Computer will only boot in debugging mode

Hi! I've posted my problem in Malware Removal but it seems like I'm not having a malware problem and is redirected here. I used my computer normally before the problem and the only update/changes I did was Itunes update. The next day when I tried to turn on my computer, after the initial loading on startup, the usual Windows XP logo and loading bar appear for about 2-3 seconds but then a blue screen with white letterings flashes for around half a second, and the computer restarts itself and tries to startup again and this loops on forever. This happens if I try to load in normal mode and all 3 safe modes. The only way I was able to get past the loading screen was to load it in debugging mode, which I am currently running it in. However, the computer freezes when I try to open up Itunes to play a song. I currently have Symantec antivirus. Please help!

 

And from there can you run chkdsk /r, then reboot.

Try then sfc /scannow

Though I must confess, I am not familiar with debugging mode.

 

Hi!

So I ran chkdsk /r, and it says:

The type of the file system is NTFS.
Cannot lock current drive.

Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? {Y/N}

So I selected yes, restarted my computer, which gets me to the same blue screen and cycles of reboot. I then startup in debugging mode, and the chkdsk starts and then restarts the computer after it was finished and I get the same blue screen and cycles of reboot. I startup again in debugging mode and then run sfc /scannow.

I get this message:

Files that are required for Windows to run properly must be copied to the DLL Cache.
Insert your Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 CD now.

but I only have a cd with Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 since I got the service pack 3 updated through the internet, so I clicked cancel, and I get the message:

If you cancel, Windows might require you to insert a CD later. Are you sure you want to skip this file? Yes or No

I selected yes, but I keep on getting the same message about the DLL Cache. What should I do now? Is there a Windows Service Pack 3 on Microsoft website I can download or something? Thanks!

 

And did you try inserting the CD with SP2 to see if it might work?

Else, here is the download for SP3;

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Be sure to read through the instructions.

 

Here's my two cents:

From the Start menu, select Run... or press Windows key + R to enter the
Run dialog box.

enter msconfig and click OK

From the General tab you should see a button labeled "Launch System Restore"
click that button and select "Restore my computer to an earlier time"

See if there is a restore point available for a time just before the boot
problem began.

Select that restore point and click the "Next" button.
That should return your computer to it's previous state.

If successful, I would then Uninstall iTunes with Add / Remove programs.
If you still want that program, download the the lastest version of
iTunes.

Create a new System Restore point.
Then install the new version of iTunes.

This is just a suggestion, but that is how I would approach the problem.

 

Hi! I inserted my disk with SP2 and it worked. The scan found nothing wrong, and my problem is still there.

 

Hi mjnc,

I've thought about doing that but when I went to system restore to find a restore point prior to the problem, I couldn't find any as my system restore was somehow turned off.

 

Have you tried uninstalling iTunes with Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel?

Have you turned On System Restore?
Do this before the iTunes uninstall.
You can access system restore from Control Panel -> System -> System Restore tab.
Click the Settings button to adjust the amount of disk space that
system restore will use.

 

So I just turned on my computer (in debugging mode), and after it loads, I get the message:

The system has recovered from a serious error.
Error signature:
BCCode : 10000050 BCP1 : BA80001A BCP2 : 00000000 BCP3 : 85C4C6F0
BCP4 : 00000002 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

technical information about the error report:
c:\windows\temp\WER0738.dir00\Mini071710-01.dmp
c:\windows\temp\WER0738.dir00\sysdata.xml

I don't know if this information would help any. And now I will go uninstall itunes and will update after that's done.

 

Hi, so I think Itunes might be the problem because when I tried to uninstall itunes just now, my computer froze and I had to power shutdown the computer and restart it.

 

I know a lot of people here love and use iTunes. But I have also seen it screw up systems. Don't know what it is about this program.

Try using Revo to uninstall;

http://majorgeeks.com/Revo_Uninstaller_d5706.html

 

So when I tried to uninstall Itunes using RevoUninstaller, during the uninstallation using itune's built-in uninstaller (step 3 of revounistaller), it says:

a previous installation for this product is in progress. You must undo the changes made by that installation to continue. Do you want to undo those changes?

