Oh oh - XP SP3 no blue screen! Help

[MotoSook]

My computer installed service pack 3 and now I keep getting a blue screen when I restart.

Any suggestions?

[slodave]

Follow this from MS...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

Use method 4.

What are the specs for the computer?

Dave

[Seric]

Graphics or harddisk driver issue most likely. Boot to SafeOS with networking and install latest drivers.

[MotoSook]

I can't even start in Safe Mode and the F8 key is starting to wear out!

Now I have to find my XP CD it looks like...or is there another way to enter Safe Mode so I can Restore?

[slodave]

Can you get to the safe mode option or are you saying it blue screens when booting to safe mode? Are you using an Intel chip or AMD?

If you find the OS CD, boot to the recovery console and see if you can navigate to the directory listed and rename the file:

4. Browse to C:\Windows\System32\Drivers.
5. Find a file named “intelppm.sys” and rename it to “XXXintelppm.syx“.
6. Restart.

The first three steps do not apply, since you cannot get into safe mode.

[MotoSook]

Dave,

It's a Pentium 4 1.5Ghz. It's an old computer.

Anyhow, it boots and shows the windows start up screen, then goes to blue screen. Nothing I do will put me into Safe Mode. Can I go into CMOS and "Load Fail Safe Defaults" then start? Will that do anything?

Thanks a lot for all you guy's input so far.

[slodave]

Messing with CMOS won't do anything. Do you start hitting F8 right after you turn the computer on? Strange that you cannot get to the safe mode screen. You sure the F8 key is working

[Tim Hancock]

Wow, my computer keeps asking me to install SP3, but have been avoiding clicking on it. Can I assume it is a bad thing to do on my old laptop?

[MotoSook]

Dave, I hammer the F8 key like it was my old HS girlfriend back when I WAS in HS....and it does nothing.

Looks like I have to go digging in the basement for my XP CD.

Tim...of I did the search after this episode...and XP SP3 is a big pack of poo poo! Lots of problems with it.

[Tim Hancock]

Thanks for the heads up Souk. Another day or two and our situtions would be reversed. I hope you can save it somehow.

[slodave]

Do you have any USB perifs attached? Try unplugging all USB and see if the computer boots.

[MotoSook]

I'll strip the box of plugs and give it a shot after the kiddie soccer practice, Dave. Thanks.

[onewhippedpuppy]

SP3 has problems?! No issues on my computers, including my 4 year old desktop.

[slodave]

SP3 had problems when it was a release candidate, but I have been installing it on computers without problem as well. It has actually fixed a few things on a few computers.