Windows XP stuck on loading screen

Question

Since yesterday my Windows XP install is stuck on the loading screen (XP logo and "progress bar" constantly moving). I waited more than one hour but nothing more happened.

Before this problem occured I didn't install anything new (no driver, no update...), just read some blogs.

What I did :

• restored to a previous restore point (successfully). No change. I don't know why but I had only one restore point.
• tried to boot with "last known good configuration". Problem remains.
• the computer boots in safe mode, so I did that and used msconfig to try different boot modes. Each time I restarted, the problem remained. I even tried the "load almost nothing" option :).
• edited BIOS config to reset to default values.
• back in safe mode : installed Ccleaner and Spybot, ran both. Nothing important detected.
• ran a full system virus scan (antivir)
• performed chkdsk with all option checked on all my hard drives.

Nothing on that worked so I went one step further :

• used windows XP install CD to load the Recovery Console.
• Performed another chkdsk /R
• performed a fixboot
• performed a fixmbr (I know it has nothing to do with it as windows started to load, but I was desperate ^^)

Since I did the "fixboot", the safe mode is also stuck (after the list of drivers loaded, it displays a black screen with only a "underscore" blinking and... nothing more happens).

Now I'm there : can't boot in normal mode, can't boot in Safe mode anymore. Any suggestion is welcome.

Moreover, if someone knows if it's possible to read the windows event log under the recovery console, I'm also interested.

Solution 1

If windows hangs at the loading screen it is probably hung on a custom driver. If you can get in safe mode, great, run msconfig and under "BOOT.INI" select the option "/NOGUIBOOT" under boot options and restart. You should see a list of drivers being loaded instead of the normal Windows logo. When it freezes, take note of what driver is trying to be loaded, then use google to look it up. It most likely corresponds to a third party program that you should uninstall.

Solution 2

Susprisingly Yahoo! Answers had a suggestion that seems valid.

It makes you "reset" Windows but leaves your programs and settings be. Probably your best bet.

XP REPAIR INSTALL - print this for easier use. Use of an OEM disk will probable fail. You need an authentic Windows XP Home or Pro disk for this repair.

1. Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change the boot order in the system BIOS. Check your system documentation for steps to access the BIOS and change the boot order.

2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below. This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

3. Press Enter to start the Windows Setup. do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R", (you do not want to load Recovery Console). I repeat, do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R".

4. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.

5. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R to start the repair.

6. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

7. Reapply updates or service packs applied since initial Windows XP installation. Please note that a Repair Install using an Original pre service pack 1 or 2 XP CD used as the install media will remove SP1/SP2 respectively and service packs plus updates isssued after the service packs will need to be reapplied.

Source(s): Windows XP repair site on the Internet and personal experience with repairing Windows XP

Solution 3

It seems that having done too much, you are almost out of options.
You can try using a trouble-shooting boot cd, such as the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows.
You can try to use your boot cd to roll Windows back to a previous restore point.

If you can't find a solution, you might have to do a repair installation as described by Ivo, and if this doesn't work (horror) then a full installation.

Solution 4

Before you try a repair I'd recommend booting to the Last Known Good configuration.

From the linked article:

The Last Known Good Configuration feature restores registry information and driver settings that were in effect the last time the computer started successfully.

This is less drastic than a Repair and you can always try a repair afterwards.

View more solutions

Comments

[harrymc]

Repair has the potential to destroy the Windows installation if it goes bad. I would really try first to go back to a restore point.

[harrymc]

Agreed - worth the try, although his system might be too screwed up for this to work.

[Ivo Flipse]

Does that imply you don't have restore point's turned off? Or is this a default setting? I use it on Windows 7, but I never used it under XP (stupid me). If you have a restore point: yes go restore!

[Julien N]

I guess that's my last option... "but leaves your programs and settings be" : I'm not convinced and I think I tried that once, years ago. It may restore your windows install but I'm pretty sure most application will need a reinstall. But it's always better that formatting...

[Julien N]

Tried that :). Forgot to mention.

[Julien N]

I'll try that. It's always stuck at the same point (it seems, but the windows loading screen is a kind of "black box", I don't know what he's doing...)

[harrymc]

Does that mean that (1) you managed to rollback only not to be able to boot, or (2) that you haven't managed to rollback? If number (1), try to rollback to an earlier restore point. If (2) please update your post with more info about the error first, so we can comment on, because there are still more solutions to try before jumping off into system repair (which looks more and more likely now).

[Julien N]

I rolledbacked to a previous point (almost 1 month age) successfully. But it didn't solve the problem. But I don't have more restore points so I can't test with earlier ones. If I had an error message it would be better but the problem is that it is only "stuck" in the loading animation. Don't know why. Don't even know what he is doing.

[harrymc]

Managing to rollback is good. Can't you still not do a safe reboot?

[harrymc]

Another last-resort try is the Paragon Rescue Kit 9.0 Express CD at paragon-software.com/home/rk-express. Even if you can't fix your boot with it, you might be able to save some data with it.

[The Thirsty Ape]

Unfortunately, I am just seeing a black screen now instead of the Windows logo