Re: XP wont boot and safe mode doesn't work


All is running ok (ish!) now. Start up is much quicker, I'm back online. But
one major problem is that I'm caught in a catch 22 with having to get sp2 for
Xp, as it requires Explorer 7 and you need SP2 to get Expl 7. What a load of
crap. Any ideas how I can downloads sp2 as a stand alone intaller?

Thanks


"db" wrote:

I always suggest a min of 2
and max of 1152. It is a good
median.

But the old rule of thumb
was that the pagefile should be no
greater than 2.5 times the size of your
ram

Depending on the software, most
pc's will use less and some will use
more. If windows requires more pagefile
it will tell you and "try" to increase the
size. If it has too little, then the pc
will become unstable.

You can monitor your pagefile
and memory with http://www.amsn.ro/

I use it all the time. I suggest to
start it and quit it, instead of having
it constantly running.

In regards to slow startup, this
can be due to a variety of reasons.
And you will just have to be patient
and figure out the cause.

Since disabling some startups
helped your system, i think
you should immunize with
spybot freeware.

Also, if you can boot up to safemode
faster, then there is likely an issue
with a driver that is posing an obstacle
in normal mode. You can
look for any oddities booting
with autoruns from
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/processesandthreadsutilities.mspx

Using autoruns is interesting:
If you find an entry to disable, simply
check it, then double click the
file name and you will see that
the registry key was disabled.
To enable it, uncheck it and double
click the filename.

Also, I suggest to go to microsoft.com
and download and install page defrag
from http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/fileanddiskutilities.mspx
you can install this with confidence, then reboot
afterwards to see it in action.

also, i suggest to run a registry cleaner
like Eusing freeware.

and if you don't have any antiviral
running i suggest the spyware terminator
with the clam antivirus plug-in.

the above are just a few tips.

in any case, your next project
is to backup what is working so
that we don't cross this bridge again...

- db

"Dickie" <Dickie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:B8AC3CFF-A580-4585-98F9-22DB39CC62CC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi db

Things are looking up. Its not crashing anymore. I basically cleared out my
start up menu and whatever was corrupted has gone.

Can I ask you - when in safe mode, how do I find out the size of the page /
swap file?

When I ran chkdsk /r, everything seems fine.

The major annoyance that is left is that when I am booting, it sits on the
'windows is starting up' screen for a good 2 mins. Once the pc is running, it
is fast and reliable. Do you know what could be causing this?

Thanks again for all ongoing help.

Dickie



"Dickie" wrote:

> Me thinks me is in um big um trouble. I was running xp perfectly fine with
> macafee int security, with avast doing the anti virus. In my infinite wisdom,
> I thought I'd try antivirus kit instead, which I tried to install. Once this
> was underway, I got an error telling me to uninstall macafee virus scan as
> this can cause trouble. As the virus scan part was disabled, I ploughed on.
> Here lies um big um mistake. The install froze. I left it for ages, nothing.
> So I head to manually power down. Upon reboot, it sticks on "loading your
> settings" screen. So obviously I tried to boot in safe mode, upon which I get
> "we apologize for any inconvienience but windows could not boot correctly".
> It suggests booting to "last known good config" which I tried and it still
> freezes up.
>
> Other than telling me I have a brain equal to a pea and that I shouldn't
> give up my day job, please someone tell me I've not fried it.
>
> Majorily appreciate any help guys and gals.
>
>
.