Windows XP wont start/Recovery Problem

[Rich G]

Hi all I need a little help here getting back into my windows xp. Here is a quick breakdown of my problems and steps I have tried so far.

1-I shutdown My PC last night after a trouble free few hours of use.

2-Switched it back on this morning and it went through the p.o.s.t and memory test with no problem but then onto the windows loading screen(black background blue dots ect) where it hung for a good 10 mins and didnt start windows.

3-I restarted again p.o.s.t & memory test etc ok. This time though I got the message" a recent hardware or software change may have caused this ect.

4-I tried all available options start normally,last known good,safe mode,safe mode with cmd prompt and safe mode with networking. Non of these worked for me they just hung on a black screen filled with text again for a good 10 minutes.

5-Having tried the above I reached for my windows disc to attempt a repair or recovery as I have all my important data on a seperate partition so this seemed the best option. But the CD boots okay but only gets as far as the blue screen that says setup is starting windows but again its just hanging on this screen(is there a pattern here?).

It may also be usefull for you to know that I have another drive(20gb) so i can dual boot with another installation of XP pro which I use mainly for internet and as a spare drive for emergencies. I tried this drive also and it also hangs at the windows loading screen as does the above drive. So I have two hard drive an 80gb(partitioned 20gb for OS and 60gb for Data and 20gb as a spare XP/Internet Drive.

So what Im asking is how do i get into do a repair/fresh install if my disc is hanging and why could this be? Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give as much info as possible.

P.S I do have my data backed up on DVDs and Data Partition of my hd but I really want to try a repair/recovery before formatting which i cant do because of my windows cd hanging.

Thanks in advance for any of your time taken on replying:cool:

[Rich G]

Sorry for not introducing myself just realised it so hello to all and thanks for any help you can give me:)

[mjc]

Well, the key here is the error message you received...

You have a hardware problem, not a software one. This is supported by the fact that you have tried at least one other, previously known working install. Also, the XP CD is hanging, most likely while detecting hardware...

Can you get into the BIOS? If so, are things like time and date correct?

IF they are, then we need to start by stripping out everything but the CPU, RAM and video card....actually, add the hard drive, too...because we know at least that much works.

If the date/time are wrong, then replace the CMOS battery, reset the BIOS and try...

[ski]

If the 20GB HD was formatted, partitioned, and the O/S installed with this drive connected to your current system, and the system did not boot with the 80 GB HD disconnected and the 20GB HD connected as Primary Master, then go into BIOS and make sure the 20GB HD is recognized, and the IDE 1 channel is enabled. If those are ok, then connect the 20GB HD as Master on IDE 2(make sure that this channel is enabled in BIOS).
If no luck, then use a different known working IDE cable.
If no luck, then connect a different power lead to the drive.
If no luck, then the MB may be bad.

If the system boots with the 80GB HD disconnected and the 20GB HD connected as Primary Master, then reconnect the 80GB HD as Primary Master, boot from the XP CD, press R at the Welcome screen, press 1 to select the 80GB HD, press Enter at the PW screen, type fixmbr at the C:/Windows> prompt, and press Enter.
If no luck, then type fixboot at the C: prompt.
If no luck, then the 80GB HD may be bad.
Connect the 80GB HD as a Slave drive, and check it with the diagnostics at the HD manuf's website.

[Rich G]

Thanks for the replys!!!
I can get to the bios and time/date are correct and both HDs and CD drives show up correctly. As all is well in the bios I will try all advice given in order and post back the results Cheers

[Rich G]

I think ive got it but not sure. I just removed a usb hub which had my printer,wireless keyboard/mouse and wireless adapter plug into it and restarted with ps/2 mouse an keyboard choose restart windows normally and it did!, so believing it could be the hub at fault i put my wireless keyboard/mouse back in the usb from where the hub had came and restarted straight back in so i will try printer and adapter just to be sure its the hub. Can the hub have caused this though?

[mjc]

It looked like the boot was hanging at some point during hardware detection...so yes, the hub could be the cause. That is the reason for stripping all non-essential hardware.

[Rich G]

Yeah it does seem like that was the case now as I've tried all the other usb devices and its fine now without the hub thanks alot mjc and ski