Can't boot into Windows
 

What started out as a minor problem has become serious. I was copying some pictures from my sisters SD card to my parents desktop. Although the copying had finished, I still had the window open (but minimised) I was moving the temporary folder to a different location when sister pulled the SD card out of the reader. I then found that the folder had moved to the new location, but left an empty folder behind, and that I couldn't delete it. I tried re-booting but got in a circle where it wouldn't fully shut down, or fully load - the task bar icons never appeared.

Eventually I held the power button down to close the P.C. Then restarted in safe mode and manged to delete the errant folder. Then rebooted normally and all initially seemed O.K. until father tried entering some details in his weather diaries (a spreadsheet and database). No numbers appear when typing. I restarted in safe mode, and used system restore, which ran through its sequence, and then re-booted. However it gets as far as the Windows welcome screen, I enter the password and then the screen goes black and all progress stops. The HDD activity light stops flashing and nothing else happens.

Once again the only way to shut down is to hold the power button, and I've rebooted in safe mode again, and found that the basic programmes work O.K. I am now backing up our most recent files to the external HDD, on the assumption that this is not looking good.

It's an "E System" E201 running XP2.

Advice please!

This is an awful lot of trouble from an apparently simple error.

In Safe Mode, right-click My Computer and select Manage. Then go to the Event Logs. We're particularly interested in the System log. Anything interesting there? Look for entries with a red icon.

Also, open My Computer, right-click C:, select Properties, go to the second tab and click the button to check the drive.

With regard to the keyboard issue, if it's a USB keyboard, try plugging it into a different USB port - preferably a different hub too (e.g. if it's plugged into a socket at the back, plug it into one at the front).

One more thing: don't be afraid to wait. If it seems to have got stuck, leave it for 5 minutes. Windows may just be waiting for something to time out.

Lots of red errors in the log - the first one (about the time of the original problem) is "Service Control Manager" "Event 7001" Then a few minutes later 2 for DCOM - 10005, followed by more 7001's. There's also a couple of 7026's and lots more 7001 & 10005's.
I cant run the checker unless I shut it down. Would it be best to try a re-start and wait, or do the check and see what it finds?

Thanks for the quick response, by the way.

This MS facility may help just type in the errors and see what it suggests.

Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search

Those codes don't seem to make much sense to me. I'm afraid. Unfortunately things seem to be getting worse. I scheduled a disk check (I only selected the file system option, not the attempt to repair bad sectors), and re-booted. It ran through and flashed up some details, but only for a second, and no way long enough to note anything down. Then it shut down. So I powered up again, and got as far as the Windows welcome screen, and then no further. Force released again (as there is nothing on the screen to select any other options), and tried pressing F8. Now I only get the list of device drivers, and after a wait of several minutes (during which the HDD access light is continuously on) nothing. Not even safe mode...

Looks like a trip to the local computer shop for a Windows recovery disc - we didn't get one with the machine.

Some new years present!

Before you go out in the cold...
Try pressing F8 as you boot, instead of trying to go to Safe Mode try the Last Known Good Configuration option. If that lets you in then system restore to the first date before all these shenanigans started.
good luck

At some point I had tried Last Known Good configuration, and that didn't work. I am now faced with a machine which won't even boot into safe mode - pressing F8 starts the process, and I can select "Start Safe Mode", but all that happens is the list of drivers etc appears, and then nothing else happens, even if left for 10 minutes. So this is obviously going to need a disc to either attempt a repair, or do a full reformat & reinstall. But like so many others the machine didn't come with one, just a shrink-wrapped bit of cardboard with a MS product key!

I have been looking on Google to try and find something to download, but all I can find is instructions for floppies (it doesn't have a floppy drive), or how to build one from a working machine, which is rather pointless now. Unless, that is, I could use the laptop I'm working on now? If some one can point me to a download link with the required files and instructions I can use to burn a CD I would be most grateful. I have "ImgBurn" on this one so it won't be a problem.

You could try a windows repair?

If you insert the XP disc, go into setup, then go to setup screen not recovery console. Then it will detect a windows install, and you can press "r" on that option and it will copy new system files.

Its more like a soft reboot, when i did it, all my software was left working so it must copy reg entries but in all honesty i dont know, i just know it worked.

I had 100% same as you, the OS just deteriated over a few days, first i got errors with i think svchost or whatever its called where the system would should down in 1 minute, and then the whole windows shell didnt load, then no services would load, then that was that. Was doing a similar thing too, coppied files from 1 HDD to another HDD, then in the morning a whole host of errors. Strange, virus like almost.

Did the computer have a good antivirus program installed that had been updated in the last few days?

Memory cards are very good sources of virus attacks if you don't know where thay have been.

You can also try Eventid.net - see here for event Id 7001.

This sounds like a thoroughly hosed registry. Can you do a System Restore to a much earlier point?

Update: After more attempts I found that F10 got into a recovery console and with nothing else to lose I chose the non-destructive option. Amazingly after 15 minutes or so it re-booted into a curious hybrid, where all my previously installed applications and files are present and correct, yet the main O/S still thinks its back in original purchase configuration. I'm now taking the plunge and allowing it to update to XP3, and then I'll work through the rest. And yes it does have up to date and frequently run Anti Virus and Anti Spyware, and I had tested her downloaded pictures.

In consultation with my young nephew, I think (if this continues to work), we will regard it as a warning and get a brand new HDD and carry out a full re-install.

Thanks for now.....