Booting loop, boots in safe mode

brent12223 · 10-20-2006, 03:46 AM

I'm having a HUGE problem with me HP Pavilion a1919h...

I'm running XP Media Center and I think an automatic update messed up my computer... I've managed to be able to boot in safe mode (and safe mode with networking) and run the computer restore thing, but when it tries to boot normally (or with 'last known good setting') it just keeps getting to the black XP screen and then re-boots again... I can only boot in safe mode... Does anyone have any idea how this could happen or how to fi it?

When it booted in safe mode after I did the system restore the successfull system restore window came up... But it won't boot normally!!!

PLEASE HELP!!

-Brent

PC eye · 10-20-2006, 04:08 AM

If you can get it up into the safe mode desktop try removing the update in the add/remove progams if it is still seen. You may be seeing a corrupted registry or some how managed to get infected with a malware. There are a few things where you may be forced into a repair install in order to get Windows running again long enough to sweep the system for bugs. Do you have a recovery or full install disk available?

bumblebee_tuna · 10-20-2006, 04:11 AM

I had that problem twice with my Compaq..... (which BTW, is owned by HP) Back then, the only way I was apply to fix it both times was to do a system recovery, which, hopefully, you have either have or made discs for.....

Try other options in safe mode..... Try different variations of a system restore.... It might be helpful to post your specs up if you had upgraded or added any components.... Probably the main thing you need to worry about is saving all your files, music and documents that you don't want to lose.....

Edit: I think it was an update that screwed up my compy too..... both times. Sorry, PC eye's idea is better..... Although I doubt it's infect with malware as the second time it happened to me, the system was completely clean of any malware......

PC eye · 10-20-2006, 12:44 PM

The most likely cause there does point strongly at a bad install of something like the update mentioned. While in safe mode try using the msconfig utility to disable the list of startups that load along with Windows. With the system restore used the system should have been back clocked before the update was downloaded.

Another thing you could try is the system file checker may also be another tool to try out at this point if you have the XP Media Center installation or recovery disk onhand. You simply type "sfc /scannow" at the Run prompt and hit the enter key to sttart that up. That will correct any system files corrupted.

SirKenin · 10-20-2006, 01:55 PM

Boot Safe Mode with Networking. Log on to the Windows Update site and see what updates were installed to screw it up. Then go into the Control Panel > Add/Remove programs and unininstall the applicable updates. That should get it back up and running. Then you can go from there.

tlarkin · 10-20-2006, 04:08 PM

If that doesn't work there are some commands you can run from the recovery console to help rebuild your system. let us know what happens from the safe mode fix.

brent12223 · 10-20-2006, 07:33 PM

Ok, thanks guys, I'm going to try some of this today when I get off work... It actually booted up once, but, of course, when it restarted it was doing the same thing again... Damnit. I had the HP automatic (not windows) update mess up my vid card too, and I think it made my fan spin faster (the computer is a little louder)? but I did a recovery point thing and it was fixed... Just a day before this happened too...

On another note, does the RegFix program (or something like that) really work?

PC eye · 10-21-2006, 02:41 AM

There are different programs out like Registry Mechanic for a retail price while some freewares like RegClean and RegCleaner do an adequate job. Once you have removed the problem update and Windows is running you can try a few different tools to clean up any orphaned registry values still lingering.

brent12223 · 10-24-2006, 05:15 AM

Ok, I've tried all of that stuff... To no avail... The windows update site won't let me view my prior updates... Some kind of error... It won't even let me view available updates (maybe b/c of safe mode?)... I looked in the Add/Remove programs, but none of them are new enough to have caused it I don't think, the newest one is from about 2 weeks from when this all went down...

I know when I try and do the recovery console thing when windows starts up it just goes to C:/Windows> and stays there... Is there something I should do with that? Is that like having the install disk? (I don't have any disks, not even HP drivers)... I bought the comp from Geeks.com and they said it was Genuine XP, but there's not even a product key on the comp or anything, and none of the documentation has one... Any more help would be awesome! Oh yeah, System Restore does nothing for me...

tlarkin · 10-24-2006, 05:40 AM

are there multiple partitions on the drive? Some systems have recovery partitions and do not come with restore cds

