Windows Locking Up at Start Up

[githanis]

I have a desktop computer running windows xp that when I try to start it up, it starts up, goes through everything like normal, but when it gets to the desktop, it locks. There is the desktop background, but no start bar, or anything else showing on the desktop. The only thing I can do is hit ctrl/alt/delete, which brings up task manager, but after a few seconds it locks up totally and has to be shut down. Some times it locks everything right away and I can't get to task manager.

I can go into safe mode and it work fine every time. I have tried to set my computer back using the restore function, but when it reboots, it goes right back to the normal boot up and locks, so the restore never takes place.

I'm thinking since everything works in safe mode that its probably not harware related, and must be software, something I installed (nothing comes to mind) or windows related. I do have a 3 year old that every once in a while gets a hold of my computer when I'm not looking, but I'm not sure how much damage he could have done by just pressing buttons on a keyboard.

I was thinking of re-installing windows, but don't know how to do that, or if it would even work.

I'm also willing to totally wipe my hard drive and re-install windows, but I don't know how to do that either.

What is the best way to get my computer working right? And how do I do it only having access to safe mode?

 

[mechBgon]

If your computer came with a "normal" Windows CD-ROM disc, then you could use Method 2 on this page. Does that sound like it might work?


If you do decide to do that, and your Windows CD-ROM is not WindowsXP Service Pack 2 level, then there is a significant danger of your computer being infected right over the wire without any involvement on your part. I have precautionary info on this page (scroll down halfway to the large picture and start there) to get you past this vulnerable stage.

After reinstalling Windows, you would want to get Service Pack 2 installed before anything else, as the page says, then install the driver software that makes your hardware work properly. I listed links to popular drivers on this page, and can help you determine which ones you need if you're not sure. To help with that, I would need info such as the brand & model of the computer (if it's a pre-built like a Compaq or Dell or whatever), or the brand & model of your computer's main circuit board ("motherboard") and your computer's video card, which is usually fairly easy to determine by looking at them for the markings.

 

[wjal]

Do a virus scan in safe mode, or start up in Safe Mode with networking and do an online scan.
http://usa.kaspersky.com/produ...free-virus-scanner.php

 

[githanis]

Here is where I'm at now:

1 out of every 50 or so reboots lets me reboot and go in normal. I'm in now and have performed a virus scan, system mechanic pro 6 full scan on everything, and have gone onto windows update and updated everything that was listed and everything checks out good.

If I try to restart the computer though it will go back to locking up. Again, the only thing I can go in every time normally is in safe mode and everything works fine, except I can't delete programs while in safe mode.

Also trying to revert my computer back to a previous state did not work since it required a reboot and it locked on reboot and therefore did not work.

Should I start deleting my programs in case there is a conflict with something, while I'm in normal mode?

As far as reinstalling windows, I have an old version of windows and would need to do it from rebooting off the cd-rom (which I don't know how to make it do that). Should I do this?

Should I format my hard drive and re-install windows (don't know how to do that either)? Or should I save that as the last option?

My computer is a built computer, I don't remember the motherboard but under device manager this is what it shows: computer - acpi uniprocessor pc; display adapter - radeon 9800 pro; and I have an AMD athlon 64 processor 3400+ 2.21Ghz, and 1 gb of ram.

 

[montag451]

Have you checked for rootkits as well?
Go into msconfig and untick all startup items that aren't MS after you have tested for rootkits.

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: montag451
Have you checked for rootkits as well?
Go into msconfig and untick all startup items that aren't MS after you have tested for rootkits.

^^ Bingo.

Go into msconfig, services, hide all MS services, then disable everything else.
Then disable all startup tasks on the far-right tab.
Then reboot in normal mode and tell us what happens.

 

[TheGizmo]

Originally posted by: githanis
Here is where I'm at now:

1 out of every 50 or so reboots lets me reboot and go in normal. I'm in now and have performed a virus scan, system mechanic pro 6 full scan on everything, and have gone onto windows update and updated everything that was listed and everything checks out good.

If I try to restart the computer though it will go back to locking up. Again, the only thing I can go in every time normally is in safe mode and everything works fine, except I can't delete programs while in safe mode.

Also trying to revert my computer back to a previous state did not work since it required a reboot and it locked on reboot and therefore did not work.

Should I start deleting my programs in case there is a conflict with something, while I'm in normal mode?

As far as reinstalling windows, I have an old version of windows and would need to do it from rebooting off the cd-rom (which I don't know how to make it do that). Should I do this?

Should I format my hard drive and re-install windows (don't know how to do that either)? Or should I save that as the last option?

My computer is a built computer, I don't remember the motherboard but under device manager this is what it shows: computer - acpi uniprocessor pc; display adapter - radeon 9800 pro; and I have an AMD athlon 64 processor 3400+ 2.21Ghz, and 1 gb of ram.

When was the last time you reformatted Windows? If I were you, I would probably save yourself the time of trying to fix it, and just backup your data and re-install, unless of course you think it will take more time to get your programs/data/drivers reinstalled. Its difficult for me to say what could be the problem with the limited information. It might be something easy, and definitely try montag's advice first (uncheck startup items that aren't from MS.


To make a CD boot from, enter your BIOS and find the boot sequence, make sure your CD drive is picked as the first boot option, then save and reboot. Immediately after BIOS posts, it should say Press any key to boot from CD. Press a button so it does this. Follow the instructions.

 

[githanis]

So far I got it working off the msconfig info and will be trouble shooting from there. I might still re-format windows just to be safe. I appreciate all the helpful advise.

 

[dclive]

I'm not quite sure how to parse that, but I assume you mean you disabled something in msconfig and now it's working, so, half by half, enable your services until you narrow it down to the one causing the problem, and go from there.