S
Steve
Hi all,
I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to
(now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb
USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed
my windows.
Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP
Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the
system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on
bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor
to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass.
I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with
HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates...
same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving
cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5
years.
I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint
gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot.
Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to
TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start
EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot.
So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list
and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I
don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works
when manually started??
Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some
help... going crazy now!
Thanks in advance,
Steve
I've had this Presario 2195US laptop for 4-5 years; running XP from SP1 to
(now) SP3... no problems. 2-3 weeks ago, I tried to connect a 160gb
USB-encased hard drive with no luck... proceeding along I pretty much hosed
my windows.
Anyway, I decided to reformat/install a copy of XP Pro w/SP3 (thought XP
Home didn't like 160gb) and, after a few MS updates, every time I boot the
system it shows the DESKTOP, the bottom left of the TaskBar and NOTHING on
bottom-right. Cursor moves, I can Ctrl-Alt-Delete and, when I move cursor
to TaskBar area... cursor turns into the old hour-glass.
I then reinstall with the original Compaq QuickRestore CDs (started with
HOME SP1 and updated thru SP3)... and somewhere along in the MS Updates...
same symptom... boot ends up with SHOWING DESKTOP, half TaskBar, moving
cursor but can't do anything else. Again, this setup worked for last 4-5
years.
I found that booting to Safe Mode and System Restore to the last CheckPoint
gave me my system back... which worked as long as I did NOT reboot.
Googling for a last week or so... I saw someone would Ctrl-Alt-Delete to
TaskManager, kill EXPLORER and then do a NEW TASK and manually start
EXPLORER... Works like a champ... but does get old after every reboot.
So... SafeMode works... tried going thru MSCONFIG list but with a huge list
and constant rebooting take hours. Killing/starting Explorer works... but I
don't understand why Explorer hangs when Windows starts up but then works
when manually started??
Has anyone seen this before... and resolved it?? Sure could use some
help... going crazy now!
Thanks in advance,
Steve