Can not boot past Windows is now loading.

Question

Wednesday night I downloaded an update to yahoo messenger.
I've been having issues with IE crashing on me occassionaly for the past couple weeks.
MSN messenger doesn't always want to sign me in.
I don't know if any of these could be causing the problem I began having Thursday (yesterday) when I tried to turn on the computer.
It loads the initial black screen, Windows XP bla bla bla, press F2 for setting F12 for yadda yadda.
Then the next black screen, Windows XP with the logo all big and the blue bar running.
Then the next blue screen with the small windows logo and it says windows is now starting. And it never starts. I got it started once yesterday. Tried an earlier restore point for Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Rebooted, and now I can't get passed that blue screen to my user accounts.

Please help.
I'd rather avoid spending my Friday on the phone with a tech.

I'm currently using my mom's computer. So my time is limited.

Thanks in advance.

dunedin · Answer

I hope you have an XP installation CD. :smileyhappy:

Do a "Repair" of XP

A repair won't lose any data, other than Service Pack (if not on CD), any Windows Updates and unsigned drivers, which will need to be re-installed afterwards (Dell driver CD)

Stay offline to do a repair and do not go online again without a firewall enabled. After repairing XP, install Service Pack (if necessary), firewall and then you must install all Critical Updates next.

How to Repair XP
Boot up with the XP CD in the drive and let Setup run. Go past the first "R" repair option by pressing Enter just as if you're doing a clean install and you'll eventually come to an option to "Repair an existing installation". Select this one.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/repairing_windows_xp.htm

Scroll way down page to Windows Installation CD - Repair Current Installation

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

dunedin · Answer

Well done. :smileyhappy:   Glad you got it fixed.

shells323 · Answer

Hey there! Thanks for your help. I was able to start in safe mode (which I didn't know was F8, it used to be under F12 in 98) and I ran both my virus scanners, cleaned up disk space and defragmented as well as chose an earlier restore point and it seemed to work.
I think somehow, the yahoo messenger update affected it. Perhaps something piggy backed on the download.
Well I reupdated and all is well now!

Windows General

Can not boot past Windows is now loading.

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