Comp does not boot past WinXP loading screen

[Shinova]

Not my computer, but another computer in the house. Apparently the guy tried to reinstall Flash Player and it told him he didn't have the permissions. So he went into the registry editor. I have no idea why he didn't just go into computer management in the administrative tools section, but that's what he did and he changed something he obviously shouldn't have.

Now his computer boots up to the WinXP loading screen and then just hangs there. It's the blue screen with the xp logo in the center.

Any ideas?

[Sharp-kun]

Does Safe Mode work? If so try System Restore.

[Shinova]

One needs to be able to boot past the XP loading screen to use system restore, I'm assuming. Nope, safe mode does not work, since it hangs up in the XP loading screen in there as well.

[Beowulf]

Insert WinXP install CD.

Should be obvious from there.

[Shinova]

Insert WinXP install CD.

Should be obvious from there.

We tried repair install. Didn't work.

We're trying not to reinstall the whole thing completely.


Is there a way to create another user account without entering windows? I think the problem is that he basically killed his only user account.

[atg]

Not my computer, but another computer in the house. Apparently the guy tried to reinstall Flash Player and it told him he didn't have the permissions. So he went into the registry editor. I have no idea why he didn't just go into computer management in the administrative tools section, but that's what he did and he changed something he obviously shouldn't have.

Now his computer boots up to the WinXP loading screen and then just hangs there. It's the blue screen with the xp logo in the center.

Any ideas?

If you can, try to get a Winternals or MiniPE/BartPE bootable CD off the net. If he has a restore point you can try running system restore off of one of those.

[Comosicus]

If I remember correctly, You could reinstall Windows OVER the old installation, while keeping the file system intact. Usually this also keeps all the programs and settings you have installed. It might not get rid of your problem, but if you're really stranded it might be worth a try.

[4Tran]

Try booting into safemode. If nobody has changed it, there shouldn't be a password on the default Administrator account. From there, you should be able to create new accounts.

[Tolya]

Try booting into safemode. If nobody has changed it, there shouldn't be a password on the default Administrator account. From there, you should be able to create new accounts.

Learn to read dude:

Nope, safe mode does not work, since it hangs up in the XP loading screen in there as well.

Reinstalling over old windows is possible and in this case advised.

I don't think that creating another user account is possible, because since his account had limited permissions, he wasnt the admin. If he fucked his account up then you (theoretically) should be able to log in as the administrator.

Just reinstall the damn thing. Hopefully it will overwrite the old registry.

[McNum]

Sounds like a registry foul-up. I managed to fix one of those once. But the procedure is slightly advanced.

Still here's a link to how you might be able to save it without a reinstall:
"Windows XP Crashed? Here's help!"

The site doesn't look great, and it's a bit slow today, but follow the instructions, carefully, and you can manually do a system restore to get Windows back up.

You will need a Windows XP Install CD and you must have System Restore turned on for this to work. But it does work, I've done it.

Besides, there's not much to lose in trying. You can still reinstall if you mess it up. This procedure can, however, bring Windows back as it was before it went to hell.

[Rightous Fist Of Heaven]

Either a registry problem or a messed up hard drive. I've had the same problem twice now. At the first time reinstalling Service Pack 2 fixed it. At the second time it was a screwed up HD that was causing the problem, once I took it off there were no problems.

[Shinova]

Okay, for various reasons, he decided to install a new copy of windows xp without removing the old one, so he's got two operating systems on his machine now.

It seemed to kinda work fine until he tried to look through the start menu. None of the submenus show up. This is also the same for various programs like Word; none of their menus display.

So what's the problem now?

[General Zod]

Okay, for various reasons, he decided to install a new copy of windows xp without removing the old one, so he's got two operating systems on his machine now.

It seemed to kinda work fine until he tried to look through the start menu. None of the submenus show up. This is also the same for various programs like Word; none of their menus display.

So what's the problem now?

The registry might be confused with both copies on the same hard disk . . .it should have completely wiped out the old installation, but if not the best bet is to just do a complete format and reinstall.

[atg]

Okay, for various reasons, he decided to install a new copy of windows xp without removing the old one, so he's got two operating systems on his machine now.

It seemed to kinda work fine until he tried to look through the start menu. None of the submenus show up. This is also the same for various programs like Word; none of their menus display.

So what's the problem now?

The Start Menu is stored in "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ Start Menu"

Try looking in there for the sub-folders and shortcuts. I've never had two copies of Windows installed on the same machine before, but I'm pretty sure that the second installation has created a new set of the "Documents and Settings\All Users" folder for itself. Copying the old folders & shortcuts to the new place should theoretically solve that problem.