XP Boots but won't start

[zestril5]

I have an AMD 2100 with 256 Mg Ram and 20GB HD running XPPro. It was working fine until someone decided to put on a "better" antivirus program than AVG. Tha may or may not have anything to do with the problem.
The problem is that the system (which has 4 defined users) will boot up to the user choice screen. When you choose a user their particular screen wallpaper shows up for a few seconds but no icons. Then the screen saves savings settings and goies back to the user choice screen. This happens on all user names.
I tried starting up in safe mode using the administrator name and password but the results are the same. I then booted from the CD and ran chkdsk /r which ran successfully but did not fix the problem. I then tried to go back to "Last known configuration..." but again with the same results. Finally I tried to to a repair installation. This went well but after restarting the result was the same.
Any ideas short of reformatting and reinstalling?

 

[krusifix]

i dont think that is the problem becuase just recently my other pc which runs XP did the same thing.... roughly since this new virus was launched.... im not saying it is but it may be one of the symtoms from that particular virus... i will look more into this myself.

<<We have a puter down, a puter down i tell ya>>

 

[linney]

The only thing I can think of as you can't logon is to try this procedure and see if it works for you.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Look at the &quot;Disable&quot; command and see if you can disable all the virus drivers or services.

&quot;Disable&quot; - disables a Windows system service or driver. The variable service _or_ driver is the name of the service or driver that you want to disable. When you use this command to disable a service, it displays the service's original startup type before changing the type to SERVICE_DISABLED. You should note the original startup type so that you can use the enable command to restart the service.

As your Repair Installation didn't work, it does look like a Format and Reinstall approaching.

You could also look at this procedure here (but I am unsure how your earlier repair attempt might effect the outcome).

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

 

[zestril5]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried them all. Exasperating!! It has to be just some simple file not loading.

Anyway I finally bit the bullet and reformatted and reinstalled.

Thanks anyway.