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

If your husband's computer is a Dell you will have a diagnostic disc you can use to help you
discover what problems your computer is having.  You may need to update yoour Bios
Check with your computer's web site for update of Bios.  What brand is the computer?

d_may

dlongan,
I did press the F8 key and clicked SAFE MODE.  The system rebooted but it was the same screens (the same looping).
I'm not sure where to go to get disable automatic restart and I don't know what to do if I did disable restart.
The installation SP3 went very smooth, I didn't see any error messages, but while it was loading I went and ate dinner.  When I returned it just said restart which I did and my problems began.

Any other help would be great.

Jeanne

Did the installation of SP3 go smooth, any error or exceptions happen?

d_may
My husband's computer is a Gateway 510, with an Intel Pentium 4.  I did try to put in the Gateway Operating CD but it wanted to restore the computer to the factory level and I don't want to do that because I'll lose all his files.

flubbster:  I can't get the system to boot so I can remove SP3 through Add/Remove Programs.

Jeanne,

In the list options after pressing the F8 key you should see an option "disable automatic restart"

OK, I did "disable automatic restart".  Now I get this message on the blue screen.
STOP:  C0000138 {Entry Point Not Found}  The procedure entry point gdigetbitmapbitsize could not be llocated in the dynamic link library GDI32.dll.

I still  have it sitting on the screen because I don't know what to do next.

Thanks, Jeanne

Well, there is an issue with GDI32.dll file or whatever is trying to access it.

Now what do we do from here.
Do  you have a windows xp sp2 CD or is it just a recovery disc from gw?

dlongan
I have a Gateway Operating System Windows XP-MMedia Center 2004 CD.  Earlier before I wrote to Experts Exchange I put this in the CD Rom and tried to rpair the Windows System but it didn't work.  Then I tried to restore disk but it said it would erase everything on the disk and bring it back to when the computer came from the factory.  I just didn't want to do this.

I also have a Windows XP Service Pack 2 disk that I ordered from Microsoft when the Sevice Pack came out but this is all I have.

Any suggestions.

Jeanne

Jeanne, using the XP cd that you have, when you boot off of it, does it give you the option to boot to the recovery console?

It would typically come up and ask if you want to install, recovery console, repair.

please try it. Make sure BIOS is set to boot from the CD first.

Do you have another computer that you can put the hard drive (from the gw) to gain access to the files on it?
If not, you can perform a parallel install of windows in a separate directory.  Once you get the system up and running you will access to the files.  Review "Method 3" in the following article
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941/EN-US/

If you CAN boot into the recovery console and get the command prompt, you can do a manual system restore. There are 12 steps to this, but it is not that difficult. Make sure you pay attention to leading underscores (_) and spaces in the commands. Here we go...

Here is the 12-step process:

1. Boot the Recovery Console from the Windows XP installation CD.

2. When you're at the Recovery Console command prompt, change into the root directory of the system drive with the cd command (i.e., cd \).


3. Change into the System Volume Information directory by typing cd system~1 on most machines, or cd "System Volume Information."


(The filenames with ~1 are generated by default to provide backwards compatibility with programs that only recognize 8.3-format filenames. It's possible to disable 8.3 filename generation on NTFS volumes to gain some speed, but the speed gained by doing this is generally pretty small and it can have the unintended consequence of making it impossible to use 8.3 filenames in contexts like this. If you can't use 8.3 filenames to navigate, 8.3 name generation might be disabled. See Microsoft's support document called How to Disable the 8.3 Name Creation on NTFS Partitions.

4. The System Volume Information directory contains a folder name _restore followed by a GUID in curly braces. Change into it by typing cd _resto~1; if that doesn't work you'll have to type cd "_restore{GUID_STRING}", with the full GUID string in place of GUID_STRING.


5. In the _restore directory are a group of subdirectories starting with the letters RP and followed by a number. These are the different restore points available for that volume.

