Somethig Wrong!!!

[SIRCOOKS]

I have recently reinstalled xp twice on this computer at home, however every time i try to restart it, i cannot get pass the black windows xp screen with the blue bar rolling across it. I don't think its a software issue. I dont have any known hardware or hd problems. Can someone please help me as to where to start

[SLK001]

Hit "F8" and select "Safe Mode". Then look in Control Panel > System > Device Manager to see if there are any devices not installing correctly.

[SIRCOOKS]

Cool...anything else

[Baldrick]

Yep, change the subject title in your topic! .

[Krispy Kritter]

Were you having the issue before the reinstall of XP? Have you made any hardware changes and/or been poking around inside the case?

First step, remove and reseat all cards and cables. If that doesn't work, then disconnect all devices not needed for basic operation (ie: secondary HDD's, CDROM, DVDROM, sound card, modem, etc. etc.).

NOTE: also ensure you have the correct boot order set in the bios and you don't have any discs in the CD/DVD drive(s).

[SIRCOOKS]

Yes. i was having this issue before i installed xp. No hardware changes or poking around in the case.

Will do all of that later on this evening.

[JohnnyBob]

Lots of unknowns here. Is it an OEM or standalone version of Windows? I sometimes have to try several times to get a good install of my OEM Windows from the 5-6 recovery CDs. It works a bit different every time I try it! Otherwise, my only suggestion is to substitute and try a different hard drive, which would rule out the possibility that the hard drive is at fault.

[edDV]

Have you reinstalled all the drivers? When I reinstall XP, I usually first download all the latest drivers but sometimes the latest driver isn't working (e.g. ATI Radeon drivers) so I must use an earlier version before windows will boot.

[SIRCOOKS]

Yes, it is an oem install and i will try it again. I haven't got as far as needing to reinstall the drivers

[JohnnyBob]

Yes, it is an oem install and i will try it again. I haven't got as far as needing to reinstall the drivers

OK, lucky guess. Here's a copy of my notes to myself, to remind me how to do it next time. If you also happen to have a Compaq (or maybe HP), maybe this is relevant. Mine is 4+ years old and installs as SP1, which must later be patched with SP2. I found it important to use the SP2 CD obtained directly from M$, because another source didn't work right.

How to reinstall op system
==========================

First create your desired partitions and format with the MaxBlast CD.

-------------------------------------------------

Then the Compaq recovery CDs give 3 choices:

1.format & reinstall- offers option to create a recovery partition, otherwise produces a single 137GB partition on the 160G hard drive. It destroys any other partitions.

2.recovery normal - this is the one to use, but it's tricky. You need to click Advanced in the lower left corner and choose the "destructive format" & reinstall option. It's not very clear, but that's what works. Partitions created with the Maxblast CD will remain intact, and only the first partition is used.

3.quit

----------------------

After that's done, it's a matter of installing the system restore fix and possibly a few Compaq driver updates. Then install SP2. It seems important that SP2 be installed early in this process, before doing the other things. Then install the windows updates. Go slow with removing the Compaq junk, do it piecemeal as seems logical. Install my software & customizations. Avoid any system or registry tweaks til these processes are all completed.

Some of the Compaq junk won't uninstall if you make system changes first. So with my October 2007 installation I removed all the Compaq junk first. Then I proceeded as indicated above...

Good luck!

[edDV]

Yes, it is an oem install and i will try it again. I haven't got as far as needing to reinstall the drivers

Is that the OEM disk that came with that machine? Or is it a restore disk that takes the machine back to store condition?

XP OEM disks lack the drivers for your specific hardware and will substitute generic drivers. You can install your specific motherboard drivers from safe mode. A restore disk will have the drivers that originally shipped with your machine.

[aedipuss]

since you were having the same problem before the reinstall, it's most likely a hardware issue. start with the ram. run each stick through a thorough self booting ram testing program. microsoft has one on their site it and you can find it with google.