[XP Pro] Freeze during boot process

[fixitplease]

Hello,
Usin XP Pro SP2, my computer hangs during the boot process, at the beginning of the Windows XP splash screen (black screen with XP logo and progress bar). I have to switch off and restart, then the systems goes until the question "your computer blabla, etc... do you want to restart in safe mode, ..., start windows normally". I have to select this last option "start windows normally" then all become normal again.
This happens alway and only when I switch on my computer. Nothing wrong afterwards using the "normal" windows "start/Restart" dialog.
I checked my configuration all seems OK (no visible drivers issue), I did several checkdisk and disk investigations (even with spinrite utility), no disk issue reported...
Does anybody has an idea ? what direction to investigate ?
thank you for your help.

 

[erikhertzel]

Have you used the Recovery Console and tried to fix the MBR Boot Record or the fixboot command?

I had a XP machine that did similiar things that you are describing and I did a fixmbr, fixboot, and chkdsk and then rebooted successfully.

Let me know if this helps.

Erik

 

[linney]

How does it boot if you select Safe Mode when you first bootup for the day?

Are there any clues in the Event Viewer?

314503 - Computer Stops Responding with a Black Screen When You Start Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314503&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

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

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

Try Chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console.

Further advice can be found here.

XP will not boot
thread779-849914


HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

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

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

 

[fixitplease]

Thanks erikhertzel, I already did that (recovery console, fixboot, etc..) on the very first time I experienced this issue... and I loose my disk ! I had to connect my disk to another computer, and I recovered most of my data with easyrecoverypro... Then I reformated and reinstalled XP from scratch... same issue came back !

Thanks linney, when I select safe mode, it boots without any pb but afterwards the problem come as soon as I try to boot normally.
Event viewer is normal, no issue reported.
I'll try your other indications... maybe a driver or a peripheral that is working wrong ?
cheers

 

[linney]

Safe Mode is similar to a clean boot: they both disable non-essential programs and services. Safe Mode also disables non-essential drivers.

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310353&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316434&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Like you say, temporarily removing hardware attached (or at least the external hardware) is a good troubleshooting step.

 

[fixitplease]

Solved !

Thank you guys for your helpfull advices. Problem is fixed, coming from error on RAM .AND. on Network PCI card.

For your information,
- Disk health checked with Spinrite --> OK
- Memory checked with MemTest86+ from

http://www.memtest.org,

reported errors
- Network Card checked by myself transferring huge amount of data making it freeze the PC...

Ram memory changed, Network Card changed and it's OK now.