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    Windows XP not starting

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by gitar1, Nov 6, 2007.

  1. gitar1

    gitar1 Notebook Guru

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    Well, not exactly starting, but not engaging.

    When I turn on my computer, after the initial BIOS stuff, then it goes to the "Windows XP" logo.

    Sometimes it just hangs there forever and refused to continue on to the login menu. The scrolling bar (you know what I am talking about) beneath the Windows XP just keep on scrolling back and and forth.

    Anyone knows what's going on?

    SOmetimes it does that, sometimes it starts up normally.
     
    gitar1, Nov 6, 2007
    #1
  2. kowell

    kowell Notebook Evangelist

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    I used to get this problem a lot. To solve it I would reinstall my windows XP from scratch but it kept coming back... After further analysis, the HDD was degrading so I had to change it. Haven't reinstalled since.
     
    kowell, Nov 6, 2007
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  3. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    You may want to boot from your Windows XP CD-ROM to run chkdsk. Just boot off of the CD, and press "R" at the first prompt to go to the recovery console. Once there, you will need to type in (without the quotes): "chkdsk /r" to check your drive for errors.

    You may also want to test your RAM.

    To test your RAM, please download Memtest86 from:
    http://memtest.org/download/1.70/memtest86+-1.70.iso.zip

    Extract this file, then use a program like Nero or DeepBurner to burn the .ISO image to a CD-R (make sure you use the "Burn Image to Disc" option, rather than dragging and dropping the ISO onto a CD).

    Once the CD-R has burned, boot your computer off of this CD-R (you may have to go into your BIOS to change the DVD boot priority to number one). Memtest will run continually until you press "Escape" to stop it. I suggest running for at least 4 hours.

    There will be an error-readout in the lower-right corner of the information display.
     
    Eleison, Nov 6, 2007
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  4. gitar1

    gitar1 Notebook Guru

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    Got memtest86+

    Thanks for all the help! Hopefully it's just the RAM (easier to replace than HDD).
     
    gitar1, Nov 6, 2007
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