Computer ****ing me up the wall.

[Rostum]

My computer keeps coming across so many damn problems, it's starting to get annoying. >.<;

This time, my monitor started turning on and off repeatably, until it somehow fixed itself so that it's working properly now. Then my computer keeps booting up and asking me to select the safe modes, last configuration or normal startup.

Whenever I select any of these it goes to the Windows Logo booting screen, and just stalls.

Now I can be pretty handy with computers and I keep mine up to date and clean/organised as possible. So I can't really put my finger on why it keeps doing this.

I could format, but I really don't want to be doing that. I have a lot of stuff I haven't backed up yet. =\

[o_O]

Can you boot into safe mode?

Hit F8 (usually) while your computer is booting, and select safe mode.
Alternatively, try finding a setting in your BIOS to enable the boot menu.

[Rostum]

Yeah, it comes up with a choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last working configuration and Normal Windows.

I've tried to select all, and they all either stall at the Windows Logo screen or stall at a black screen. =(

Edit: Now when I choose just Safe Mode, it goes through a list and stalls at ...DRIVERS/APG440.sys.

[Dr Unne]

I think you meant AGP440.sys. Google for that, you'll get plenty of results. None helpful. I've had XP die on me before and stall in the same place, a good many years ago when I still used Windows. I ended up formatting / reinstalling. It tends to be your only sound option. Boot from a Linux CD (http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html ), back up your important stuff from there, and reinstall Windows. It's not worth the time to do anything else. Windows isn't meant to be understood.

[Rostum]

Thanks Unne, I was really hoping it wouldn't come to that. ,_,

I have around 15GB's of songs ripped and downloaded, not to mention all the soundbanks I have (around 30GB's). Oh and I don't have a DVD burner. ; ;

Yes Windows sucks like that, but I hate trying new things.

[o_O]

Do you have a second hard drive? One of those makes formatting a lot less painful.
You can also get a DVD burner for about $NZ35 now, so they're quite cheap.
Also, have a look at <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324764">this</a>, it might help.

Having said that, though, I would go with Dr Unne's method anyway, because Windows is crap.

[Rostum]

Just wondering, will repairing it work on an upgrade Windows XP cd? Because I sort of have an old version of Win2k that I upgraded to XP (seemed like a nice cheap option).

Alright I'm trying to get into the Bios so I can boot the CD, but when I press F1 key at startup (which is what documentation says to press), the monitor doesn't even switch on. =\

[ValiantKnight]

Repairing may work.
If its a 2k that was upgraded to WinXP... well nothing may work....

Upgrades tend to be a problem for everyone that I've encountered....
Trying to reinstall or repair things, or simply upgrade service packs usually give some sort of problems.

Repair
Reinstall Windows over current windows
Reinstall in a different partition/folder
Format/Reinstall

In that order if you'd like to try.... but back up things first.
I've found some versions of XP/2k didnt have repair options though.

At the moment, must have sleep though... if need more help I can round up some clearer instructions on how to do each. As Unne suggested, reinstalling(and/or) reformating windows is usually the QUICKEST and cheapest by far unfortunately.... Truely... Windows not meant to be understood... unlimited software compatibility = ultimate software failure....

Getting into CMOS settings via F1 is the standard, I've seen it vary on some proprietary systems though.... monitor doesn't come on at all?

[Rostum]

Well after a lot of fiddeling around I got it to boot the CD. It loads a bunch of stuff (or checks, whatever), and then it says "Starting up Windows" and won't let me press R to repair or anything. =\

Edit: ARGH THIS IS FUSTRATING. I get into this System Recovery and it tells me I need a floppy disc. WTH use is the damn cd then?

[Samuraid]

Run chkdsk on your HDD as it may be caused by a few corrupted sectors on the HDD. After that, if it still doesn't work, you should use the repair option off the Windows XP disc to restore all your operating system files.

There should be a "press any key to enter setup..." prompt right when boot sequence starts on the CD.

[Rostum]

How do I run chkdsk, and when I try booting up the CD it doesn't give me any options and just goes ahead and loads things.

I even tried formating, but it does the same thing, just freezes when it says "Loading Windows XP".

[Samuraid]

Hmm...I don't think I've worked with an upgrade CD before. I assumed it would be the same as an OEM CD or a full install CD.

[Rostum]

But even with a full install CD for Win2k (which looks like it loads exactly like the WinXP one), it stalls at the same point when it tries to "Load Windows".

[ValiantKnight]

Chkdisk may be the thing to run.
You can do this from a floppy. Was the drive NTFS formatted or FAT formatted? FAT is much easier to access. If it was NTFS, look for a program called NTFS4DOS or ntfsinst.exe
Datapol makes it, but their main site has a broken link to the download.
Long time ago, I used this to run chkdisk on a friend's Windows XP Dell computer that was freezing during bootup even during safe mode.

Basically to my knowledge, freezes during bootup even safe mode.. only mean that files are missing or inaccessible... which are remedied by reinstalls and chkdisks.

And yea, I think its chkdsk, but it means check disk

If its FAT formatted, then we can just use a windows 98 boot floppy and owrk from there.

[Rostum]

Well, I see one thing wrong with it. Unless I can run Chkdisk from a CD on my PC instead of Floppy, I am screwed.

I'm currently accessing the internet through my dad's iMac, which has no floppy drive. ; ;