6. Check the date on each directory and look for one that corresponds to a date before you began experiencing problems.

7. Change into the appropriate directory. If the directory is named RP74, for instance, change into it by typing RP74.

8. Inside that directory will be a subdirectory named snapshot; change into that directory as well (cd snapshot)

9. The snapshot directory holds backup copies of the SOFTWARE and SYSTEM Registry hives, named _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE and _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM, respectively.

10. The target directory for these files is \Windows\System32\Config, and the hives there are named SOFTWARE and SYSTEM. Rather than overwrite those files entirely, you can rename them to something else. Typing ren \windows\system32\config\software \windows\system32\config\software.bak
 and ren \windows\system32\config\system \windows\system32\config\system.bak
will rename them to software.bak and system.bak, respectively.

11. Copy in the backup hives:
 copy _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SOFTWARE \windows\system32\config\software
copy _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM \windows\system32\config\system.

12. Type exit to leave the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

flubbster,

Your right we can restore the registry hives prior to the sp3 install, but what about the system files that might have been updated?
My concern is GDI32 is most likely been updated and lost some backwards compatibility.  It's strange that safe mode doesn't work, so this most likely eliminates the video driver.

I'm sorry guys, but I honestly don't know what to do right now.  I'm afraid to do anything because I do have several things to try.

I'll tell you where I am now.  I did put in the Gateway CD and did select the Recovery mode.  I don't remember what I did next but right now I'm sitting in a dos black screen and it says:
C:\Windows

It did give me a "Directory of C:\Windows and on the top it says
The volume in drive C has no label and then it gives the serial number.

Please tell me which direction I should take now.

I do not have another computer to put the hard disk in.  Two weeks ago my Windows XP crashed and the repair shop said it couldn't be fixed.  Right now I'm typing on a old Windows 98 laptop and so far this is working like a charm.

Please tell me which suggestion I should use.  I don't have a printer now just my little laptop to follow your instructions.  Thank you.

Jeanne

Jeanne,

Peform the registry hive restore that flubbster as posted this may very well work.
If that doesn't, then you  can perform the parallel install of windows to gain access to the files.  Once you can access to the files, you can get your husbands data for him and there might be some things that can be done correct the problem with sp3.

Yes Jeanne... follow he 12 steps exactly as I listed them. Just type what it says.

start at step 1 with c:\

The worst that can happen is that it will still not boot. You can then place it in a different computer as suggested above and retrieve all the files that you want from it. Then we can tackle the problem some more.

Hi again,
I'm not getting very far at all and I'm frustrated.  I am in the "manual restore" from the Gateway CD and it says:
The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
1: C:\WINDOWS
Which Windows Installatiohn would you like to log onto
(to cancel, press enter)     I then typed a 1 and entered
Now I get a command
C:\WINDOWS
and I cannot get it to change to C:
I can get it to change to the A: and D: (recovery cd)
HELP

Thanks

Jeanne,

at the c:\windows prompt type cd \  this is step 2 of flubbers instructions take a deep breath and relax and then follow his instructions.
fyi - you can't change to a different drive such as a: or d: while in the recovery console mode.

Jeanne,
I am sorry about your problem with the Windows xp sp3.  I just hope this is not a sign of things to come.
I still think the repair option is the best route to take,
Try some utilities from the recovery console

1. boot to the recovery console (Boot to the XP cd, and choose the initial repair option)
2. at the  C:\ prompt, type in  fixboot and hit enter
3. type fixmbr and hit enter
4. type chkdsk /r and hit enter


The repair utility will run a check disk on the hard drive and repair any error that it finds. If it still does not work, move on to the next utility. ** If you cannot boot to the recovery console, try to boot to Safe Mode with command prompt, and run the same utilities.

Repair Utility (Repair on the Operating System)

1. Boot to the Windows installation CD
2. The Windows CD Setup will begin and Setup is loading files
3. It will get the Welcome to Setup Screen
4. Press ENTER to run setup for Windows
5. Press F8 to accept the licensing agreement
6. Press R to repair the select Windows installation

This one reinstalls standard Windows files, but leaves your profile and programs intact. See this link for more detailed instructions, especially if you currently have XPSP2.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

d_may

Ok guys, I have done some of the things that were suggested.  But I'm stuck now.  I am down to the snapshot directory and am trying to type the two files to be renamed.  I am typing them as instructed, such as:
ren \windows\system32\config\software \windows\system32\config\software.bak
ren \windows\system32\config\system \windows\system32\config\system.bak

I get this message:  The paramater is not valid.  I think I typed it correctly putting a space in after ren and a space after software.

