Computer lockup.

I'm not sure if this is hardware or software, or possibly virus related. When I boot the computer, before windows has loaded, the screen goes black, monitor power indicator goes amber from green, and the computer is locked. I can't even reboot it, I have to switch to I/O switch on the back to restart. The screen that comes up after says windows didn't start properly, and gives me choices, safe mode, safe mode with network, safe mode with dos, or last known good configuration. They all result in the same failure. The screen also says, this could be caused by hardware or software.
windowsXP
40gig HD
pentium 1.7GH

I appreciate any help before it goes to the repair shop.

Thanks, Simon

 

Did you do something right before this happened...such as installing SP 2 or a new game or new application, etc??

Roger

 

Nothing I'm aware of, and my daughter's the same. I can't check with my wife til later today, this is a machine at work I'm using. I did lose my internet connection a couple of days before this. Had to get the provider to reconnect me, but it was good after.

 

If you have a windows cdrom you can use it to repair the windows install,just insert it select cdrom as first boot device and select the repair windows install option,it looks as though some files have been corrupted,or you have spyware,trojan or virus,I would select the latter 3 if you have been on the web without a firewall or antivirus with the latest updates.

 

Yeah, I tried a boot from the disk, and it shut down about a third of the way through scandisk. I'm also protected with firewall and AV>

 

Unfortunately...there could be a million reasons as to why SP 2 would not install correctly on any given machine!!!! If you are able to get SP 2 uninstalled, then I strongly recommend that you make 100% sure that you are virus and spyware free, and that all of your drivers and firmware are up to date, then try to reinstall again!!

Also...incase you didn't know....Whenever you install Sp2 it is recommended that you have your virus protection turned off or disabled, whatever you want to call it!! I know of several people that got corrupted install because of that!!

Roger

 

OOOOOOHH...What kind of motherboard and cpu do you have??

Is it by chance an abit board with a sempron cpu???

Roger

 

I managed to boot up, but my AV was turned off. I activated and updated it then scanned the machine, all ok. Then when I was reporting that here a few minutes ago, it crashed again. Rebooted ok, but AV (AntiVir Guard) was off again.

@rogvalcox the board i think is U8868. I've had the system for three years without conflicts. No spyware etc. for 6 months now. SP2 for the same lenth.