Windows XP Pro "stalls" just before Ctrl Alt Del login screen - sometimes

[gveit]

Hello,

I have an issue on a Windows XP Professional laptop, where intermittently, when it is started up from being completely shut down, it starts loading Windows, displays the Windows logo, etc. and then displays the blue background. You can move the mouse around - but the Ctrl Alt Del login prompt doesn't appear.

No key combinations I've tried work - it's just stuck there. Usually if I hold the power button down for 10 seconds, it will shut down and when I start it back up again it works normally. I would say it's one out of five times it does this.

I have up to date corporate Kaspersky Antivirus, I've run registry cleaners (PC tools Registry Mechanic, CCleaner) I run a lot on my system, but keep it fairly well maintained.

It's a Dell Latitude D820, Core 2 Duo @ 2Ghz, 4GB RAM, etc. - and it's running XP Pro, and is part of a Windows server domain.

It has me stumped. I've done a fair bit of online research - but haven't found any solutions.

Any intelligent help would be appreciated!

[Quantos]

Have you tried using the ctrl+alt+del sequence?

[dahlarbear]

Just on general principles, I would check the integrity of the file system and defrag it; in that order.  If you also choose to check the disk surface for errors, don't ever abort it.

Any chance you're using "roaming" profiles?

[Quantos]

Have you tried using the ctrl+alt+del sequence?

Try manually using this sequence.

[gveit]

Have you tried using the ctrl+alt+del sequence?

Yes, I've tried using the ctrl+alt+del sequence many times - doesn't do anything.

[gveit]

Just on general principles, I would check the integrity of the file system and defrag it; in that order.  If you also choose to check the disk surface for errors, don't ever abort it.

Any chance you're using "roaming" profiles?

When you say "check the integrity of the file system" do you mean chkdsk command? or what are you referring too? I haven't aborted any checking the disk surface for errors.

I'll try running a defrag and see if that makes a difference, although I'm not as optimistic as the Diskeeper ads about proper defragging solving all the world's problems.

Thanks.

If anyone has any other ideas in the mean time, it would be appreciated.

[dahlarbear]

When you say "check the integrity of the file system" do you mean chkdsk command? or what are you referring too? I haven't aborted any checking the disk surface for errors.

Yes, either the "chkdsk" command or its GUI interface (right-click disk -> Properties -> Tools tab -> Error-checking subsection).  Have you checked the disk surface recently?  See Windows XP chkdsk.

I would run the "chkdsk" before the "defrag" to ensure the integrity of the file system and disk surface before moving stuff around.  If you do a surface scan as part of the chkdsk, it may take a long time; but don't "abort" it.

[Karnac]

I've run registry cleaners (PC tools Registry Mechanic, CCleaner)

Avoid registry cleaners like the plague...CCleaner appears to be acceptable.

[gveit]

Avoid registry cleaners like the plague...CCleaner appears to be acceptable.

I agree that most are hoaxes/malware themselves.

I think these are fairly legitimate.