Windows XP will not boot... 1

[snowboardingchick]

...I have Windows XP professional SP 1 loaded on a Dell Inspiron 3200. The computer was loaned out and was working ok until the user switched the CD Rom drive for the floppy, then put it back. Now the computer will boot up past the CD rom drivers and then give the following message,

"The amount of system memory has changed or the suspend-to-disk file is absent. See "suspend-to-disk" in the online users guide."

It then goes to the screen with windows XP and looks as though it is beginning to load. It will then flash a screen, which I could not read, and then go to a black screen with the following message,

"We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders, choose Last know Good Configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the Power or Reset button was pressed, or if you aren’t sure what caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Know Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.
Seconds until Windows starts: XX"

At this point I cannot get it to boot to any of the modes or the Last Know Good. It simply restarts and cycles the process over and over again.

Could this possibly be a result of a virus infected by way of a floppy disk?

Please advise.

 

[xproforme]

I wonder if it is possible that the person who switched the 2 drives may have possibily also changed the positions of the jumper switches located on the rear of each drive, but failed to put them back again when returning the drives to their original position. Did the person simply switch the IDE cables? It also seems possible that the person may have also changed the position of the cables on the motherboard itself. I have seen my computer display similar problems when I try to switch things around foolishly. Also check to see that the power cables going to each drive is connected fully. Viruses are not always the cause of hardware problems, and this problems sounds like a hardware issue. Try rebooting the system and go into the system bios utility and look for disabled device settings. PS: Talk again with the borrower of the PC and ask them to the best of their knowledge what they actually did to the PC.

 

[snowboardingchick]

The drives are just bays that pop in and out from the laptop. They do not have any jumpers on them. Have any other ideas?

 

[dbMark]

I have the same problem. I just swapped out my mainboard for a newer one, same brand (happens to be Gigabyte). Windows keeps stopping at that same dumb screen with the same 5 useless options listed above by snowboardingchick:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Know Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

Naturally Microsoft in its inifinite wisdom detected that hardware change, which I guess is part of its antipiracy initives. That's fine with me, but why lock me into this forever loop? I've selected each option but after the reboot I'm always returned to this same DOS screen!

Is there any way to get it out of this dumb loop and running again? I really need my computer, but I'm extremely reluctant to reinstall Windows XP and the SP1 and all the other security patches all over just because I changed the mainboard. Not to mention a reinstall may mess up my installed programs!

Help!!! - dbMark

 

[jbehrne]

dbMark ,

It could be a variety of things...

1. When you swapped your mb did you inadvertently kill a piece of hardware with static discharge? When the computer boots check to make sure that all of your ram is counting up! You can also try removing all of the pci cards and see if it boots succesfully. If it does then reinstall your cards one by one until you find the one that is bad.

2.Have you tried booting from your Windows Disk and then using the repair option (works with 2000 and higher only)?

3. I have a gigabyte motherboard and when I upgraded to it (I went from an Intel P4 motherboard to AMD 64) I was forced to reinstall the OS in order for the OS to work corretly (you may find some info in one of the supplied mb books - it was clearly stated in my manual).

By the way the anitpiracy policies should let you boot completely and then make you register again... (as far as I know!)

jbehrne

If at first you don't succeed, call in an airstrike. - Murphy's Laws of Combat Operations

 

[dbMark]

I located the Microsoft Windows XP support center:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;winxp&Product=winxp

From there I selected the article "How to Troubleshoot Hardware and Software Driver Problems in Windows XP"

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=322205&product=winxp

Most of the suggestions there assume I can get Windows to start, which of course it won't. (Hey, Microsoft, why put me in a closed loop without telling me how to get out of it? And don't you realize I can't get online for solutions if you won't let my computer start! At the worst I expected a message saying I had 30 days to reactivate. You ought to know, this does NOT make me a happy user...) Anyway, this seems the most promising thing to do, which I will test as soon as possible:

Try repairing the Windows XP installation. To do so:
1. Turn off any antivirus program and BIOS-level antivirus protection. For help, see the appropriate software manual or online Help.
2. Make sure that the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive is the first priority startup device in your computer's BIOS settings. See your computer's documentation for information about how to do this.
3. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.
4. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" prompt appears, press a key so that your computer starts from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
5. When the computer starts from the CD-ROM, your hardware is checked, and then you are prompted to select an option. Press ENTER.
6. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.
7. Your current Windows XP installation is listed, and then you are prompted to select an option. Press R to start the automatic repair process. After Windows XP is repaired, you may have to reactivate Windows XP if you changed some hardware.

 

[dbMark]

jbehrne - Oops, I was writing my last post and did not see yours until afterwards. All the memory checks fine. I only upgraded from a 7VRXP to a 7N400 series and both use AMD Athlon CPUs. I'm going to try the Windows Install CD's repair option first.

 

[dbMark]

Whew! It took half the night, but its working now. What a disaster!

I had to follow those steps listed above exactly. When I tried selecting Repair at step 5 instead of step 7, it just asked for my Administrator password and dumped me at the C:\Windows prompt.

It ended up as a complete reinstall even though I only asked for Repair at step 7. It said it was a 40 minute process, but after asking for my product key, it got stuck soon thereafter at 13-minutes-to-go with error messages saying "Unregmp2.exe - Entry Point Not Found. The procedure entry point GetIUMS could not be located in the dynamic link library msdart.dll." I had to turn it off and go through it all over again, including entering the product key, but at least it worked this time.

It asked if I wanted to activate now or later, so I said later, but a couple screens later the screen went balck except for the mouse. After about 5-10 minutes, I turned it off yet again. Came up fine this time but would not let me log on until I activated Windows.

I know this was a complete reinstall because I immediately went online to WindowsUpdate and it said I had waiting 41 critical updates and service packs, 20 Windows XP updates and 1 driver update. You know, it's times like this that I sure wish I had a CD handy with all those nasty updates so John Q. Public and I didn't have to download so much as I pointed out a while back in thread779-623536.

Now if only I can keep that pesky message "Stay current with automatic updates" from popping up on EVERY logon or boot...

Argh! <well, they say it in the comic strips>

 

[jbehrne]

Glad to hear its working. To get rid of the 'stay current with updates...' message go to control panel, system, automatic updates. You can set the option there. I would recommend setting it to run automatically once per day during a time that you are using the pc (that way you will stay current with updates). Also, I personally do not use the system restore (due to numerous issues with memory usage, etc. - see MS's website for full details) so you might want to turn that off! Good luck,

jbehrne

If at first you don't succeed, call in an airstrike. - Murphy's Laws of Combat Operations