pianokeys

I'm having trouble getting WIN XP to load on my Compaq Notebook.

The system boots all the way up to the blue "logon" screen, but there is not an option to select my user account and type in the password. I have tried to reboot in Safe Mode, but the machine isn't letting me get in. It boots into Safe but then stops at the exact same place.

Any thoughts?

TriggerFinger

hi pianokeys,

you mean there is no option/list of users that you can click ON (then enter your password).. just a blank logon screen? does it seem to be a hang (keyboard seem to be locked/no mouse activity)?

pianokeys

No, the system responds to mouse/key input because I can load the BIOS, etc. from startup before Windows has a chance to start.

When XP loads, it normally has the 'Windows Flag' screen with the progress bar at the bottom- then it goes to the blue screen with the various user accounts. I am the only account on my PC, Administrator naturally, but I still login for security reasons. I get all the way to where I click on my user name, expect for the fact that there's no user name to click on. Just the sky blue screen with a small WinXP logo.

I've tried Safe Mode, and rebooting with the "last known good config." Neither of these options provides any help- it still gets to the exact same spot and won't load further. Sorry I can't take a screen capture- I'm posting this from another pc.

TriggerFinger

you mean like this one (see attached)? can you recall if you have installed anything prior to this happening?

another thing to try when you get to the logon screen is to press CTRL+ALT+DEL two times.

Attached Images

xpwelcomescreen.gif (7.8 KB, 4 views)

pianokeys

Trigger, that's pretty close to the screen I'm getting. Here's a screen from a pic I found online. Mine looks exactly the same.

I recently upgraded iTunes and my iPod software. The system still booted fine after those installations, though. There could be a link there, but I regularly upgrade iTunes and haven't experienced any compatability issues otherwise.

Attached Images

logon.jpg (11.8 KB, 5 views)

TriggerFinger

have you tried CTRL+ALT+DEL (2x) when you reach that screen? also have you attempted to do a Windows Repair?

just in case here's a link to the instructions...

http://www.informationweek.com/news/...questid=363989

pianokeys

Yeah, I've tried both options. No avail.

TriggerFinger

so you tried repairing Windows as per the link i gave you but same symptoms?

al616

If you have tried both options from TriggerFinger's link & without results than I'd be looking at the hard drive failing.

pianokeys

I tried to do the "repair" option from the [F8] boot screen. The main problem I have is that my PC came pre-loaded with XP and I don't think I have a disc to boot from. Any ideas?

I don't think the hard drive could have crashed because it was working completely normal and I run regular defrags and cleanups.

saturn_5

Download the Windows System Startup disks from Microsoft Download site and try to start the system from the floppies...or download the .iso and reboot to the CD. This should at least get you to the logon screen

TriggerFinger

ok if the hard drive is in good shape, running diags to test it would not be a problem. do you know what brand of hard drive are you using? if you do, d/load the diagnostic utility specific for your brand from HDD diagnostic tools page (link on my sig. below). most of the tools there can be burned into a CD.. and the best part is you can boot from that CD to start the test.

or you can get a restore CD from HP/Compaq website. the last time i got my Vista from there it cost me around $20.

EDIT:
if you do not know what brand your HDD is, d/load the Hitachi Drive Fitness Test utility.

al616

Look at TriggerFinger's sig for the "Ubuntu Live CD" link & make yourself a boot disc & test your hdd with the tools that come with it. Do not worry re OS it's on the disc.