
the bluetooth service via a recovery console startup.

In another words, you've received good advice so far. It will be
interesting to see how this turns out.