Urgent Help. Computer problem

[migya]

Hello all. I have a serious problem with my computer that I hope you can help me with. My computer now all of sudden will not start up all the way. It gets to the Windows XP Pro logo but then instead of going to the desktop, the screen goes black. I can not move the mouse or do anything else and have to restart my computer.

This is the second time in two weeks this has happened. The first time, I noticed that my computer all of a sudden didn't detect the DVD Rom, which has never happened before. I saw this and decided to restart my computer. The scan disk error checker started at start up and began checking for errors. It came up with an error that was actually a system file and I chose to delete it, wrongfully ofcourse. What happened then was that the computer started up all the way to the desktop but the internet connection didn't work (or at least wasn't being detected) and the mouse cursor didn't work either. Luckily enough I had partioned my hard drive and I am able to use the internet through the much smaller partion which is unaffected. My friend, from a sports forum and whom gave me the url of this forum and said I could get great help here, gave me a url of a site that explained how to get rid of Service Pack 2. I did this and it worked and my computer functioned properly again. I have since downloaded SP2 and all the updates.

The problem this second time seems worse as I can not even access the files as the computer does not even start up all the way to the desktop. I therefore don't know how to even delete Service Pack 2 completely, like I did last time.

This is really upsetting me and I want to know what caused all this to happen in the first place and how I can fix my computer this time.

Please help, I will be very grateful.

[Alan2273]

You could try a XP repair install, ( It will leave your documents and folders intact), I have used it a couple of times and it has solved the problem.

This is an excellent walkthrough from Powerless.

http://www.windowsforum.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=10455

[Coreper]

i suggest you try booting in safe mode?

do you know how to do this?

here is how to do that:

1. Turn the computer on.

2. Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears.

3. Select the Safe mode option and press ENTER.

The computer will now boot in Safe mode.

if you booted in safe mode, try starting the Command prompt and type: "sfc /scannow"

this will scan for damaged system files

but the problem might also be caused by failing hardware: how old is your computer/your hardware?

[migya]

i suggest you try booting in safe mode?

do you know how to do this?

here is how to do that:

1. Turn the computer on.

2. Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears.

3. Select the Safe mode option and press ENTER.

The computer will now boot in Safe mode.

if you booted in safe mode, try starting the Command prompt and type: "sfc /scannow"

this will scan for damaged system files

but the problem might also be caused by failing hardware: how old is your computer/your hardware?

I tried to start up in safe mode and though it gets to the desktop, it freezes and I can't do anything. Because of that, I don't think I'll be able to do the "sfc/scannow" step like you just said.

Is there anyway of doing that sfc scan through my other partition?

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

When you say "other partition", do you mean you have a multi-boot system? If so, no - the System File Checker only checks its own Windows installation.

[Coreper]

maybe you could try booting windows in the safe mode, with command prompt:

start it how you started safe mode, but now choose safe mode with command prompt

then, when its booted, type: "sfc /scannow"

press ENTER

to restart your computer afterwards, type: "SHUTDOWN -r -t 01" and press ENTER

maybe this will work

[migya]

When you say "other partition", do you mean you have a multi-boot system? If so, no - the System File Checker only checks its own Windows installation.

When I installed XP Pro, I chose to partition the hard drive into a very small, 1.3 GB part and the other the rest of the 320 GBs. When I start up, it eventually reaches a part where it asks me which partition I want, the smaller one or the bigger one

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Still not clear; do you have Windows installed twice - one on each partition? Do you have a 'Windows' folder in each partition?

[migya]

Still not clear; do you have Windows installed twice - one on each partition? Do you have a 'Windows' folder in each partition?

I have XP Pro installed in both partitions

[migya]

maybe you could try booting windows in the safe mode, with command prompt:

start it how you started safe mode, but now choose safe mode with command prompt

then, when its booted, type: "sfc /scannow"

press ENTER

to restart your computer afterwards, type: "SHUTDOWN -r -t 01" and press ENTER

maybe this will work

I have tried what you have said but I can't reach the desktop and therefore even the command prompt so I can't type in "scannow".

Is there any other way of reaching the command prompt and have you ever heard of such a problem like am having with my computer before? Like I said, two weeks ago the problem was the same but I was actually able to reach the desktop but the internet connection was not detected (as I was unable to access email and surf the internet) and the mouse cursor did not move.

What has actually happened today is that though I still can't reach the desktop, the mouse cursor is now moving where yeaterday is wasn't.

Please help anyone

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Maybe it's time for a Repair Install; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Make sure that you repair the correct partition!

[migya]

Maybe it's time for a Repair Install; see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

Make sure that you repair the correct partition!

I did that two days ago and it didn't work, same problem exists. A mate of mine on another forum says that it looks like I'll have to do a clean install of XP Pro. Thank god that I was able to get to the desktop and copy everything I've got on my harddrive to DVDs the first time this happened two weeks ago

[Coreper]

that s*cks indeed

youre lucky enough that you could back it all up...

i think reinstalling XP is also the best solution

[rong]

Question not answer, is 1.3 gig enough for XP?

[Coreper]

no it isnt

i also wondered, but i looked it up [here] and found out that Windows XP Home requires 1.5 GB of space

note: my windows folder is even 5 GB!

[migya]

Well, I reinstalled XP Pro from scratch so that's that. Now I can get the job of installing everything again out of the way. Thank you for the help guys.

By the way,does anyone know where I can get a working copy of Avast Antivirus with key generator that works properly. My old one is now saying that the product keys generated are all expired at 1970

[Boris]

migya

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