XP Media center stops booting.

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 01:03 AM

Got a friend that I've tried to help but I'm all lost, I can't figure out what's wrong.

Windows starts to boot but it never finishes, it just stands there with the loading bar rolling on and on and on. It doesn't stop, it keeps rolling, which I find strange since mostly if something goes wrong during startup it freezes and then eventually shows a bsod.

Tried to boot into safe mode but that didn't work either. It starts to load drivers but stops after Mup.sys and then it just sits there for as long as we keep it on.

I'm not much of a help for her since I have no clue as what's causing this. Never ever seen anything like it.

Only thing I did before this was to update chipset and graphics drivers. It booted up just fine after this, it was only after we completely shut the computer down to have a look if it was very dusty inside, that this started happening when we tried to start it up again.

Gonna try a repair installation, or a complete re-installation, but I'd prefer to find a solution for this before I do that. Mostly because I wanna figure it out.

Mac Daddy · Jan 15, 2009, 01:09 AM

Sounds like something got corrupted along the way and definitely software. All I can think of trying is restoring from last know good configuration .. maybe one of the drivers was screwy *shrugs*

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

Sounds like something got corrupted along the way and definitely software. All I can think of trying is restoring from last know good configuration .. maybe one of the drivers was screwy *shrugs*

Problem is I need to get into windows to be able to do that, and since not even safe mode boots up it's kinda hard!

Selecting last known good configuration does the same thing. I created restore points before updating drivers but since I can't get in I can't roll back.

I'll probably do a complete reinstall but I still would like to fix this just to learn something from it.

Mac Daddy · Jan 15, 2009, 01:29 AM

You can't get into restore using your original CD?

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 01:32 AM

Haven't been able to try this since her DVD is broken, need to replace that first..

That's the main reason why I want to see if I can fix it without it but I guess that's gotta wait.

Mac Daddy · Jan 15, 2009, 01:38 AM

Ahh OK gotcha man that sucks

If you can't access the advanced menu options on boot not sure what else to suggest ..

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 01:48 AM

Shit happens..

Mac Daddy · Jan 15, 2009, 01:50 AM

Hee hee yes it does but there are folks on here who know a lot more about this shit than me .. so lets see who else posts back

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 02:03 AM

Just not my week it seems since my motherboard died a few days ago!

Judas · Jan 15, 2009, 03:47 PM

pop the windows disk in..... let it boot.. and then choose recovery console..

in the recovery console.... run chkdsk /R /P (i think it's /P.. might have to put /? first and see what the command is for a surface scan)..

i've seen it before, typically it'll hang up like that when something is corrupted OR the drive is failing

Liqourice · Jan 15, 2009, 09:22 PM

Well, put in a new DVD into it and I did just that.

Problem was, when I chose C: (alternative 1 and the only alternative as well) to go into that in the recovery console it did the same thing, just hung there.

Tried to go all the way and install windows.. and it did exactly the same thing when it scanned for previous windows installations.. it just hung there.

I don't know what can cause such things to happen, if it was some kind of virus or what.

The only solution to the problem I could find was to boot from a live ubuntu cd and then delete the partition, after that I could boot the win installation cd and get all the way to install windows again.

Hated having to do that, I wanna know what was wrong, but it wasn't my computer and I had promised to fix it so... that's that.

Ran a check on the drive later and didn't get any errors so it doesn't seem to be that either.

nicnik · Jan 16, 2009, 12:45 PM

sure it's still a software problem then? sounds like the hard disk is having some problems to me.

Liqourice · Jan 16, 2009, 09:23 PM

Since it works perfectly now after format and reinstallation I doubt it's the disk. Ran a test on it twice and no errors so..

I'm really really curious as to what caused this but I guess I'll never find out.

Mac Daddy · Jan 17, 2009, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liqourice

Since it works perfectly now after format and reinstallation I doubt it's the disk. Ran a test on it twice and no errors so..

I'm really really curious as to what caused this but I guess I'll never find out.

