Endless Reboot in XP Now What???

I must have a black cloud following me. I just did the latest "Patch Tuesday" security update on my Win XP box and restarted it. All fine well and good. Then it froze up so I restarted it. Now it's endlessly rebooting. The DVD drive hasn't worked in some time, so I am not sure what to do with this thing. I normally run it from my Mac via Remote Desktop.

I could run out and buy an external DVD drive or maybe borrow one. My guess is that unless I start it up with the install disc that it's just a paperweight. What's the procedure on this.

Maybe it's time to ditch the PC altogether although I do use it for some things.

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Dave Hooton

I could run out and buy an external DVD drive or maybe borrow one. My guess is that unless I start it up with the install disc that it's just a paperweight. What's the procedure on this.

Being a Windows issue in a Guest OS, your guess has to be better than mine? You might have better luck in the Mac forum, but I suggest a little more explanation of your situation.

TCBlack

Michael,

To start troubleshooting the problem you'll need to get into safe mode by tapping F8 right after the machine powers up but BEFORE the Windows XP logo appears. If you get to the logo you'll have to wait for another cycle.

If you'e successful with the F8 key you'll get a menu asking you what you want, Safe mode, safe mode with networking etc.

I suggest you try for safe mode with networking.

Once loaded, there are many steps you might take depending on your level of expertise but at the least you might try windows update to see if there is another patch you're missing.

Alternatively you may consider going to control Panel → Add remove programs and uninstall the latest patches.

Finally (and perhaps actually your first recourse(?) use the system rollback tool to return to a restore point before the patches were applied. (see How to restore Windows XP to a previous state http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306084 )

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228729#Comment_228729

I tried safe mode a couple of times last night but that didn't quite work--way too fuzzy brained at the late hour; I'll try again this morning. I was running it direct in the process. If I can get into the machine there's hope, otherwise I might end up with a paperweight.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228748#Comment_228748

Safe Mode isn't working at all. It displays a bunch of "multi(0)...... some system file names" and then goes back into reboot. Without a working DVD drive, I don't think I can get it up. And because it doesn't have an option for a generic DVD drive, I'm not sure how to get it running. My only thought is if I had something on a USB flash drive, it might boot from that. Not sure how to do that after the drive is out of the barn so to speak.

Kevin Becker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228757#Comment_228757

I don't know if this can be used to install a virtual system but you might be able to create the install media on a flash drive using this http://wintoflash.com/home/en/ You'll at least need access to a computer that with a working CD drive.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228758#Comment_228758

I copied my install/recovery disk onto a flash drive, but it doesn't recognize it and gave me an invalid error. I'm thinking it's not the right format on the drive or something. Not quite on my third cup of coffee after a mostly sleepless night. Is that need to be NTFS or something?

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228802#Comment_228802

FWIW, other than my PC install of Logos, my copy of Pradis with NIDOTT and eSword, I probably don't need the PC. I could swallow hard and repurchase NIDOTT for Logos. It's been more of a security blanket, but it's not proving it to be so much anymore.

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228804#Comment_228804

Have you tried disconnecting the CD/DVD drive that is bad? I have two internal hard drives in my computer and my extra (second) hard drive failed and caused these same symptoms. If the update changed the boot configuration I can see faulty hardware causing this. Just a thought.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228810#Comment_228810

I read that sometimes USB hardware does something similar sometimes too. I'd have to open the machine up and it's not very accessible the one time I looked. I'm not sure why an MS patch would do this. I'm thinking the hard drive is failing in which case this is going to be a door stop soon [:(]

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/228819#Comment_228819

I've still got to see about borrowing an external DVD drive, but I think i'm going to be saying Kaddish for my PC. [:'(] Probably a good lesson about having a boot CD available.

Given that the newer processors are still not in the stores I expect to give the PC a hiatus and stick with the Mac. I don't want to max out my little Mac drive with a virtual installation.

mab

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/229221#Comment_229221

I decided to go inside the box this morning. After blowing out a whole lot of dust bunnies I pulled the cables on the DVD drive and reinserted them. After reassembling it, I popped the CD into the drive and it managed to boot from the DVD drive after all. [:O] Unfortunately it wouldn't let me do more than reformat the drive and reinstall XP. It's not finding the router so I am completely at ground zero. I need to get it to SP3, repatched and on the router (reverse that sequence--i'm tired) before I can reconsider installing L4.

Any prayers would be gratefully appreciated.