Computer will only boot with flash drive plugged in

[mquinn0908]

I have a Windows XP pro box that will only completely boot up with a usb flash drive plugged in. If I unplug the flash drive and try to boot the computer you will see the Windows XP logo screen and then it goes black and that is all. I can boot into safe mode with or without the USB flash drive and it boots all the way up but not in normal mode. Any ideas as to what is causing this?

Mandy
MCP/A+/Network+

 

[goombawaho]

Most likely this is your answer. Read the links as well. There is an issue with HP PCs and XP SP3 and also a certain motherboard which is a different issue but covered here.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/09/XP-SP3-cripples-some-PCs-with-endless-reboots_1.html

 

[mscallisto]

Just a guess but worth a try...

After a successful boot with flash in; can you left mouse click on the "safely Remove Hardware" icon on your taskbar and select the USB device you want removed?

Remove flash and reboot.

sam

 

[mquinn0908]

Unfortunately neither of these suggestions worked. Any other ideas? This is a Dell PC with service pack 2.

Mandy
MCP/A+/Network+

 

[goombawaho]

Since it boots into Safe Mode, get AutoRuns from Microsoft to manage startup items - it's the preferred way to do it. I also use it all the time to find suspicious items that are automatically starting when a PC starts or if something is causing a problem.

By the way, make sure to run the program (autoruns) until it's finished, then check the following options under OPTIONS. This is to hide all Microsoft entries. Then press the REFRESH button or F5

Include Empty Locations
Verify Code Signatures
Hide Signed Microsoft Entries


Now look for what you want to shut off and UNCHECK it on the left hand side. Uncheck nearly everything and then restart in regular mode. If no problem, start enabling more stuff and repeat until you find the culprit

Also, run a CHKDSK and/or the hard drive manufacturer's utility to make sure nothing is wrong at the disk level. I've seen PCs boot into Safe Mode happily but crap out in regular mode when there was an underlying disk problem (bad sectors, etc.).

Check the BIOS for any wacky settings and maybe look for a BIOS update.

 

[mscallisto]

I found this post at

http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jes...ed-computer-boot-after-installing-xp-sp3.aspx

it's a long post so you may want to search for "flash"
to find this portion.

The solution is simplicity itself: insert a USB flash drive, or some other form of secondary storage mechanism, before booting the computer. The people have that have seen this problem report that it goes away when they do. The catch is that the computer will only boot with a secondary drive attached. If you remove the secondary drive it will no longer boot.

It also appears that this could be related to using a USB mouse. If you have a USB mouse, try moving it to the PS/2 port instead (the little round port, you should have received an adapter with your mouse). That seems to resolve the problem without the use of an external USB flash drive.

don't know if this helps but it's something.

sam

 

[linney]

Have you always had this problem, or did it start happening recently?

Have you looked in the Bios to see what it says about Boot Order and are there mention of USB in there? If so, stick the USB below the hard drive. What happens if you set the Bios to Safe Defaults? Are there any updates available for your Bios?

As it boots in Safe Mode, but not in Normal Mode, that may indicate a driver problem?

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp