My XP Pro, which has worked fine for the almost three years I've had
it, had just started doing this: when I turn on the computer, it goes
through the ususal startup routine just fine until it reaches the blue
screen with Windows logo that asks you to click on your name (I'm the
only one who uses this machine, for what it's worth). After clicking
on my name, instead of continuing, as indicated by the hourglass), the
cursor arrow remains an arrow and the computer is silent. I can move
the cursor anywhere I want, but even after gerat patience, nothing
happens-the computer will not continue to boot.

I went into safe mode and ran ad-aware, Spybot, and AVG and caught a
couple of trojan horse installers, and eliminated them, but it looks
like they weren't the  cause--because then I rebooted in safe mode and
tried to go to a previous restore point a week ago. That got me up and
running. But after turning off the computer and rebooting today, same
problem. I went to the same restore point and got back on.

Anyone have the answer to this before I haul it in to the tech
department and spend probably far more than I need to?

I have other computers to check your answer in case this one decided
to just not cooperate! Thanks for your time an attention.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 19 Nov 2005 18:57 PST

gfk-ga,


I *think* that if you ran spyware programs first, and then went to a
week-old restore point, you might have essentially reloaded all the
spyware that you so painstakingly removed!

Try rescanning for spyware, remove any nasties, and see if that fixes things.


pafalafa-ga

i don't know that should u try this or not
but at ur own risk (for legal matter)
try this
while booting just press F8 just as you tried for safe mode
then try for [restore my computer earlier] like option 
it will make ur computer last time u done everthing perfectly

You may have spyware or a virus your programs are missing.  I'd
probably haul into tech support, because your problem could be caused
by any number of different things.

Hi,

When in Safe Mode, attempt to run Windows XP's system file checker.

Pop in your Windows XP CD, and go to Start, Run and type "sfc
/scannow" without the quotation marks.

This will scan through and make sure all of your Windows files are not
corrupt, and if they are, replace them with originals from the XP CD.

Good luck!

Which will then leave their computer completely vulnerable to
infection.  Also if it's spyware or a virus, what will this accomplish
besides compounding their problem?  It won't remove the spyware or
virus.

XP system repair is not the solution here.

Just create a new user!

Most of the problems would be in the user profile.

Do not delete the old one, as you will need the files and settings. 
If this works, go in safe mode to old user, use the files and settings
transfer tool, and then use that file to restore the settings and
files for the new user.