Can you help get me past this problem.  Thanks again for all the help.

Jeanne,

I don't remember if you can rename files in the recovery console.
Make copies instead...
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system system.bak
copy c:\windows\system32\config\software software.bak

Did you like my last post Jeanne, did you attempt it?

d_may

I'm so sorry to have to inform you, dlongan and flubbster, that I did do all the steps that flubbster suggested and when I restarted the computer it came up the exact same way (looping the same two screens.

Right now I'm so disappointed and tired but I'm trying the suggestions that d_may sent.  I did  type in  fixboot and hit enter, then fixmbr and right now the chkdsk /r is running.  It is only 57% complete.

I'll let you know what happens when this is completed.

Thanks so very much for all this help.

Jeanne

Jeanne,

Thanks OK, btw I was under the impresson that you tried a "repair" of the current windows installation based on earlier comments. But I do understand if not.
If the repair doesn't work, I think your best bet will be is  to perform a parallel install of windows in a separate directory.  Once you get the system up and running you will access to the files.  Review "Method 3" in the following article
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941/EN-US/

Another option if you do not wish to, or cannot do a searate installation, is to pick up a USB to IDE Bridge. They are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at any decent electronics/computer center, ie... Best Buy, Circuit City, sometimes Radio Shack.

It allows you to take a Hard Drive and plug it into a USB connector and access the drive. This way, you can pull all the files you want off of it. You treat it just like an external drive on your system. Once you have access, we even may be able to help fix it.

good luck!

Also... another user had the exact same symptons and problem as you... at virtually the exact same time. I posted the same instructions for him as I did for you regarding the 12 step process for recovering the system back to SP2. His worked great and is now fine. I think you need to try again, following my instructions EXACTLY. The error you got during the rename poretion tells me that something was not right somewhere during the procedure. If you have done nothing else to the system, it is worth trying again.

Well, I guess I will have to give up because now I can't even run the Setup  CD.  I just don't know what  to do.  It is still booting to the same two screens but now when I hit the space bar when it asks, "press any key to boot to DVD, I press the enter ken and I get these choices:
A Express Windows Instalation
B Manual Windows Installation
Choose an option and press enter, - when I press A, I get a Starting Gateway Restoration Environment. When the bar goes acdross the screen, I get Please Wait.  Then a blank blue screen.
Then a Gateway Logo screen and asking to reload Windows.  I decided to go ahead and give this a try because when I hit B, it ignors it and does the same old screens.

At this moment it is reformatting.  I will let you all know if I am successful.

Thank you so much for trying so hard to help me.

Jeanne

I am so sorry we were unable to help you more. Let us know if you need any more help pls...

take care

Hi All,
Thank you so very much for trying to help me solve my problem without reformatting the computer.  I did learn a lot trying all the things you suggested doing.  I'm sure I'm not that computer saavy so I'm even surprised that I was able to work with DOS as much as I did.
I learned a lesson from all this, backup documents before trying to install Service Packs just as they told us to do.  My husband won't be too far behind because I did back up his important document back on March 19th so he'll have less than a month to catch up.  But another good lesson is to back up at least once a week.

Right now his computer is up and running again and I'm downloading Service Pack 2 to bring it up to date.  ( I won't try Service Pack 3 at all.)  I will try re-installing his programs one at a time over the next few days.

Thank you all for the excellent help.  Sorry I didn't stick with the original problem but after trying all the things I did, I thought it best just to re-format and get on with our life.

Have a great week-end and thanks again for all the help.  I really feel this site is one of the best helpers to individuals are not computer experts.

Jeanne

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.

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

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

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

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.