10-20-2006, 03:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
brent12223 Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camp Pendleton, CA Age: 24 Posts: 59	Booting loop, boots in safe mode I'm having a HUGE problem with me HP Pavilion a1919h... I'm running XP Media Center and I think an automatic update messed up my computer... I've managed to be able to boot in safe mode (and safe mode with networking) and run the computer restore thing, but when it tries to boot normally (or with 'last known good setting') it just keeps getting to the black XP screen and then re-boots again... I can only boot in safe mode... Does anyone have any idea how this could happen or how to fi it? When it booted in safe mode after I did the system restore the successfull system restore window came up... But it won't boot normally!!! PLEASE HELP!! -Brent

10-20-2006, 04:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
bumblebee_tuna Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Age: 20 Posts: 1,338	I had that problem twice with my Compaq..... (which BTW, is owned by HP) Back then, the only way I was apply to fix it both times was to do a system recovery, which, hopefully, you have either have or made discs for..... Try other options in safe mode..... Try different variations of a system restore.... It might be helpful to post your specs up if you had upgraded or added any components.... Probably the main thing you need to worry about is saving all your files, music and documents that you don't want to lose..... Edit: I think it was an update that screwed up my compy too..... both times. Sorry, PC eye's idea is better..... Although I doubt it's infect with malware as the second time it happened to me, the system was completely clean of any malware...... __________________ Antec 300 / Antec EarthWatts 650 Watt / Xigmatek HDT-S1283 AMD Phenom II x3 720 2.8Ghz / 4GB DDR3 1600MHz OC / WD Caviar Black 500GB Sapphire ATi Radeon HD 4870 1GB / Creative X-fi Xtremegamer / steelSeries Siberia Headset Haikus are easy. But sometimes they don't make sense. Refrigerator. Last edited by bumblebee_tuna; 10-20-2006 at 04:17 AM.

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10-20-2006, 04:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21,091	If you can get it up into the safe mode desktop try removing the update in the add/remove progams if it is still seen. You may be seeing a corrupted registry or some how managed to get infected with a malware. There are a few things where you may be forced into a repair install in order to get Windows running again long enough to sweep the system for bugs. Do you have a recovery or full install disk available?

10-20-2006, 12:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21,091	The most likely cause there does point strongly at a bad install of something like the update mentioned. While in safe mode try using the msconfig utility to disable the list of startups that load along with Windows. With the system restore used the system should have been back clocked before the update was downloaded. Another thing you could try is the system file checker may also be another tool to try out at this point if you have the XP Media Center installation or recovery disk onhand. You simply type "sfc /scannow" at the Run prompt and hit the enter key to sttart that up. That will correct any system files corrupted.

10-20-2006, 01:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
SirKenin banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4,711	Boot Safe Mode with Networking. Log on to the Windows Update site and see what updates were installed to screw it up. Then go into the Control Panel > Add/Remove programs and unininstall the applicable updates. That should get it back up and running. Then you can go from there.

10-20-2006, 04:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 9,933	If that doesn't work there are some commands you can run from the recovery console to help rebuild your system. let us know what happens from the safe mode fix.

10-20-2006, 07:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
brent12223 Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camp Pendleton, CA Age: 24 Posts: 59	Ok, thanks guys, I'm going to try some of this today when I get off work... It actually booted up once, but, of course, when it restarted it was doing the same thing again... Damnit. I had the HP automatic (not windows) update mess up my vid card too, and I think it made my fan spin faster (the computer is a little louder)? but I did a recovery point thing and it was fixed... Just a day before this happened too... On another note, does the RegFix program (or something like that) really work?

10-21-2006, 02:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
PC eye banned Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 21,091	There are different programs out like Registry Mechanic for a retail price while some freewares like RegClean and RegCleaner do an adequate job. Once you have removed the problem update and Windows is running you can try a few different tools to clean up any orphaned registry values still lingering.

10-24-2006, 05:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
brent12223 Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Camp Pendleton, CA Age: 24 Posts: 59	Ok, I've tried all of that stuff... To no avail... The windows update site won't let me view my prior updates... Some kind of error... It won't even let me view available updates (maybe b/c of safe mode?)... I looked in the Add/Remove programs, but none of them are new enough to have caused it I don't think, the newest one is from about 2 weeks from when this all went down... I know when I try and do the recovery console thing when windows starts up it just goes to C:/Windows> and stays there... Is there something I should do with that? Is that like having the install disk? (I don't have any disks, not even HP drivers)... I bought the comp from Geeks.com and they said it was Genuine XP, but there's not even a product key on the comp or anything, and none of the documentation has one... Any more help would be awesome! Oh yeah, System Restore does nothing for me...

10-24-2006, 05:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 9,933	are there multiple partitions on the drive? Some systems have recovery partitions and do not come with restore cds