Ststem lock and loop after chkdisk request + 2 other problems:

  • Thread starter Thread starter sced13ri
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sced13ri

I recently attempted to check my Boot "C" drive for errors using the
tools dialogue under drive properties accessed through "My Computer".
Each attempt resulted in a message that said "...windows needs exclusive
access to certain files...do you want to run disk check at the next
boot...?

I finally said yes. At the next boot, the utility came up, ran, provided
a quickly disappearing dialogue window and proceeded to restart. Oh the
pain. From that point on, each boot attempt resulted in either a repeat
of the check disk or alternately the splash screen that says "we are
sorry, windows did not start properly blah, blah, blah. Please choose
from several ways to start the system. This occurred time after time for
at least an hour.

I used my XP disk to get to the repair console but none of the fixes ie:
fixboot or fixmbr worked. I also used the disk to perform a disk check.
Result; found and fixed errors. Still no joy at reboot. By pure chance,
I decided to install my never used Drive Image 7 (for Win XP)last month
and was able to use it to restore my C:drive. Needless to say I lost a
lot of my e-mail and some other things going back to the image date.

During all of this, extra problem #1: My Microsoft USB mouse is inactive
during the initial boot process so, I had no way to access my bios or
make boot selections from the splash screen. By pure chance, I found
using an adapter I could plug into the PS port which gave me access
during boot but the alpha numeric keys do not respond after the initial
boot.

Problem #2: When I could select boot methods every attempt to enter safe
mode (all offered options) resulted in a quickly scrolling window of
files that reaches an entry for Window System 32 and freezes permanently
and can only be exited by a manual shut down.

Sorry for the long post but, my questions are;

A) What caused the loop and is there an easier way to break said loop
without an image restore or reinstall?

B) Why is my USB mouse inactive during boot? BTW Device manager lists
the USB mouse as working correctly but, it also has an entry for the PS
mouse which it says "is not" working properly. All attempts to remove or
disable it in DM fail. Perhaps fortunate based on above.

C) Why does my attempts to get into safe mode freeze my system?

My system is XP Home SP-2 installed October '05 and is a AMD based 1.1
gig machine with 512 MB RAM. AV and spy ware scans on my system all
return negative results "none found".

I realize I have asked a lot but, this type of problem has never hit me
before and I would appreciate any helpful input to solve or avoid these
situations.

sced13ri
 
sced13ri said:
I recently attempted to check my Boot "C" drive for errors using the
tools dialogue under drive properties accessed through "My Computer".
Each attempt resulted in a message that said "...windows needs exclusive
access to certain files...do you want to run disk check at the next
boot...?

I finally said yes. At the next boot, the utility came up, ran, provided
a quickly disappearing dialogue window and proceeded to restart. Oh the
pain. From that point on, each boot attempt resulted in either a repeat
of the check disk or alternately the splash screen that says "we are
sorry, windows did not start properly blah, blah, blah. Please choose
from several ways to start the system. This occurred time after time for
at least an hour.

I used my XP disk to get to the repair console but none of the fixes ie:
fixboot or fixmbr worked. I also used the disk to perform a disk check.
Result; found and fixed errors. Still no joy at reboot. By pure chance,
I decided to install my never used Drive Image 7 (for Win XP)last month
and was able to use it to restore my C:drive. Needless to say I lost a
lot of my e-mail and some other things going back to the image date.

During all of this, extra problem #1: My Microsoft USB mouse is inactive
during the initial boot process so, I had no way to access my bios or
make boot selections from the splash screen. By pure chance, I found
using an adapter I could plug into the PS port which gave me access
during boot but the alpha numeric keys do not respond after the initial
boot.

Problem #2: When I could select boot methods every attempt to enter safe
mode (all offered options) resulted in a quickly scrolling window of
files that reaches an entry for Window System 32 and freezes permanently
and can only be exited by a manual shut down.

Sorry for the long post but, my questions are;

A) What caused the loop and is there an easier way to break said loop
without an image restore or reinstall?

B) Why is my USB mouse inactive during boot? BTW Device manager lists
the USB mouse as working correctly but, it also has an entry for the PS
mouse which it says "is not" working properly. All attempts to remove or
disable it in DM fail. Perhaps fortunate based on above.

C) Why does my attempts to get into safe mode freeze my system?

My system is XP Home SP-2 installed October '05 and is a AMD based 1.1
gig machine with 512 MB RAM. AV and spy ware scans on my system all
return negative results "none found".

I realize I have asked a lot but, this type of problem has never hit me
before and I would appreciate any helpful input to solve or avoid these
situations.

sced13ri
Click to expand...

Since there have been no responses to my rather long query, perhaps I
have posted to the wrong group. If there are no thoughts or suggestions
relative to these problems in this group maybe one of the gurus or MVP's
can suggest an alternate group for me to post the questions.

Thanks in advance;

sced13ri
 
sced13ri said:
Since there have been no responses to my rather long query, perhaps I have
posted to the wrong group. If there are no thoughts or suggestions
relative to these problems in this group maybe one of the gurus or MVP's
can suggest an alternate group for me to post the questions.

