BleepingComputer.com: Window's Xp Startup Problem

Hi,
For some reason when I start my computer, it always starts in the disk check screen and never gets past 0% completed, it just stops there. This has been going on for a few days now. If I reboot, it starts normally. Everything seems to work fine. I am using windows XP home edition with SP2. What could be causing this? If I reboot in safemode I just get a long list of stuff and nothing happens.

Hey Sumac

We need to backup the registry before making changes in case it becomes corrupt during the fix we are able to complete. I like this simple approach to backing up the registry.

1. Click Start /Run and type in "regedit" (no quotes).

2. Next, click the File menu, Export

3. Select a location from the resulting box and give your backup registry a
name. Something like:

Regbackup 03-06-2006. <-- I just put todays date.

Just a quick note: by default, Windows backs up the registry when you shut down your machine. The above is probably best used for those (like myself) who are editing registry settings, such as we are about to do!

Then, please open notepad and and copy and paste next bold in it:
(don't forget to copy and paste REGEDIT4)

Quote

REGEDIT 4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager]
"AutoChkTimeOut"=dword:0000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager]
"BootExecute"=hex(7):61,00,75,00,74,00,6f,00,63,00,68,00,65,00,63,00,6b,00,20,\
00,61,00,75,00,74,00,6f,00,63,00,68,00,6b,00,20,00,2a,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"SFCScan"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\cleanuppath]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,63,00,6c,00,\
65,00,61,00,6e,00,6d,00,67,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,20,00,2f,00,44,\
00,20,00,25,00,63,00,00,00

Save this as "fix.reg" Choose to save as *all files and place it on your desktop.

It should look like this:

Doubleclick on it and when it asks you if you want to merge the contents to the registry, click yes/ok.

Reboot and see if the problem is solved. If not just let me know.

David

Thanks, but that didn't seem to help. Any other suggestions?

How are you shutting down your computer?

I am shutting down normally, by going to start, shutdown computer and turn off. But when I turn it back on I always get the screen that says it needs to check the disk and then it does nothing, so I have to skip the disk check.

Check the connections on your HD.

Somehow the computer is registering an improper shutdown.

Download Everest Home version 1.51 from oldversion.com (it is the last full featured freeware version)

See what it says about the health of your hd.

This post has been edited by Enthusiast: 08 March 2006 - 02:55 AM

Thanks Enthusiast,
I downloaded Everest Home but am not quite sure how to use it. I need to know how to check the health of the hard drive and how to interpret the results. Can you help?

Open Everest, click on "view", then "details", scroll down to "Storage", click the + to open the tree,
Click on "Smart", highlight the drive on the right side, read the report on the right.

All items should read "value is normal" or "always passing".

This post has been edited by Enthusiast: 20 March 2006 - 12:44 AM

Thank you for your help again. Everything is reading normal or always passing.

go to run
type in msconfig
check out the startup programs and uncheck them

Heyoldman, on Mar 20 2006, 12:26 PM, said:

Certain startup programs are necessary - you do not just go to msconfig and start unchecking them unless you know what they are and what they do. If yiou do that you will disable your antivirus program, antimalware aps, your firewall and your main windows operating system processes!

This post has been edited by Enthusiast: 21 March 2006 - 01:56 PM

Sumac, on Mar 20 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

I would think that you have a problem in the registry then.

Reboot into "safe mode" and select "Last known good configuration" or if you are using XP and have a system restore date from before the problem started, choose it and use it.

This post has been edited by Enthusiast: 21 March 2006 - 02:01 PM

Sumac, on Mar 20 2006, 11:55 AM, said:

I would think that you have a problem in the registry then.

Reboot into "safe mode" and select "Last known good configuration" or if you are using XP and have a system restore date from before the problem started, choose it and use it.

Thanks but I have tried starting with last known good configuration and it hasn't helped. Also I can't start in safe mode, I get a screen full of info but nothing happens. What could cause this? Suddenly everything is loading very slowly and startup takes forever. I have scanned for viruses, spyware, etc. and turned off some of the unneccessary startup programs, nothing is helping. I still get the disc checking screen everytime I start the computer but it still won't do the disc check. Also the computer seems to be a lot noisier suddenly.
I may have multiple problems, but hope they are all related somehow. PLEASE HELP!

Today I ran Everest Home again and it tells me I have a problem. This is what it says: ID Attribute Description Threshold Value Worst Data Status
05 Reallocated Sector Count 140 140 140 951 Pre-Failure: Imminent loss of data is being predicted

Sounds bad, can anyone help please?

This post has been edited by Sumac: 30 March 2006 - 01:18 PM

To confirm what Everest is saying, try using Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. You will need to download the ISO disc image file and burn it to a blank CD. Programs such as Roxio and Nero can burn ISO disc image files as well as the free program CDBurnerXP Pro. Restart your computer while the CD is in the drive and the program will automatically run if your BIOS is configured to try to boot from CD/DVD before trying to boot from the hard drive. You may have to enter the BIOS on a restart and change the devices' boot order.

If DFT confirms hard drive problems you will need to install a new hard drive and reload XP. The good news is that the old failing drive will most likely live long enough for you to have plenty of time to install it as a "slave" drive and copy over all your important data files. Hard drive's "master" and "slave" settings are configured by moving a jumper to particular positions on metal posts next to the cable connector on the back of the drive. Almost all drives nowadays have a diagram on the label on the top of the drive. Another positve note is that disk drives are getting cheaper by the week. Good prices, selection and service can be found here.