flatamate's P.C. is ODD

[saruman-23]

so, my flatmate and i had just finished re-setting up our LAN (due to me boxing up p.c. then unboxing it, no need to go into that)

about twenty minutes after setting up the LAN, and having it run quite happily, my flatmate restarted his P.C. before a CIV VI marathon.

now, it won't startup normally:

switch the P.C. on, you get the black screen prompting you to either Run Windows in Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Restore to an Earlier Point, or Start Windows Normally.

choose Start Windows Normally and nothing happens - it just freezes on that options screen, ominously the fan slows down a bit - or at least gets quieter.

run in Safe Mode and it's fine, gets into it nice and quickly.

restart from Safe Mode, and the computer will go through the basic startup procedure; i.e. it'll get to the stage just before you would expect the Windows XP logo, with the scrolling green logo bar, and then freeze on a blank screen.

now, i don't really know anything about the hardware computers, or the deeper-than-control-panel side of software. so if anyone can suggest something to check, or do, then i would appreciate it.

it does sound to me like Windoze is dead, i right? <3

[Mr. Fiend]

If it runs in safe mode, then I would guess Windows is not dead. Might be disagreeing with a driver somewhere along the line, but my knowledge is limited.

[Evil Superstar]

Restore to an Earlier Point

Try that one?

[saruman-23]

not yet; he's at work - and i don't want to take too many liberties to fix it. he'll be back tomorrow, so i'll do it then - just wondering if anything particularly serious could have happened, or if anything particularly helpful could be suggested.

[Ch33zy]

I think it's a driver issue. Try rolling back the latest driver installed.

[Evil Superstar]

It sounds like the only thing you changed are the LAN settings, right?

So my first guess would be bad network card drivers or something in that direction.

[saruman-23]

It sounds like the only thing you changed are the LAN settings, right?

So my first guess would be bad network card drivers or something in that direction.

so, look at seeing what his network card is saying; try updating drivers and such?

[Captain Colon]

That's what I would try...I don't think windows lets you install/uninstall drivers in safe mode though :rolleyes:

If you've got a "safe mode with network support" option then try that and if it freezes like normal, then it's a network driver issue.

[saruman-23]

cool, thanks; i'll try that a bit later on.

sadly he bought it at PC World, so when he does take it to them, God knows what they'll do to it :P

[StandingCow]

well after you get it going in last known good config, try updating the driver (make absolutely sure its the proper driver).

[Mirsky]

Did you move the PC? Check to make sure that nothing is loose inside (in terms of the addon cards). It might be a card that doesn't initialise in safemode but does in normal windows causing all kinds of problems.

I had a loose video card once, thanks to Thermaltake and their crappy "card holders". It caused all kinds of problems until I ripped out the holders and screwed the mofo into the case.

[FaKToR]

I'd try repairing the windows install if I were you.