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	[x] Attachment Details

After updating Windows XP to Service Pack 3 windows will not boot up but remains in a loop

Zones: Operating Systems Miscellaneous, Windows XP Operating System, Microsoft Operating Systems

Tags: Microsoft, Windows XP, Service Pack 3

I read in PC world that Service Pack 3 was available for download so I went to the site and downloaded it on my husband's computer. When it told me to restart the computer, I did, and now I cannot get the computer to return to the Windows Desktop Screen.

This is what happens:
I first get the Gateway Logo Screen with Boot Menu F10 and Bios Settings F2. Then the screen leaves and shortly Windows XP shows on the screen and looks like it will come up but then goes away and a blank black screen appears. Shortly after that, the Gateway screen reappears with the Boot Menu and Bios Settings showing. Then it repeats itself again with the Windows XP screen. It appears to be in a loop of the two screens.

Any help with this problem will be so appreciated as my husband needs his financial files.

Thank you.

Jeanne

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4.1

Question Stats

Zone: OS

Question Asked By: Jeanne

Solution Provided By: flubbster

Participating Experts: 8

Solution Grade: A

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Open Discussion

Comment by sjmc2002

I was having the same issue as Jeanne and I tried the 12 step manual restore suggested by flubbster. I had only one problem, when I tried to rename the files as in step 10. I had to use the following commands: rename \windows\system32\config\software software.bak
and rename \windows\system32\config\system system.bak. Once I completed the 12 steps and restarted my PC booted just fine.

Thanks for all the great info.

Comment by Jeanne

sjmc2002
That's great. I'm glad you were able to fix your computer. After I reformatted this computer, is is working fine, and I am not going to upgrade it to Service Pack 3, at least for awhile.

Jeanne

Comment by vkuttyp

You can solve this problem by copying gdi32.dll from c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll to c:\windows\system32\gdi32.dll.

Comment by QGSmith

I had the same proble. User vkuttyp was on the money. Thanks. My system problems were solved too.
This worked for me without choosing "Last known good configuration or rebuilding the old registry hive"

- Boot into safe mode with command prompt from the old WinXp-Sp1 or 2 cd
- copy gdi32.dll from c:\windows\servicepackfiles\i386\gdi32.dll to c:\windows\system32 \gdi32.dll
- Replace exisitng file
- Type EXIT
- Restart system normally

Thanks vkuttyp

Comment by scopeortho

We expriernced the same issue and had even a worst case scenario. The recovery console was not picking up the hard drive so we were not able to do a repair. We moved the drive to another availalbe workstation that installed SP3 fine and copied the GDI32.dll and the gdi executable. Booted up fine.

Comment by mcben47

For information Only
Have successfully installed Win XP SP3 on three HP laptops ( 2 x AMD 1 x Intel) without issue, used the full download rather than online.
BUT had similar continuous rebooting problems with a none branded Intel desktop
where after seemingly a completed install failed after restart. Same full download used on all 4
Tried the Recovery Console process without success.
Installed a second drive and installed XP SP2 onto that then saved all the users files to a external drive (in case) then after much surfing found several references to a versioning problem in GDI.dll

Tried several file versions overwriting those into windows\system32 and windows\dllcache. then retrying to start. in particular
http://sharpurdotnet.blogspot.com/search/label/Operating%20System

Found that version 5.1.260.3311 which was same as on my own PC nearly got me a complete solution.

I say nearly because when I'd got to a logon screen for the user and signed on, it didn't provide me a Start button etc (no Explorer running) I then followed steps 8 & 9 from Method 3 Use of Recovery Console see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249/en-us

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Miscellaneous/Q_23313612.html

After much effort, I could see the sytem as it was, but as far as the PC is concerned it still is a SP2 unit and for the moment that is where it will stay.
On checking it against Windows Update after all this I was offered to download SP3
No Thanks

20080723-EE-VQP-34 / EE_QW_2_20070628