T5--
I'm not sure what could be causing it. Drivers are ofte blamed--and I'd
consult the new more comprehensive Event Viewer typing "eventvwr.msc" in
your run box for any helpful error messages> try clicking on Application
and System.
I*****Try tapping F8 once per second after a restart to access the Windows
Advanced Options Menu:
Do this. Try F8 Win Adv Options. This rationale is based on Chapter 28 of
the Windows XP Pro Resource Kit (MSFT Press)
Try either system restore via 3 Safe Modes at F8 options by tapping F8 or
Startup Repair via the DVD if you have burned one,
The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other
doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think
or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows
Advanced Options though:
Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
The rationale at F8 applies to Vista as well as Win XP.
Do this:
I always try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I
don't use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives
you a choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with
Command Prompt.
This method is based on the XP Pro Resource Resource Kit's Chapter 28 and
the first half of this KB that is based on fixing the OS rather than
troubleshooting it:
Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
You will need this reference:
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us
The command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the
otherdoesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they
think or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach
Windows Advanced Options though.
Here's how to get to the Windows Advanced Options or F8 Menu:
Tap F8 to get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu--restart the computer and
then tap F8 once per second until it begins to boot to the F8 menu shown in
htis link:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000626.htm
From there you can try 4 options --3 Safe Mode Options (I don't use the Safe
Mode WGA otpion for this) and then Last Known Good Configuration.
Game Plan When Can't Boot To Windows:
Restart and Tap F8 key once per second; try to use System Restore in any of
menu options that say Safe Mode except Safe Mode with Vga.
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration.
Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration
In the 2nd F8 option to use if Safe Mode doesn't work, Safe Mode with Cmd,
you are going to need to know the cmd to use:
*CMD in safe mode for SR is (type it at the C:\ of the cmd prompt in safe
mode)
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
______________________________________
How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration
feature in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307852/en-us
Ways To Access System Restore (whether in Safe Mode or Windows)
Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore
Type msconfig in run box>system restore button
Type restore in run box>click third item down in folder>rstrui
System Restore
Don't ever turn off System Restore unless you are doing virus removal, but I
would encourage you to put sysdm.cpl in the run box and on the system
restore tab, push the slider to 2% because it defaults to 12% and that's a
lot of real estate to take up on a hard drive.
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307852http://su
How to Run System Restorepport.microsoft.com/kb/315222
http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore.htm
and
How to Use System Restore
http://bertk.mvps.org/
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore in Windows XP from MSFT:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx
Using System Restore
http://tinyurl.com/dvekb
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449
If these Windows Advanced Options (all 4) are tried and don't work at the F8
Menu, and you have an XP CD, you have a very reliable tool to fix using a
Repair Install in Windows XP:
Repair Install: (This option has the best chance of succeeding and it
preserves everything in your OS--you do not lose anything with this option):
Booting to Bios Setup:
How To Enable CD/DVD Rom Support (put CD/DVD boot first) in bios setup boot
order--:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_enable_cdrom_support_i.htm
Screenshot of CD/DVD #1 in Bios Setup Boot Order:
http://www.loughborough.ac.uk/computing/desktop/reps-xp/images/bootscreen1.jpg
Repair Install Does Not Lose Anything; you may need to try 2-3 times but
that's rare.
(Note in the rare instance that a repair install is done on a box that where
the OS has systemically destroyed partitions, or if there is a multi-boot
setup with a linux boot loader like Grub or Lilo in the picture, you will be
blocked from reaching a repair install setup).
How To Repair Install
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341#XSLTH3127121122120121120120
How to Perform a Repair Install (Doug Knox MSFT MVP)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
Screen Shot Repair Install
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdrepair/indexfullpage.htm
Other Options with Slim Chances of Success:
Boot Discs:
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
__________________________________________
II *****Try Win RE's Startup Repair in Vista:
I would note an important problem seems to be emerging in Vista as more and
more people try Win RE. It does not seem to have the success rate that a
Repair Install from genuine MSFT Media does in XP, and as builds of Vista
march onto RTM, Desmond Lee (Product Manager for Win RE's) team seems to be
unable to fix this. I am not sure Mr. Sinofsky knows what this is or is
that curious to learn. I am sure Mr. Allchin does.
What It Can Do:
If you run Win RE's Startup Repair in Vista, it will try to check and repair
the following and we're taking about under three minutes usually when it
works which is often: (this is not a complete list but a list of major tasks
it can perform):
Registry Corruptions
Missing/corrupt driver files (you don't have to guess here--it looks at all
of them
Missing/corrupt system files (disabled in Beta 2 as is System File Checker
but present newer builds)
Incompatible Driver Installation
Incompatible OS update installations
Startup Repair may offer a dialogue box to use System restore.
How to Use Startup Repair:
***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui/images/2014/500x375.aspx
Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img_vista02ctp-installSysRecOpt2.bmp
3) Select your OS for repair.
4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:
You'll have a choice there of using:
1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
Best of luck--let us know how this comes out.
CH
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