XP not booting up..

233 Views 16 Posts PC Software

Kudos: 31,129

So, a few months back my computer (XP service pack 3) began intermittently not booting up. Being complacent, I let it slowly degrade to the point where it would only turn on every few attempts, and eventually it stopped booting up all together.

Originally it would work when Chkdsk came up. Otherwise, it would get to the black backgrounded XP loading screen and just switch off.

I have tried repairing the install with a XP SP2 disk, which I found out later may have been a mistake. Could this have hampered my chances of it working now? I then obtained a copy of SP3, to no avail. And then slipstreamed my SP2 and the service pack 3 file. All would let me go through all the install repair options, but to no avail.

So at this point I am grasping at straws, is there any other option than reformatting and starting again?

09/05/2012

Melbourne

Kudos: 63,550

Leasha

Sounds super broken! Might just have to format :(

09/05/2012

In your house stealing your stuff..

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Kudos: 353,452

Guyver

As you probably already know Windows have stopped supporting XP so maybe this is a good time to upgrade to Windows 7. Any particular reason why you are still hanging onto a 10 year old OS?

09/05/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

Kudos: 31,129

IAMColonel

Computer is 5 years old now, never upgraded it as I don't game on it anymore so haven't needed to. Broken Vista was the only other option at the time, so went with XP. I'm going to buy and probably build a new computer soonish, so it's basically just about getting it booted with losing as little as possible and moving onto a new comp.

09/05/2012

Melbourne

Kudos: 848

KainAussie

why are u running windows xp in the first place lol

09/05/2012

Gold Coast

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Mik3y

KainAussie said: why are u running windows xp in the first place lol

Someone needs to read lawl

09/05/2012

Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ａｒｅ　ｆｏｕｒ　ｌｉｇｈｔｓ　　ＦＧ　ＸＲ６　ＮＡ

Kudos: 31,129

IAMColonel

KainAussie said: why are u running windows xp in the first place lol

Knew this was coming. :P Yeah, read above.

09/05/2012

Melbourne

Kudos: 18,082

BJ2

This is probably not it. But when I move my computer anywhere, the graphics card clicks loose to the point where (once moved) it would be properly connected sometimes and not others, as if the connectors were only just touching. When they weren't touching it wouldn't boot.

MORAL OF STORY: make sure all the RAM, graphics card etc. are properly and securely plugged in

09/05/2012

Kudos: 44,891

MoeMan

XP is a solid and strong OS even till today although MS have stopped support for it I still have it running on my Second PC, anyways since not much details have been given, try repairing the MBR (Master Boot Record) just do a google search for Repairing MBR Winxp otherwise can you start it up using safe mode? if so go in and clean out all your temps files, do a virus scan/Malware scan and a search for spyware.. if all else fails, backup and format

09/05/2012

http://www.facebook.com/retro.gamers.mmgn

Kudos: 353,452

Guyver

Next time you manage to boot it up never turn it off again :P

09/05/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

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Kudos: 63,550

Leasha

Guyver said: Next time you manage to boot it up never turn it off again

Love it!

And yeah I miss XP *Has a little moment, wipes away tear*

09/05/2012

In your house stealing your stuff..

Kudos: 31,129

IAMColonel

Safe Mode does not work! Forgot to mention that. Would have already given up, backed up and formatted, if that were the case. What sort of other details would be helpful?

I'll try the MBR tomorrow, hopefully that works, and I suppose I'll give the cards a wiggle while I'm at it.

Guyver said: Next time you manage to boot it up never turn it off again

That's what I was doing :P Lasted two weeks, power flicked off [Rage]

09/05/2012

Melbourne

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Doles

I'm going with hard drive on this one, what are the results of the check disk?

09/05/2012

Western Australia | /dev/null is already 98% full

Kudos: 31,129

IAMColonel

Check Disk doesn't run anymore. That was when it would boot up, it's been a couple of weeks now I don't remember seeing anything, whenever CD ran it booted up fine with no messages.

09/05/2012

Melbourne

Kudos: 32,911

Doles

It's got to be the hard drive then, can you run check disk in another PC?

09/05/2012

Western Australia | /dev/null is already 98% full

Kudos: 31,129

IAMColonel

So, I ran MBR, did nothing.

Made sure things were okay in the tower.

Then, realised that I could run chkdsk from the recovery console (duh). It said there was an error in the test, I ran repair, it said there was no longer an error. Now when I turn the computer on, it gets to the User Account page, but nothing is clickable... like a freeze screen.

Ps. It comes up with an error "Windows Product Activation: This copy of Windows must be activated with Microsoft before you can log on. Do you want to activate Windows now?"

Any ideas?

11/05/2012

Melbourne