BleepingComputer.com: My computer will not load my desktop except in Safe Mode

First thing I would suggest is running chkdsk /r again, as follows, and posting the log (as well as the log from the previous run) ...

Use the Windows Error Checking utility (Check Disk), with the options to scan the disk surface for errors, and attempt recovery of data and repair the disk.

• Open "My Computer"
  
• Right-click on the drive that you wish to check > Properties > Tools > and in the "Error checking" section, click on "Check now".
  
• Place a tick in both boxes > Start.
  
• If the disk you have chosen is the system disk:
  
  • A message will notify you that a restart is necessary: Click OK, and close all windows.
    
  • Re-start the computer. The disk will be checked when the system boots.
    This test will take some time to run and at times may appear stalled but just let it run.
    
  • When the disk check is complete, the system will re-start automatically and load Windows.

A log of the disk check is recorded only if the scheduled re-start is used, and only for drives on the same HDD as the Operating System.
To open Event Viewer and view the log:

• Go to Start > Run > and type eventvwr and press the <ENTER> key.
  The Event Viewer window will open.
  
• In the left pane, click on Application.
  
• In the right pane, at the top, click on the column heading Source to sort the list alphabetically.
  
• Look in the Source column for "Winlogon", with an entry corresponding to the date and time of the disk check.
  
• Double-click on that entry to view the log.
  
• Click on the button to copy the log text to the clipboard.
  
• Paste the log text into your next reply.

Try starting your computer normally. Success?

Excellent, thanks AustrAlien!!

An advisor's help is always most welcome!

...Danno, you should still try the F12 utility I mentioned, just to make sure the drive and all your components are working correctly.

bloopie

P.S. -Do NOT throw your computer off a bridge, even if it's toasted!!

Help will always be offered here no matter what the problem!!

EDIT: I saw AusterAlien posted, but I'll leave this here in case anyone else is reading the thread.

This post has been edited by bloopie reborn: 04 June 2011 - 07:06 PM

What happens if you attempt a Windows System Restore to a date before the recent problem arose?

Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

Success? If so attempt to start Windows normally. Success?

Um I have run into another snag. I got home from work today and decided to test some of the suggestions you guys have given me. When I tried to start up the computer I was told that I needed to activate Windows. So now I cant even use safe mode. I am POSITIVE that I only performed the repair install. Also, Bloopie, everytime I start up the machine, I am given the option to press F2 for Setup for F12 for the Boot Menu. Is this what you are referring to? I apologize that this seems to be never ending. Im sure you guys have better things to do then help a clueless novice. Although I do appreciate it

Quote

Absolutely not! Without a large supply of clueless novices, our lives would be quite puposeless.

Re: the F12 Boot Menu
I think bloopie might have a different idea about what the F12 key would bring up .... and certainly not the Boot Menu. He is thinking of getting you to run the built-in Dell diagnostic software to test the hardware in your system. Without doing some research, I cannot suggest what key or keys you will need to press to activate that utility.

So, you were told that you need to activate Windows: Hmmmmm .....
You have successfully completed a repair installation of an OEM DELL Windows XP Home system with a genuine retail Microsoft XP Home installation CD (not a DELL installation CD). Is that correct?

Please post a full detailed description of the Windows XP Home CD that you used.

Hello again,

Just a quick poke...when pressing the F12 key on startup with a Dell machine, it does post a boot menu, but there should be another option at the bottom of the list for the the diagnostics.

Check here for more information on this process. Disregard contacting Dell for now.

Are you sure you ran a repair install, and not a full install? If you ran another install it may have tried to install "Windows" ON TOP of "Windows" on the same partition. If this is true, you should see a screen before windows starts asking you which version of windows you would like to run. Do you see two windows installations on this screen? (It may flash quick, so keep an eye on it)

In addition to the above, please let us know everything you saw on the screen, and the keystrokes you made for the repair install.

Also tell us how long you may have for the activation to expire when asked.

bloopie

It would help if you posted the malwarebytes and super antispyware logs to show us what you were infected with.

Hi guys,

Sorry for the delay in my response. With the computer completely down its a bit hard to find my way onto the internet. As far as the disc I used goes, I will have to check when I get home from work to be sure but I know that at the top it said, "Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3." At the bottom it says something about the drivers included on this disc. I borrowed it from someone who also has a Dell computer so I assumed it was a Dell disc but this may have been my mistake.

I am ABSOLUTELY positive that I did not do a full install. I followed the directions to a T and only did the repair install. Also, at no point am I ever asked which version of Windows I want to run. And I was not given any sort of time limit on the activation, only told that Windows would need to be activated before I could start up. Again I will check things fully when I get home.

can you please post the logs from malwarebytes and super anti-spyware?

cryptodan, on 09 June 2011 - 01:24 PM, said:

That's a little awkward to do when the system is not accessible at the moment.

I will post later on how to gain access to the system and get the logs.

I am very tempted to suggest going with the "activate Windows" option at this stage, and see what happens upon activation.

Any thoughts, anybody?

I don't think a full activation is possible without a product key code or the registration key. Each option comes with some kind of key, and both requires calling microsoft to activate as far as I know at this stage.

If you know the specs of the computer from whom you got the disk from, and your system is very close to that, activation may be allowed with those registration or key codes.

You can download free and read from here on what Windows uses to read the hardware and activate. ...And a bunch of other great things about your operating system!!
NOTE: You must have Adobe Reader installed!

For the free version, click the "download" button that corresponds to your operating system. And if you'd like the paid version, it is only a few bucks to get the full version with screenshots included!

bloopie

In order to get to the logs, you can either put the drive in another computer and navigate to the documents and settings\username\application data\malwarebytes\ and look in the logs file. Or you can try using http://www.ubuntu.com from a live CD to mount the drive and do the above. You can then post the logs and show us what was detected.