Odd problem.

[Blacksmith1]

Posting in here because I'm not sure where to start.
the system is an old (about 2005) gateway 831gm they don't even list it when you go to gateway for driver updates so i guess all the 830 models use the same ones.
It has XP MCE for the OS. it;s a basic sytem with teh only addons being a modem and an old grfprce 5200 PCI card. it has PCI-E but it's not being used.
the problem is that whenever you install anything, anti virus app, or even windows upates, the next boot is a black screen instead of the desktop( it shows the XP load screen with the blue progress bar then zip...nada) and the only way to get it working is restore to orignal condition either in system restore or using the gateway recovery software on the second partion to resore it to factory new setup. either way it's pretty much un-usable without being able to so much as update the service packs.
I suspect it's some minor hardware problem since I did a deep system scan with the drive in my main sys looking for everything including root-kits. but I'm at a loss where to look or what to check. the system lived with a heavy smpoker and is covered in tar inside, and there is a slight "burnt" smell that has nothing to do with the cigarettes.
anyone ever get one like this?

[Dragon]

I have had machines like that. Most of the time I told em it has to be replaced. The suggestion I can give you requires a bit of work, and you will lose the restoration OS. You could try a low level format (write 0's) to the drive. then reinstall the OS. but you will lose the restoration partition by doing so.

[James86]

I agree with Dragon it's time for a new PC

[Blacksmith1]

In that case I will just send it back to him. It belongs to my soon to be Ex's dad. I am gonna try one more thing first. I'm going to restore it to the first boot where it worked again, and then install the factory update drivrs and see what happens.

[Blacksmith1]

Ok, the same crap. loaded the new drivers first, and even replaced the 5200 with my old 8600gt(which I know works perfectly), system botted fine, as soon as I install the windows updates the thing hangs on the way to the desktop. just at the point where it moves from the black xp load screen to the blue windows is loading/welcome screens. and using boot log is useless because safe mode over writes it, and I can only get to it by booting into safe mode. Looks like daddy in law is stuck with a very large paperwieght.

[James86]

Just send him down to wally mart to buy a dual core rig for cheap

[Blacksmith1]

Problem is he's retired and pretty much broke, so I'm gonna try something else. I'm going to partion a drive I have here to match his then copy the "recovery" files and reload the whole thing from there. if dragon is right this will fix the problem. if this isn't the same problem as dragon had then nothing lost but some time. She decided not to go up there this weekend so I get a bit longer to prove "I are a genius". Sad thing is I'm only doing this to keep from hearing a bunch of crap, I don't even like this guy.... But I'm not gonna give him or her an excuse to badmouth me to, or in front of, the kids.

[James86]

If he starts badmouthing you just tell em "That's why you don't visit gay porn sites it really messes up your computer with viruses" That will shut him up

[Blacksmith1]

I see, use the "have you stopped beating your wife?" approach.. good idea.

[GIBSON]

I think I had something similar happen to my pc (the one I owned at the time that is) almost 10 years ago. Something went wrong during the installation of a game (threw me a blue screen during install) and if I remember correct the symptoms were the same after that. Problem had something to do with messed up access rights I think.
Had to resort to a re-install and all worked great after that. So chances are it's not what you're having, but maybe there might be some sort of connection.
An other case I remember was a pc with a crashed hdd (at least that's what the owner told me afterwards) which kept on showing the windows xp boot screen, never reaching the welcome screen. But that doesn't seem to be the case here.

My first idea in your case would be a driver issue though. Seeing how it crashes when reaching the welcome screen (which is about where the drivers get loaded I think?). And that would typically be why safe mode gets it up and running (drivers it can do without aren't loaded).

[Blacksmith1]

I was of a similar train of thought. but the problem manifested when the windows updates were loaded. the sytem drivers worked with tthe factory install and after updating the drivers it still got to the desktop. after SP2 and included updates ( I made it skip IE8 due to her dad saying it crashed after that was installed) it did the black screen stall thing. so figuring nothing from nothing, since I still have it here, I ghosted the drive to a spare I have broke the partioins and am reformatting it. then I'll see about copying it back over and try it again. I also intend to try the cloned drive.
We shall see if any of this works.

[GIBSON]

I was of a similar train of thought. but the problem manifested when the windows updates were loaded. the sytem drivers worked with tthe factory install and after updating the drivers it still got to the desktop. after SP2 and included updates ( I made it skip IE8 due to her dad saying it crashed after that was installed) it did the black screen stall thing. so figuring nothing from nothing, since I still have it here, I ghosted the drive to a spare I have broke the partioins and am reformatting it. then I'll see about copying it back over and try it again. I also intend to try the cloned drive.
We shall see if any of this works.

Sure there aren't any windows drivers being changed when doing the SP2 install? (I'm not saying it does, but I imagine it's a possibility.) Did it have SP2 before this started happening?
Let us know how it turns out with the other hard drive.

[Nasdaqkeith]

I Bet If You Install Everything And Not Update Any I MEAN ANY ! Drivers Check The Optional Updates Too....It Will Work Just Fine.Hang On Boot At Win Start Is Always A Bad Driver ! Period...........Keith

[Blacksmith1]

How much do you want to bet?
I only ask because I don't make bets unless I already know I will win.
I have the second HDD installed. after ghosting the recovery files and original partions it installed window. I updated all the drivers, and all the windows updates, and it is now working with everything up to IE8 installed. I am currently installing the non service pack updates that come after SP3 and IE8. But I couldn't get this far before.
The drive in the system was an SATA so old that it had a jumper, and a molex power connection as well as the SATA power. I've never seen one like it.
yeah I was certain it was sofware or driver till I saw Dragons post. He may be crazy but he's not into BS'ing when it comes to troubleshooting.

[GIBSON]

So a quirky drive after all.. Anyhow I'm glad you've got this one fixed

And Keith, do try to keep your finger from that caps key if I may say so..