Windows XP setup loop

Question

My Dell won't move past the Windows XP startup page.  The Dell techie said that I would have to reinstall the OS and would loose everything.  My teenagers also had coronaries.  I have tried to repair using the cd, booting using the cd, f8 going into startup in safe mode.  I think my problem is that I have McAfee and Norton.    When I try to get into safe mode, it comes back with 'Windows XP setup cannot run under Safemode.  Setup will restart now.'  I have gone back into setup and exited out, set boot to cd and also tried with hard drive.    Does anyone have any other suggestions.

mombodog · Answer

You don't use the CD to get into safe mode, remove the CD and tap F8 at the Dell logo screen at boot up and select safe mode.

RoHe · Answer

If you boot from the hard drive (not the CD) in safe mode (F8), do you get to the desktop? If so, you could try uninstalling either Norton or McAfee. Then try rebooting normally.

If that doesn't do it, try running a repair/reinstall of XP. Boot from the XP CD. You may have to change the boot sequence in BIOS setup (F2 before XP starts to load) to put optical drive first. After it boots from CD, press ENTER at first screen (not R). You should see the XP user license appear. Accept the license and then press R at next screen for repair/reinstall. Personal files and software you installed won't be affected, but you will have to go to the Microsoft site to reinstall all XP updates and fixes as soon as you get firewall and antiviral software running.

Ron

Edit: I hate it when mombodog types faster than I do. ;)

Message Edited by RoHe on 03-13-2007 09:46 AM

tommyo1954 · Answer

Good gosh.... remove one of those antivirus programs; not adviseable to run two of them simultaneously. Might not be causing 100% of your present problem, but it is not good to run two of them. Either one is huge in size by itself... I can only imagine what the space requirement is for two of them running side-by-side.   Plus the possible conflict / incompatibility problems too.

7121 · Answer

hmmmm, i think tommyo is right.   two processes of antivirus is really not good   However, does it eventually log in or does it absolutely stay there?

Missylyn02 · Answer

I tried everything!  It just sat there at the Windows XP startup page, thinking and thinking, I guess.   I finally took it in to the 'local tech' as Dell said that it probably needs reformatted and reinstalled.  I don't want to, but I tried everything in the messages, to no avail.   Thanks so much for all your messages!

Windows General

Windows XP setup loop

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