Computer freezes at user selection screen

[333ryan333]

  :-? My computer will usually freeze 50% of the time on startup (either at where u choose what user name to login in with or when its says "windows is starting up..."). The only thing I can do is turn the power bar on and off, which can not be a very good thing.

I have ran Adaware, spybot, AVG virus scan, Ewido security Suite, CC cleaner and Registry Mechanic.
Nothing fixes this problem. I have no idea why it is doing this. The computer only about 2 years old.

thanks,

Specs:
Gateway 550GR
Windows XP SP2
Inte Pentium 4
3.20 GHz
512 RAM

[GX1_Man]

Is this the original load of Windows? Do you have the CD's to reinstall if needed?

When it does start is anything else abnormal? What preceeded this?

[ale52]

Can you boot to Safe Mode?  Do a sysem restore?

Alan <><

[333ryan333]

Well if I can boot in normal mode 50% of the time Im pretty sure I could boot fine in safe mode.

Im on the troubled computer right now. The problem doesn't occur everytime. About 1 in 5 times it occurs. About the system restore I wouldn't know what date to set back for because this isn't really a recent problem. It has been occuring for about 2 months or so. I heard about a thing called hijackthis would this help or is it a hardware/software issue?

[ale52]

[highlight]Well if I can boot in normal mode 50% of the time Im pretty sure I could boot fine in safe mode. [/highlight]  Have you tried?  :-?


[highlight]Im on the troubled computer right now. The problem doesn't occur everytime. About 1 in 5 times it occurs[/highlight]  That's only 20%  

Sounds suspicously like hardware to me  

Alan <><  

[333ryan333]

safe mode works but how do I find out what is causing this?

[ale52]

Boot into SM / then go to Start / Run / type msconfig.  Deselect everything and reboot into Normal mode.  

What happend?

Alan <><