[Potato]

Starting today I have been unable to boot up XP on my computer. Everytime it starts up, it will go to the blue screen right before I can get to the login screen. If I boot in safe mode, it will load up the log in screen but if I click on any of the buttons the computer freezes and goes back to the blue screen. I haven't put any new hardware into the computer since it worked, but I had installed some anti virus programs. I did get safe mode to boot up once right after it had the first blue screen to delete the firewall I had installed though. I also tried to boot from the disc drive, but it automatically reverts to booting up from the hard drive. Any solutions would be greatly appreciated.

[Dave Hybrid]

Enter the BIOS and set to boot from the CD.

Then boot from your Windows CD and do a Windows repair.

To do a Windows repair you need to select the second repair option once your boot off of the CD.

[Potato]

Ok, I tried to do the boot from disc drive. After it did the check thing at the bottem of the screen, it said "Launching Windows" and then crashed to blue screen. Any other ideas?

[Dave Hybrid]

Sounds like a hardware fault.

How old is the PC?

[Potato]

Brand new. Just finished building it a few days ago.

[Krlll]

Well if its a new build and it got all the way through windows installation with no problems I guess something you installed anti virus/firewall etc caused it(what were they btw?)
My advice and in some cases this might seem drastic but not in yours as its a new build would be to re-install windows and be careful about what software you install this time. ;)

[Potato]

I installed AVG Free Edition, Spybot S&D, and Sygate firewall. I had heard that the Sygate was most unreliable and friends of mine had gotten blue screens, though it was free so I tried it. When I first got the blue screen, I was in Safe Mode and went and deleted from the hd to fix it. This of course, didn't fix it.

[Dave Hybrid]

It is difficult to help when you are not clear with what the issue is.

Didn't you just say that when you boot from CD the XP install starts then crashes?

If the install crashes you have a hardware fault, it's pretty cut and dry.

If when you boot from the CD the install runs fine then do a repair of XP and everything should go back to normal.

[Potato]

No, it just starts unpacking the things on the disc, it doesn't even get to the first actual install screen. Now I guess it's just a hardware fault.

[Dave Hybrid]

If the XP install crashes you 100% have a hardware fault.

First thing to check is that all your fans work and are not overheating.

Failing that if you have two sticks of RAM remove one and try the install again, if it crashes try with the other stick of RAM only.

This will rule the RAM out as it is unlikely that both are faulty.

If that fails then you are looking at CPU or motherboard.

Both will require a new item in order to test.

[Dave Hybrid]

Originally Posted by Potato No, it just starts unpacking the things on the disc, it doesn't even get to the first actual install screen. Now I guess it's just a hardware fault.

You are definetly booting from the CD, or are you running the install CD while in Windows?

[Potato]

Well, this computer seems to have numerous surprises. It has randomly allowed me to start booting up in normal and safe mode, ruling out the hardware fault. But, I still get a lot of blue screens and the like, so I'll probably just end up wiping the hard drive to keep me from going insane.

[Dave Hybrid]

If you don't answer my questions I cannot help you.

[Potato]

Sorry, I did the boot from cd. I'll try opening it in xp though.

[geforce]

Dear friend, I believe there is a problem with your Disk drive too. It is highly suspicious, as your system crashes even whille unpacking. This may be caused due to a fault data transfer through your disk drive.

Let me know, if after changing your disk drive, your repair functions properly.