My Windows XP Professional PC will only start if I use "Last known
good configuration".  If I do a normal boot it crashes near the end of
startup.  It will work fine after using "Last known good
configuration" and shut down normaly, but will crash again next time.
I boot with "Last known good configuration" again and all is fine and
this is without changing any of the startup programs or services.

This started after installing the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 SDK and
uninstalling did not help.  System Restore said it was not available
or something like that (figures).

I am very familiar with fixing Windows, but this one has me stumped.
How do I go about fixing this?

PS:
Besides HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet there are also
Registry entries for:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002  and
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet004

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Request for Question Clarification by blader-ga on 15 Aug 2002 16:49 PDT

Dear 2f-ga:

Try setting a System Restore point when it boots well. Then reboot and
choose last known good configuration again. Then use System Restore to
restore the system back to the save point you just made. Tell me if
this works.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by blader-ga on 15 Aug 2002 16:50 PDT

Oh wait, System Restore you said doesn't start? Hm. Never mind. =)

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Request for Question Clarification by alienintelligence-ga on 16 Aug 2002 02:07 PDT

Hi there 2f...

Since you uninstalled the application, did
you try REINSTALLING?

Have you tried the app REGMON?
[ http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml ]

Have you checked apps that startup from
the registry?
[ HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run ]

Have you considered doing a reinstall over
your current OS install?

Have you run system file checker?
[ http://www.microsoft.com/hwdev/driver/sfp/wfp.asp ]

-AI

If this is a problem where Windows would boot up to the point when the
taskbar would normaly load.  One cause could be that you removed some
hidden components from the device manager related to Microsoft kernel.
I would recommend reinstalling windows and you shouldn't lose any
settings.

Perhaps this article can help:

http://www.mediaworkstation.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

I tried it's reccomendations in a rather similiar case and it worked for me.

Hi, 

two main reasons for SYSTEM RESTORE not working (starting up,
unavailable) are 1. low space on hard drive and 2. virus infection.
Please try using an on-line scan which is more reliable than a local
scan using a software from your hard disk or CDrom. a google search
for 'online virus scan' will provide results...

URL http://housecall.antivirus.com/ 
this is pretty good, i have used it myself... 

please remember to reboot your machine immediately after the scan -
without any other operation on the machine. in fact, dont even close
any open windows, including your browser! hope this should solve your
problem to some extent.

warm regards
vinod-ga