Why Windows XP Freezes Up At Startup Screen: Windows XP or any other operating system depends on several programs, including the device drivers to boot and present you with your desktop. The boot process identifies all the devices attached to the computer and loads the device drivers accordingly. While booting, it also goes through the system BIOS to gather initial information. As Windows XP is a graphics-intensive operating system, it needs the graphics card drivers in memory before launching the desktop. Windows XP Hangs Up During Boot.
Based on the above, the main factors that cause the problem where Windows XP hangs during boot can be one or more of the following:
- Any USB plug and play devices kept plugged in since the last shutdown
- Plugging in related peripherals into the same power outlet as the computer
- Corrupt MBR
- Missing or corrupt device drivers; or
- Invalid/Corrupt BIOS.
Is It Waiting For Response?
If any USB device is attached to the computer while booting, the chances are that your computer is waiting for input from these devices, causing Windows XP to freeze at startup. This freeze often occurs at the Welcome screen (Fig 1). It responds with a beep when you press the keys. The NumLock key also seems functional, but the OS is hung.
In fact, it is waiting for some response – not from the input devices but the USB devices. Your CD Drive can also be a problem if it contains a CD while booting. Check if there is any CD in the drive. Windows XP Hangs Up During Boot Screen.
If yes, take it out. Switch off the computer and plug out the USB devices.
If this does not solve the problem, check out the next step.
Check The Connections For Peripherals
If your computer can’t get past the Windows Boot screen to reach the Welcome screen, the chances are that other peripherals such as a router plugged into the same power outlet from where the computer draws its main power are creating the problem. When you connect the peripherals being used by the computer to the same power supply, even a small electric glitch can confuse/corrupt the boot system – causing your copy of Windows XP to freeze at startup.
Switch off the power supply and remove any Ethernet cables or similar cables coming into the computer from the same power outlet. Wait for a few minutes and turn on the computer.
If you can boot successfully, the problem is your power outlet. It would help if you changed the power outlet for peripherals, especially routers. If this did not solve the problem, we would try fixing the MBR to avoid XP freezing during startup.
Fixing the MBR
A corrupt MBR can also cause Windows XP to hang at the Welcome screen. To fix this, you need the Windows XP installation CD.
- Boot using the CD; when Windows setup prompts you, press the “R” key to run the Recovery Console.
- You will get to the command prompt.
- Type “FixMBR” at the command prompt (without quotes) and press Enter.
- After you get a message about MBR being fixed, take out the CD and boot normally.
If you can get to the desktop, you have successfully fixed the issue.
If the issue persists, let us try to determine which device driver is creating problems.
Using Windows Recovery to Fix Windows XP
- While booting, press F8 to get the Windows Recovery options.
- Try to boot in safe mode.
- If you cannot boot into Safe Mode or don’t get the Recovery options, go to the next section.
- Booting in safe mode does not load any extra drivers, and you should be able to get to the desktop.
- Suppose you can access the desktop, open the system partition, and locate boot.ini. It is usually hidden, and you may need to change the folder options to view it.
- Open the file and add “/SOS /BOOTLOG /NOBOOTGUI” (without quotes) to the boot.ini line.
- In dual boot systems, make sure you add the above to the line about Windows XP.
- Save and reboot.
- This will disable all screens, and you can see all the drivers as they load into the memory.
- You can identify the point (driver/DLL) where your computer is freezing. Often, it is the graphics driver that creates problems. Make a note of the DLL’s full name where Windows XP is stuck.
- Once you identify the driver creating the problem, restart, and log in again in Safe Mode with the Command Prompt.
- At the command prompt, type “REGSVR32 drivername.dll” and press Enter to re-register the DLL.
- Restart and see if you can boot into Windows XP normally.
If you have fixed the issue, else proceed to the next step.
Note: The above method may not work if you are attempting recovery from a Windows XP Installation dump on any of the HDDs of the corrupt system. Often people tend to log into safe mode and use the saved Installation files. The Windows XP installation CD is more reliable.
Clean Reinstall to Avoid Windows XP Freeze During Boot
The next step is a clean install of Windows XP (Using the Installation CD and not locally stored Installation files as explained above).
If you can boot into Safe Mode, you can save your data; otherwise, there is no way you can save the data on the system partition.
Re-install Windows XP with SP2. You should be able to boot normally to your desktop. Still, if Windows XP freezes at startup, the problem may be with the BIOS, which you will need to reset. Windows XP Hangs Up During Boot Screen.
Reset the BIOS
Resetting the BIOS should solve the problem if reinstalling did not solve it.
To reset the BIOS, you need to take out the battery inside your computer for a few minutes (three to five approx) and then put it back. Make sure your computer is turned OFF while taking out the battery or re-inserting it.
If you feel uncomfortable with this step, you need help from a local technician to eliminate the problem where Windows XP freezes at startup.
Note: A failing RAM may also contribute to Windows XP freezing during startup. To determine if your RAM is damaged, check out the RAM shown in the BIOS and compare it with the one displayed on the General tab of the System Properties box. It appears when you right-click on the My Computer icon. If the difference is significant, you may consider replacing RAM to avoid Windows XP freezing during startup.
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