Windows hang at bootup

[Willem]

Hi.
When booting up Windows, just before it goes into the GUI,
it just hangs with a black screen. I try and boot it up
into "save mode", then i can see the exact drivers it
loads, and then it just hangs at the display driver.

Is there a way to fix it maybe thru the repair console ?

Thanx.

[Tom Porterfield]

Willem wrote:
> Hi.
> When booting up Windows, just before it goes into the GUI,
> it just hangs with a black screen. I try and boot it up
> into "save mode", then i can see the exact drivers it
> loads, and then it just hangs at the display driver.
>
> Is there a way to fix it maybe thru the repair console ?

Possibly. Through the recovery console you have the disable command that
can be used to disable a service or device driver. Here is the help info
on the disable command:

"Disable

Disables a Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0 system service or a
device driver. The disable command is only available when you are using
the Recovery Console.

disable {[service_name] | [device_driver_name]}

Parameters

service_name

The name of the system service you want to disable.

device_driver_name

The name of the device driver you want to disable.

Example

The following example disables the Eventlog service:

disable eventlog

Notes

The disable command sets the startup type to SERVICE_DISABLED for the
service or driver you specify.
When you use the disable command to disable a system service or a device
driver, the name of the previous startup type for the system service or
device driver will display on the screen. You should write this name down
in case you need to restore the startup type to its previous setting using
the enable command.
There are five startup types. The first three, SERVICE_AUTO_START,
SERVICE_DISABLED, and SERVICE_DEMAND_START, correspond to the standard
startup types, Automatic, Disabled, and Manual, which you typically
configure using Services in the Computer Management administrative tool.
The last two, SERVICE_BOOT_START and SERVICE_SYSTEM_START, are commonly
used to configure the way device drivers load; for example, when the
computer is started or when Windows starts."

The listsvc command can be used to list the services and drivers available
on the computer.

You might also try using the last know good configuration option. This is
a separate startup option other than Normal or Safe mode. Here is a
little info on the last known good configuration option:

"To start the computer using the last known good configuration

-Print these instructions before continuing. They will not be available
after you shut down your computer in step 2.
-Click Start, click Shut Down, and then, in the drop-down list, click Shut
down.
-In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, click Restart, and then click OK.
-When you see the message Please select the operating system to start,
press F8.
-Use the arrow keys to highlight Last Known Good Configuration, and then
press ENTER.
-If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation
that you need to access using the arrow keys, and then press ENTER.

Notes

-Choosing Last Known Good Configuration provides a way to recover from
problems such as a newly added driver that may be incorrect for your
hardware. It does not solve problems caused by corrupted or missing
drivers or files.
-When you choose Last Known Good Configuration, only the information in
registry key HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet is restored. Any changes you
have made in other registry keys remain.
-NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will
function."
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP Windows XP & Smart Display
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tp.porterfield/support

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