WinXP won't boot after software install

[spark-e]

Using Windows XP Professional Version 2002 with Service Pack 2
Having trouble booting whenever new software is installed.
Last snafu happened when I tried to install any antivirus software. Yesterday it happened when I installed Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express Edition.
Here is the syndrome:
install software-check!
reboot - check!
end of workday shutdown - check!
next day boot - system hangs at WinXP logo.
reboot to safemode - check!
restart - system hangs
reboot to last 'known configuration'- system hangs
reboot to safemode - system restore
reboot - system hangs
reboot to safemode - told system restore successful
reboot to normal Windows - check!
Now the software I installed is in 'Program Files' folder but is not listed in "Start - All Programs Menu" so I end up having to reinstall it.

Have scanned memory, hard drive. I don't think its a hardware problem but an OS problem.

Maybe if the PC likes me it will boot normal but most times I go through the same syndrome all over again. Sometimes it gets so bad that system restore will not work and I end up having to restore a backup image of my C drive from last week or the day before. Which is why I now backup the image on a daily basis.


What's weird is that last month I did a fresh install of windows because of this problem and I never had trouble installing new software until after I applied the WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU. I did not install WindowsServer2003-KB914961-SP2-x86-ENU.
Maybe I should have.

From here on anything new presents a problem: updates, software etc.
Every morning is a negotiation of will it or won't it boot.

Any suggestions.
:confused:

P.S. from here on I will create a restore point after any new software install.

[phkhgh]

You can try running system file checker - see if finds missing / damaged files. From command prompt: scf /scannow

After that, assuming finds nothing, can you roll back to point before installing SP2, or uninstall it?

Make sure the SP2 is correct one for XP Pro (not an expert there).
I'd d/l the SP2 file 1st, then install. Since you (May have) had probs w/ SP2, maybe shut down everthing incl FW / AV (disconnect internet).

You didn't say WHICH AV you installed. Was after that the lst time after installing SP2 you saw problems w/ hanging when installing software? Wouldn't be Norton by any chance?

[spark-e]

Upon a recent successful reboot Spybot disabled some known dll's. Ever since the PC boots fine. Don't remember the name of the anti-virus software because I did an image recovery right after making my first post.

Using bitDefender now with no problems.

Thanks for the advice and I still create restore points whenever possible.

[phkhgh]

You mean some known "suspicious / malware" dlls?

You might also get & run Super Anti Spyware regularly (shouldn't be problem w/ Spybot).

Can read some about it here http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm

[Sylvander]

1. "I still create restore points whenever possible"
MUCH better to make backups [images?] from OUTSIDE OF WINDOWS.
Restore points will only work if Windows is working; if windows won't work you're screwed.

Whereas backups made from outside of Windows [I use Puppy Linux] can restore Windows to the way it was when all was well, even when Windows has ceased functioning. :D :cool:

[Paul Komski]

Which version of XP (with which SP) was in situ before you applied WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU?

Also where did you obtain the WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU download or CD from and was your original WinXP CD a genuine one? You should only install a genuine MS copy (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en) and do this preferably before you ever go on line or use any media that could infect your PC.

Installations of the original WinXP along with SP1a are inherently insecure.

If you don't have a genuine WinXP SP2 CD then I would consider making a slipstreamed CD with something like nLite (http://www.nliteos.com/download.html) and then clean install with that. If that installation works OK, I agree with Sylvander, then make an image file of it before adding anything else. There are many approaches to imaging but it is a much better way of having a reproducible snapshot of your system then System Restore, which is (as far as I am concerned) a really last resort because it is actually a very crude tool.

[spark-e]

I don't remember which version I had before applying WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.
I have a blank winXP image that I can restore in case of emergency, which I might have to do again because I am screwed again!
This time I created the perfect configuration. I checked to make sure that it boots without trouble within 3 minutes.
Then I made a backup image of this and when that was done the damn thing won't boot!

This is especially painful because I deleted the old images which had old antivirus software that was problematic (Avira Premium Suite)

I uninstalled this software, installed BitDefender. rebooted. scanned pc which found viruses in my system restore and removed them.
Rebooted just fine. but I still had avira 'avgnt' file trying to start. I had to use their registry cleaner to get rid of that. No problem rebooted fine. Made backup image. Now I cannot boot to anything except safemode for the life of me.

How can the pc boot fine then when I use Acronis Boot Image software disk to make a clean image the damn thing won't boot afterward?

What happened in between?

I tried system restore to the time before I made the backup image. I tried to disable the start programs. Nothing. I think my PC is demonically possessed.:mad:

I don't want to do a winXP cd restore because I will then have to reinstall the WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU again and this clutters things.

I'm thinking of going back to my blank image but that mean days of reinstalling software. This is beginning to eat up too much time. its been a month now. Will it start, won't it....GRRR!

Thanks for being there.

PS. Is there a way to track each step of the boot process so I can see what the trouble is?

[spark-e]

My pc boots fine when I "Manually starting XP with a clean boot (advanced user only)"

To manually start Windows XP with a clean boot, follow these steps:
Step 1: Start the System Configuration Utility

1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK.
2. The System Configuration Utility dialog box is displayed.

Step 2: Configure selective startup options

1. In the System Configuration Utility dialog box, click the General tab, and then click Selective Startup.
2. Click to clear the Process SYSTEM.INI File check box.
3. Click to clear the Process WIN.INI File check box.
4. Click to clear the Load Startup Items check box. Verify that Load System Services and Use Original BOOT.INI are checked.
5. Click the Services tab.
6. Click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box.
7. Click Disable All, and then click OK.
8. When you are prompted, click Restart to restart the computer.

The PC restarted just fine. But only once. I am now doing a repair with the winXP CD