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Troubleshooting Windows XP When Not Booting

If you make a major change to your Windows XP system such as installing a driver, replacing your motherboard or moving your hard drive to another system, you may find that Windows will not boot properly. Specifically, you might find yourself in an endless loop where Windows repeatedly reboots when it gets to the "Loading Windows" screen. This is the black and white bar located at the bottom of the screen after the computer goes through POST.

This happens because your hard drive contains drivers and information about your old hardware which causes conflicts that prevent Windows from loading properly.

One way to solve this problem is to boot in safe mode. To use a Safe Boot option, follow these steps:

1. Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard.
2. Select an option when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then press ENTER.
3. When the Boot menu appears again, and the words "Safe Mode" appear in blue at the bottom, select the installation that you want to start, and then press ENTER.

Description of Safe Boot options (By Microsoft)

• Safe Mode (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal): This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows.
  
  
• Safe Mode with Networking (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Network): This option uses a minimal set of device drivers and services to start Windows together with the drivers that you must have to load networking.
  
  
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt (SAFEBOOT_OPTION=Minimal(AlternateShell)): This option is the same as Safe mode, except that Cmd.exe starts instead of Windows Explorer.
  
  
• Enable VGA Mode: This option starts Windows in 640 x 480 mode by using the current video driver (not Vga.sys). This mode is useful if the display is configured for a setting that the monitor cannot display.
  

Note: Safe mode and Safe mode with Networking load the Vga.sys driver instead.

• Last Known Good Configuration: This option starts Windows by using the previous good configuration.
  
  

• Directory Service Restore Mode: This mode is valid only for Windows-based domain controllers. This mode performs a directory service repair.

• Debugging Mode: This option turns on debug mode in Windows. Debugging information can be sent across a serial cable to another computer that is running a debugger. This mode is configured to use COM2.
  Enable Boot Logging: This option turns on logging when the computer is started with any of the Safe Boot options except Last Known Good Configuration. The Boot Logging text is recorded in the Ntbtlog.txt file in the %SystemRoot% folder.

• Starts Windows Normally: This option starts Windows in its normal mode.

• Reboot: This option restarts the computer.

• Return to OS Choices Menu: On a computer that is configured to starting to more than one operating system, this option returns to the Boot menu.

An environment variable is set when you use one of the Safe Boot options. The environment variable is SAFEBOOT_OPTION. This variable is set to either Network or to Minimal.

The default Microsoft VGA driver is used for display at 640 x 480 resolution and in 16 colors. You must log on in all modes by a domain or by the local Security Accounts Manager, depending on which Safe Boot mode you select.

Normally, "Last Known Good Configuration" option will help you fix boot problems since it will load the previous settings and configuration. It works when you have installed a new piece of hardware such as an expansion card and then the computer won't boot properly. You can then remove the new addition and use the “Last Know Good Configuration” option.

SafeMode can also be a great troubleshooting tool. If you add a new device or program and suddenly you can't get Windows to boot properly, you need some way to get into Windows long enough to at least undo the damage. By booting into SafeMode you can usually bypass the driver or service that is causing the problem and remove or uninstall whatever is causing the problem so you can get back into Windows the normal way.

However, if you can at least get into Windows, you can use the MSCONFIG utility to help you out. Click on Start, then Run. In the Run dialog box type "msconfig" and press enter to start the MSCONFIG utility. MSCONFIG offers a variety of options and settings you can use to selectively enable or disable certain programs or services to try and troubleshoot and narrow down problems you might be having. You can view the contents of the System.ini, Win.ini and Boot.ini files and check or uncheck the items you want to start. You can also uncheck services or programs that startup when Windows loads if you don't want them to start.

Once you finish the repair process, you need to reboot in normal mode and your system should come up normally.

Disclaimer - The Micro 2000 Tech Tip is a free service providing information only. While we use reasonable care to see that this information is correct, we do not guarantee it for accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose. Micro 2000, Inc. shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the use or misuse of this information.