Windows XP won't boot (just halts with a black screen)

From WikiTechia

Jump to: navigation, search

Antecdotally, I've seen a lot of people recently who have a problem where Windows XP won't boot (just halts with a black screen).

Symptoms

  • Normal boot results in a halt to a black screen.
  • Safe Mode results in a halt to a black screen.
  • Last Known Good Configuration results in a halt to a black screen.
  • Recovery console results in the computer rebooting.

With this set of symptoms the problem looks like a dead end...

Corrupt Driver

The problem is more than likely, a corrupt driver. Antecdotally, it's been the Daemon Tools' scsi driver each time.

  1. So boot into safe mode with confirmation. While the drivers are loading up, take note of it and load them one by one until the system halts. Write down that last drivers file name.
  2. Boot using safe mode with confirmation again, this time bypassing the driver.
  3. Rename the driver in question once you get into windows.
  4. Reboot normally

NOTE: In the case of daemon tools, uninstall at this point and reinstall.

BTW: To save some time, just count how many numbers it is till the crashing driver and just write down that driver's name.

Corrupted USB Storage

The problem can also be an external USB drive that's not working properly. eg corrupt table entries.

  1. Unplug the USB drive.
  2. Reboot normally.
Retrieved from "http://www.wikitechia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_won%27t_boot_%28just_halts_with_a_black_screen%29"
Personal tools