Xp hangs right b4 log on

[Puer Aeternus]

Xp hangs right b4 log on/Solved

Hi,
I was adding some old programs from back up disks when my comp got super slow. i rebooted....and was that it would not boot into windows any more.
it hangs on the win xp splash screen right before the logon option appears.

This is what I have tried so far:

• press F8 to get to safe mode

.

last good configuration did not work. Safe mode did not work either, I found myself back at the WinXp splash screen.

The only 2 things that I can think of are...one of those older programs messed w/ my registry or its a SP3 issue?
So far Sp3 has not auto updated for me. unless it auto updated and i was not paying attention. Is sp3 a potential problem? I am just looking all potential problems.

Thanks for your help in Advance!

 

[Automata]

You are getting the "drive to boot" menu because you are pressing it too early, wait a little longer and press it. F8 (at least on my board) is the drive selection screen.

 

[Puer Aeternus]

Wicked, thats a start..thanks!!! I was getting a might perplexed

 

[Puer Aeternus]

I tried safe Mode again. it still hangs at the xp splash screen. Any ideas before i reinstall? Its a fairly recent install of xp and i did not back up yet..so recovery is not an option. im not going to lose much except for the tedious reinstall of all my soft ware and updates.

 

[Puer Aeternus]

Fixed...I did a repair from the xp disk and Im surprised it worked. It all looks the same as I left it. Im surprised cos repair never worked for me before.
Thanks for looking.