Computer hangs at the Welcome Screen! Help!

beachbeth

All of a sudden Ive got a problem with my computer and Im having trouble starting it. It gets as far as the Welcome screen where you have to click which account user you want and, even though I can move the cursor arrow around it doesn't turn into a hand when I hover over the user names and if I try to click on a user nothing happens either. Eventually after continually restarting and switching off at the mains it goes back to normal and I can click on a user and start as usual.

Im on Windows XP and have completely wiped my computer and started again in case it was a virus but its still the same. Its also the same if I try to start in Safe Mode. Any ideas anyone?

gaming_guy

have you got at least 1gb free space on your hard drive?

beachbeth

Ive got 111GB free space.

gaming_guy

when it gets to the logon screen try logging on the old way by pressing ctrl+alt+delete and typing your username and password

beachbeth

Pressing ctrl+alt+delete doesn't do anything!

theCapt

sounds like a memory error or a hard drive failure. Try reseating your memory and check your hard drive cables. If that still doesn't fix it, try different memory configurations like using 1 memory module instead of two etc. Try different hard drive cables is possible and even try a different hard drive to to test the system.

Toxteth_OGrady

Download and run Memtest86.

Could also be a failing power supply.

:cool:

TOG

beachbeth

Think I may need to get my brother to help with this. He's an expert with computers. Ive done everything I can think of but if its a hardware problem then I just don't know!

beachbeth

Toxteth_OGrady wrote:

Download and run Memtest86.

Could also be a failing power supply.

:cool:

TOG

Ive done this and it asks for me to insert a floppy disc. Sorry to be thick but is this right? Do I then reboot from this floppy?

Toxteth_OGrady

Yes - you install Memtest on a floppy and then boot your pc from the floppy drive.

For windows installation begin by downloading either the Pre-Compiled Windows package to build a boot-able floppy disk or an ISO (zip version) to create a boot-able CDROM. After the file is downloaded an extract must be done to uncompress the file(s). To extract right click on the downloaded file and select the "Extract All" option. The extract option will let you choose where the files will be extracted to, e.g. your Desktop or c:\Temp will do. To build a bootable floppy go the the folder where the files were extracted and click on the Install icon. The floppy disk will appear to be unformatted by Windows after the install is complete.

To build a boot-able CDROM use your CD burning software to create an image from the un-zipped ISO file.

:cool:

TOG

fox2319

Has this just appeared since last thursday or so? We had some issues after the last windows update which caused the computer to hang when the first program was launched.

To get the PC back up and running we had to run msconfig from the start (should be able to do this if you can get into safe mode) then deselect all in your startup tab. Once you've done this, reboot as normal and see if it comes back. If it does, re-enable 3 at a time, starting with the ones you know to be useful for you (or where you think the name sounds nice ) Once you've ticked 3 boxes then reboot and repeat.

No need to re-enable everything just enought to get your PC ticking along.

Hope that helps

Jeff