Member Avatar for Member #161929

My windows XP won't start up on my laptop
I was trying to load safe mode to clear some problems i knew i had (Infostealer), and my computer stopped at the "Windows is starting up screen" before i could get to the user list. It had been working just fine before, even though i still had the Infostealer and Norton was just blocking it. All i did was install two programs, HijackThis and AVG scanner (which i was referred to from a thread post on this site) and now, nothing will load. All variations of safe mode, the last known good configuration, debugging mode, normal mode, everything just stops at "windows is starting up." the mouse still works, but that's about it.

I left it up all night and the screen didn't change. i ran every diagnostics test, and all of them passed. I called tech support and they told me to reinstall the OS. I found my old XP SP1 disk and reinstalled it and it still froze at the same screen. The last thing i tried was instead of reinstalling, i went to repair when i booted from the disk and ran CHKDSK /p and CHKDSK /r, and those came back fine as well. Nothing seems to be wrong, but it still won't load. I can't even access any of my files, which i desperately need. I'm trying to avoid paying for some one else to fix it, if at all possible, but the dell support told me my hard disk might just be dying.

please help if possible

  • 10 Contributors
  • 11 Replies
  • 2K Views
  • 5 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by pudgeeboy

Dani AI

Generated

A hang at “Windows is starting up” almost always means a driver or service is stalling before the logon screen. Given @whoost installed new security tools right before the freeze and can still RDP in, start by ruling out a bad third‑party driver or service rather than wiping the disk.

Quick isolation path:

  • If you can sign in over Remote Desktop (like ), run msconfig and untick non‑Microsoft services and recent startup items. Reboot and re‑enable in small batches to find the culprit.
  • If you cannot sign in locally, boot with F8 and choose Enable Boot Logging. Windows writes C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt, which shows the last driver to load; you can read it later from the Recovery Console. (support.microsoft.com)
  • From an XP CD, press R for the Recovery Console. List installed drivers/services, then temporarily disable the ones you just added (security, storage, display, filter drivers). Reboot and test. Re‑enable if not the cause. Commands you can use:
listsvc
disable <servicename>
enable <servicename> SERVICE_AUTO_START
type C:\Windows\ntbtlog.txt
exit

Microsoft documents these Recovery Console commands and workflow. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the stall began after updates or cleanup and persists even with third‑party items disabled, restore the registry hives from a recent System Restore snapshot using the manual Recovery Console method (this does not erase data). Microsoft’s guidance for recovering from a corrupted registry in XP walks through it step‑by‑step. (learn.microsoft.com)

Two cautions based on earlier replies:

  • ’s ACPI/APIC toggle can help diagnose, but switching HAL/ACPI settings after XP is installed can render the system unbootable; only test briefly and revert if it does not help.
  • If you attempt a repair install, uninstall IE7/IE8 first or the repair can leave IE broken afterward. (support.microsoft.com)

Finally, ’s idea is right for data safety: pull the drive and copy your files from another NT‑based PC (XP/Vista/7/10) before deep changes.

Recommended Answers

All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for Ironbid

Try to connect your Hard-drive to another PC already running on XP. This might enable you to save your files, or indicate whether the disc is crap or not. Should it work on another computer, you will get the chance to format the disc if this could help...

Member Avatar for Member #161929

thanks i'll see how that works
i was desperate for help to get those files so i turned it over to a friend of mine who's been trying to get me some help as well and i should get it back within the week.
if they can't figure out before i get it back i've got a couple of computers i can hook it up to so i can check it out.
appreciate the help though, you guys are the best

Member Avatar for Chaky

Make sure that you hook it up to NT/2k//XP system. W95/98 (and Me, I think) won't read NTFS without add-on.

Member Avatar for Aaron.C

Sorry, but this will be seen as grave digging or what ever its called BUT I am having the same problem tried all of the above in the question and nothing I am able to access it how ever by remote desktop by an old slow computer i had laying around its a major inconvenience for me because this is the one that has and is only able to run my games and all of my programs i need for school etc

I noticed something after logging in through remote desktop though a pop-up said my computer was recently updated and i was unaware of this as i was not prompted to install updates and i am sure 100% i have it set to me having to click something to install updates.

any ideas?

Member Avatar for jules89

I know it's been a while coming but this happened to me and I just did a hard boot from the HDD and it seemed to let me in, I'm trying to figure out how to make it stop though because it keeps getting stuck like that for me.

Member Avatar for dilip31572

Windows XP hangs on "Windows is starting up" screen
Please solve my problem
Thanking you

Member Avatar for Chaky

Quick tip:

Enable or disable ACPI/APIC in your BIOS. (Advanced programmable interrupt controller)

But, beware...
If this doesn't work, you MUST change the ACPI/APIC setting back. Otherwise you won't be able to boot to XP at all.

Edited by Chaky because: n/a
Member Avatar for HDDougM

With xp pro, my system is stuck in "Start-up mode now. Prior to this I installed updated drivers. After that I couldn't print pdf files from various websites. since I backed up my drivers, I went back to original ones. Same issue! Used original xp boot disk and did "Repairs", locked up pc. Powered down & rebooted, now no icons, no startup bar. Had wallpaper & mouse motion, that's it. Restarted with xp install disk now locked in Start-up mode. Cannot even install original xp os. Ideas?

Member Avatar for James Donovan

I just did a hard boot from the HDD and it seemed to let me in, I'm trying to figure out how to make it stop though because it keeps getting stuck like that for me.

Member Avatar for pudgeeboy

make a clean install, that would solve it i think...but youl lose all your data

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.