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Windows won't boot

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12 replies

by douglasb

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Running a P4 3ghz system w/Asrock mb, 512MB ram, wd hard drive. Will not boot into windows, locks. Tried running CD for recovery console, gets to "Windows is starting" and locks. Swapped out memory, cd drive, cd, hard drive, still locks at "staring windows." Set BIOS to defaults, cleared CMOS, same problem. Any ideas????? Thanks.

12 replies

by hal 9000

Try downloading and burning the Ultimate Boot CD available from

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

If the computer passes all the tests you have a Windows problem that you'll have to work on but rule out hardware problems first.

Col

by douglasb

I have run diags on the hardware, hd, memory, drive controller and all check out ok.

by master3bs

I agree that the Ultimate Boot CD could help.

It sounds like an OS issue to me. When booting, hit the F8 key (sounds like you know this already) to get to the options screen.

Try booting to Last Known Good configuration. If that fails, and the recovery fails; then look to your options on the Ultimate boot cd and then consider reinstalling XP.

by douglasb

I will try downloading the cd program, but the OEM Windows XP cd will not get to the point of being able reinstall windows, it locks at "windows is starting" and goes no further. Thus, I can't access repair, recovery console, or reinstall.

by siliconwombat

Where does it lock up. I had a problem where it locked up at bios boot. As soon as memcheck finished it froze.
I think it !may! have been viral. I cleared it thus...
1. Complete CMOS clear. Disconnect from mains and remove CMOS battery
2. After this mine was able to get as far as the F8 stage. I went safe mode route and ran avg antivirus which found nothing.
3. Restart with CMOS clear
$. I went straight in and since have not had a repeat of the problem

As i say it felt viral but ive seen no trace since so it may have been a random glitch

Good luck

by jepott

I've had a similar problem in the past... and it actually ended up being the CD drive that was the issue. Try swapping out the CD drive and/or try it on a different controller - it might just work. Hope you get this figured out.

by douglasb

Turns out the motherboard was bad, overheating, although there was no sign of that. Replaced MB. Thanks for all the responses.

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