Help my computer wont turn on

[Sean0514]

when i press the power button on my computer to turn it on everything runs fine untill i get to the xp loading screen...the one with the windows flag...and it gets stuck there...i left it there loading over night...and nothing....i am able to boot it up in safe mode but not in normal mode...i dont want t clear my hdd because it has my life on it...Music, Videos, Pictures, Guitar music, things that i have wrote...i cant lose that stuff...what can i do to fix my computer so it can start in normal mode again...

also it wont let me do a system restore...it goes through the process of it but when it reboots it gets stuck at the windows flag loading screene...

my computer is a HP Pavillion 513n running windows xp SP3.

[DaveLembke]

How long have you been running SP3 on that HP.... There are some issues with HP and Compaq Computers operating with SP3, or I should say... failing to operate soon after the SP3 update

If you want your data and want your system back up and running asap, I'd buy an external HD enclosure, and an extra HD. Install the new HD in your sytsem in place of the old HD. Install clean build to new HD. And place old HD into ext hard drive case, and acces all your data via USB as an external drive. Simplest way to have your data back without taking the chance of losing it all especially since a repair feature will not work.

The OS sounds hosed

[Sean0514]

i have been running SP3 for about 3 weeks...and tis is thefirst time i have encountered a problem with it...how much does an extra hdd cost...i dontwant to spend way to much on it...i am geting a new laptop next week but i need my music to work on my computer for the weekend... is there any way i can fix my computer...

[drmsucks]

Do you receive any error messages?

Try disconnecting all peripherals attached to the computer - re-boot.

Can you boot to Safe Mode?

[Sean0514]

no i never recieved any error messages... i can boot it in safe mode...i dont know what pererferals are tho is that like mouse and keyboard because that didnt do anything when i un plugged them...

[drmsucks]

no i never recieved any error messages... i can boot it in safe mode...i dont know what pererferals are tho is that like mouse and keyboard because that didnt do anything when i un plugged them...

You need to have the mouse and keyboard and monitor. But disconnect any printers, USB hubs or devices - everything but the mouse and keyboard and monitor.

While you are able to work in Safe Mode, I strongly urge you to backup all of your important files.

Did you make any changes to your system before this problem? Installed programs, updated drivers, added hardware?

[Sean0514]

i actually tried it again i unplugged everything except the monitor and the keyboard...and it booted in normal mode .....now i will try to restart it so i can use the mouse and keyboard...

[Sean0514]

i think it is now working....it will now boot up...thanks

[drmsucks]

Glad that it works. What did you unplug from the computer? The device may have a problem or need an updated driver.

Remember this?:

i dont want t clear my hdd because it has my life on it...Music, Videos, Pictures, Guitar music, things that i have wrote...i cant lose that stuff...

Back up NOW!

Best of luck!

[ArtSiren]

I've got pretty much the same problem, with a few differences:

1. It gets to the XP flag, but instead of hanging there, it restarts again. It then repeats this in an endless loop.

2. Each time it restarts it gives me the option of starting in Safe mode etc, but the keyboard won't allow me to toggle. So it starts up in Normal mode in the endless loop. (ie I am unable to use Safe mode.)

Any ideas? I'm happy to shift this to a brand new thread if I need to. It just sounded very similar to Sean's original problem.

I don't know whether I have SP3 - unless it automatically installed in the background!

Any ideas would be very, very appreciated. TIA.

[drmsucks]

I've got pretty much the same problem, with a few differences:

1. It gets to the XP flag, but instead of hanging there, it restarts again. It then repeats this in an endless loop.

2. Each time it restarts it gives me the option of starting in Safe mode etc, but the keyboard won't allow me to toggle. So it starts up in Normal mode in the endless loop. (ie I am unable to use Safe mode.)

Any ideas? I'm happy to shift this to a brand new thread if I need to. It just sounded very similar to Sean's original problem.

I don't know whether I have SP3 - unless it automatically installed in the background!

Any ideas would be very, very appreciated. TIA.

Please start a new topic so that you get the help that you need. Post your computer mfg and model and specs as well as the issue.

EDIT: If you have an AMD processor and a system made by HP and XP SP3, look here: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01457284&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en or here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372/en-us