Thanks in advance;

sced13ri
Click to expand...


sced13ri:
Possibly the reason you've received no responses is because the problems
you've experienced are very difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose with
any precision from this distance because there are so many culprits (both
software & hardware-related) that could have caused these problems.

Let's assume, for the moment, that this is not a hardware issue. On that
basis, why not try a Repair install of XP? Possibly the problem arises from
simple system files corruption (arising for one reason or another) that a
Repair install will correct. Seems to me it's worth a try at this point.

I assume you know how to undertake a Repair install of XP. (This is *not*
using the Recovery Console for a "repair" of the XP OS - which you've
already undertaken). If you're unfamiliar with the process, take a look
at...
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

If you do decide to undertake a Repair install and assuming you're able to
access the problem drive as a secondary HD -- backup whatever files are
important to you. It's rare that the Repair install - should it fail -
causes additional file corruption, but that's always a possibility. If you
can clone the drive to another HD, do so before undertaking the Repair
install.
Anna
 
Anna said:
sced13ri:
Possibly the reason you've received no responses is because the problems
you've experienced are very difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose with
any precision from this distance because there are so many culprits (both
software & hardware-related) that could have caused these problems.

Let's assume, for the moment, that this is not a hardware issue. On that
basis, why not try a Repair install of XP? Possibly the problem arises from
simple system files corruption (arising for one reason or another) that a
Repair install will correct. Seems to me it's worth a try at this point.

I assume you know how to undertake a Repair install of XP. (This is *not*
using the Recovery Console for a "repair" of the XP OS - which you've
already undertaken). If you're unfamiliar with the process, take a look
at...
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm

If you do decide to undertake a Repair install and assuming you're able to
access the problem drive as a secondary HD -- backup whatever files are
important to you. It's rare that the Repair install - should it fail -
causes additional file corruption, but that's always a possibility. If you
can clone the drive to another HD, do so before undertaking the Repair
install.
Anna
Click to expand...
Anna:

I appreciate the suggestions. I can use the HD manufacturers software or
Drive Image to make the clone. I probably will use DI since my
previous image is now about a month old. Only one question;
will the repair leave all my updates intact or will I need to do them
again? Another "repair web site"

http://michaelstevenstech.com/repair.txt

indicates they will be removed and also suggests removing some files
"Warning #1" prior to proceeding with "repair". I'd appreciate your
thoughts about that.

sced13
 
sced13ri said:
Anna:

I appreciate the suggestions. I can use the HD manufacturers software or
Drive Image to make the clone. I probably will use DI since my previous
image is now about a month old. Only one question;
will the repair leave all my updates intact or will I need to do them
again? Another "repair web site"

http://michaelstevenstech.com/repair.txt

indicates they will be removed and also suggests removing some files
"Warning #1" prior to proceeding with "repair". I'd appreciate your
thoughts about that.

sced13
Click to expand...


The info on Michael's site concerning an XP Repair install is considered
authoritative and usually comes highly recommended by many posters to this
and similar newsgroups.

With respect to his "Warning! #1" as it pertains to the deletion of certain
files and the possible modification of others prior to undertaking a Repair
install - we have never done so and we are unaware of any practical value in
so doing. But perhaps there is some real value which we are unaware of in
following his suggestions. Perhaps Michael or others can speak to this.

Yes, unfortunately you will have to install Microsoft's critical updates
following the Repair install. I assume you will be using an XP installation
CD that contains SP2. If your XP CD does not contain SP2 it would be best to
create a "slipstreamed" CD that contains that SP. The updates issued (and
still currently active) since SP2 will need to be installed.

I haven't worked with Drive Image in a long time. We generally use
Symantec's Norton Ghost 2003 version or Acronis True Image for our disk
cloning operations. As long as you find DI creates a viable clone, so be it.
The HD manufacturer's disk copying software is another alternative.
Anna
 
Anna said:
The info on Michael's site concerning an XP Repair install is considered
authoritative and usually comes highly recommended by many posters to this
and similar newsgroups.

With respect to his "Warning! #1" as it pertains to the deletion of certain
files and the possible modification of others prior to undertaking a Repair
install - we have never done so and we are unaware of any practical value in
so doing. But perhaps there is some real value which we are unaware of in
following his suggestions. Perhaps Michael or others can speak to this.

Yes, unfortunately you will have to install Microsoft's critical updates
following the Repair install. I assume you will be using an XP installation
CD that contains SP2. If your XP CD does not contain SP2 it would be best to
create a "slipstreamed" CD that contains that SP. The updates issued (and
still currently active) since SP2 will need to be installed.

I haven't worked with Drive Image in a long time. We generally use
Symantec's Norton Ghost 2003 version or Acronis True Image for our disk
cloning operations. As long as you find DI creates a viable clone, so be it.
The HD manufacturer's disk copying software is another alternative.
Anna
Click to expand...
Again, thanks for the response. I did in fact create a slipstreamed
version of XP with sp2 which I used for my final install of XP Home. DI
did work to restore my system as mentioned in my first post but, I have
seen a lot of positive posts about Acronis True Image. I will take a
look at Acronis. It can't hurt to have another option at hand.

sced
 
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