Quite likely a virus or perhaps a corruption in the boot sector hard to say ... at least it's working for her

Liqourice · Jan 17, 2009, 02:15 AM

Yes, I'm leaning towards a virus myself. But, important thing is that it works now and since she's had the computer for 2 1/2 years I really think it was time to reinstall anyway.

Jan 15, 2009, 01:03 AM	#1
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	XP Media center stops booting. Got a friend that I've tried to help but I'm all lost, I can't figure out what's wrong. Windows starts to boot but it never finishes, it just stands there with the loading bar rolling on and on and on. It doesn't stop, it keeps rolling, which I find strange since mostly if something goes wrong during startup it freezes and then eventually shows a bsod. Tried to boot into safe mode but that didn't work either. It starts to load drivers but stops after Mup.sys and then it just sits there for as long as we keep it on. I'm not much of a help for her since I have no clue as what's causing this. Never ever seen anything like it. Only thing I did before this was to update chipset and graphics drivers. It booted up just fine after this, it was only after we completely shut the computer down to have a look if it was very dusty inside, that this started happening when we tried to start it up again. Gonna try a repair installation, or a complete re-installation, but I'd prefer to find a solution for this before I do that. Mostly because I wanna figure it out.

Jan 15, 2009, 01:09 AM	#2
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 80 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Sounds like something got corrupted along the way and definitely software. All I can think of trying is restoring from last know good configuration .. maybe one of the drivers was screwy shrugs __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jan 15, 2009, 01:29 AM	#4
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 80 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. You can't get into restore using your original CD? __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jan 15, 2009, 01:32 AM	Thread Starter #5
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Haven't been able to try this since her DVD is broken, need to replace that first.. That's the main reason why I want to see if I can fix it without it but I guess that's gotta wait.

Jan 15, 2009, 01:38 AM	#6
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 80 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Ahh OK gotcha man that sucks If you can't access the advanced menu options on boot not sure what else to suggest .. __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jan 15, 2009, 01:48 AM	Thread Starter #7
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Shit happens..

Jan 15, 2009, 01:50 AM	#8
Mac Daddy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,950 Rep Power: 80 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Hee hee yes it does but there are folks on here who know a lot more about this shit than me .. so lets see who else posts back __________________ "My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance." - Tim Allen

Jan 15, 2009, 02:03 AM	Thread Starter #9
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Just not my week it seems since my motherboard died a few days ago!

Jan 15, 2009, 09:22 PM	Thread Starter #11
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Well, put in a new DVD into it and I did just that. Problem was, when I chose C: (alternative 1 and the only alternative as well) to go into that in the recovery console it did the same thing, just hung there. Tried to go all the way and install windows.. and it did exactly the same thing when it scanned for previous windows installations.. it just hung there. I don't know what can cause such things to happen, if it was some kind of virus or what. The only solution to the problem I could find was to boot from a live ubuntu cd and then delete the partition, after that I could boot the win installation cd and get all the way to install windows again. Hated having to do that, I wanna know what was wrong, but it wasn't my computer and I had promised to fix it so... that's that. Ran a check on the drive later and didn't get any errors so it doesn't seem to be that either.

Jan 16, 2009, 12:45 PM	#12
nicnik In the Land of Snow Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 569 Rep Power: 46 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. sure it's still a software problem then? sounds like the hard disk is having some problems to me. __________________ Follow Me on Twitter Battlefield 3 \| youtube \| TwitchTV

Jan 16, 2009, 09:23 PM	Thread Starter #13
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Since it works perfectly now after format and reinstallation I doubt it's the disk. Ran a test on it twice and no errors so.. I'm really really curious as to what caused this but I guess I'll never find out.

Jan 17, 2009, 02:15 AM	Thread Starter #15
Liqourice HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stockholm Posts: 1,727 Rep Power: 98 System Specs	Re: XP Media center stops booting. Yes, I'm leaning towards a virus myself. But, important thing is that it works now and since she's had the computer for 2 1/2 years I really think it was time to reinstall anyway.