Don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'm having the exact same problem after
downloading SP1. Everything went fine and I let the system automatically
reboot. Now, I cannot start up in any safe mode, and last good config does
not work either. The PC just keeps recycling through to the point where the
Windows XP Home screen appears and then it restarts. I also cannot access
the restore/repair utility because the system will not recognize a system
administrator password. To the best of my knowledge, I never set up a
password. Tried leaving it blank, but no luck. Ran Trend PC-illin just
before the SP1 download and no viruses were detected, though I did get hit
with some spyware and adware earlier in the week (including a few
undeleteable ones like "TV/Media"). Unfortunately, I did not do a complete
back up before SP1, so i have a few months worth of data that will be lost if
i have to do a complete reformat!
Will installing a new XP help? I have a Sony machine with XP pre-loaded,
so only complete reformat discs are available. I'm willing to get an OEM if
needed, just irritated at having to buy another since I already have a
license for XP. If I do a new install of XP over the current, will I lose
other data/programs? Would it be better to install a new HD as primary and
just format with a clean install of XP (which should save all my data on the
old HD, set as a slave drive - first business will be to clean it up with all
the adware/spyware software and antivirus I can find)?