On my first attempt, I selected yes and my computer froze, and I had to restart.

On my 2nd attempt, I selected no and I get this message:

Itunes installer interrupted. The installer was interrupted before the requested operations for itunes could be completed. Your system has not been modified. To complete these operations at a later time, please run the installer again.

I then selected next in revouninstaller, so it could scan for leftover files, folders, and registry items. It found ~7000 files and I was prompted to select which files to delete but I don't think Itunes was uninstalled correctly (or at all due to the previous message).

Should I proceed with the uninstallation procedure in Revouninstaller?

 

If I read right, you can get into msconfig? If yes, select diagnostic mode for a boot.

Regarding the Revo, delete only the highlighted items, and yes, there will be a bunch.

 

I selected diagnostic mode and when my computer restarts, I still get the problem, so I did what I've been doing (F8, debugging mode) and my computer starts up I think in diagnostic mode since I don't have internet like I normally would with just debugging mode.

I tried to run revo, but it says that I can't because I'm running in setup mode and don't have windows installer.

Also, since itunes is still installed on my computer and I guess one of my goal now is to uninstall itunes and completely remove it from my computer, would it be safe for me to remove those files found by revo without interfering with the uninstallation of itunes? Thanks!

 

It seems reasonably clear now that your primary problem is somehow caused by
iTunes. Further, it was the iTunes update specifically that was the final culprit.

Therefore, the first priority (after re-enabling System Restore) is to properly uninstall this program
and hopefully this will reverse the changes that have damaged the systems
normal operation.

Although Revo Uninstaller is a wonderful program and I use it myself, I think it
is most appropriate to use under normal situations, and this is not an
entirely normal situation. You may, and I'm just saying may, be introducing new problems and complexities
by attempting to uninstall and cleanup with Revo.
Cleaning up the leftover files is a secondary issue and can be dealt with later.

Based on some of the error messages that you have described, I think the
most likely successful procedure would be to re-install iTunes so that all of
the required files, uninstaller and iTunes system settings are restored.
Once everything is properly in place, there is a better chance that Add and
Remove Programs can use the uninstaller effectively.

Since there are at least two versions of iTunes involved,
the previous installed version and the update version, I'm not certain which
one you should start with, but my choice would be the previously installed version,
since your computer was working normally before the iTunes update.
Hopefully you still have the installer for that version.

If not, you can get older versions of iTunes at FileHippo

The latest version here: iTunes at MajorGeeks

You may have to go through the install / uninstall process more than once
to finally get a successful removal. There is certainly a conflict between the
two versions - previous and update.

Hope this helps.
I know this is tedious. I have had to deal with problematic removal situations
myself. Once the boot problem is fixed, make a new restore point and
name it appropriately, such as 'After iTunes boot fix'.
Then, after that you can begin further leftover files cleanup.

 

Hi,

When I tried to install the older version of itunes, it says that I already have a later version of itunes installed, and the installation closed.

Next I tried to install the newer version of itunes, and I guess since I already have it completely or partially installed, when I click on the installer, I only have the repair or remove option. When I click on repair, it prompted me again if I wanted to undo the changes from a previous installation in progress and I selected yes.

So everything seems to be going alright until it freezes at the "Registering iTunes Automation Server" step. Yesterday when I was trying to uninstall itunes, it also froze at "Un-registering iTunes Automation Server" so I had to force shutdown and then restart in debugging mode.

I've googled "registering itunes automation server" and saw that uninstalling quicktime, installing the latest quicktime from a standalone installer, and then installing/reinstalling itunes may help pass the "registering itunes automation server" freeze. I just did that but it also didn't work and my computer still froze at that step during the installation.

 

This thing is really stubborn.
Did you also try the 'Remove' option?

 

Yes, I tried the remove option yesterday, and it froze at the un-registering itunes automation server part.

 

Found many threads relating to this same problem.
If I find something that looks promising, I'll let you know.

Sorry this hasn't worked out yet.

 

Try http://majorgeeks.com/Windows_Installer_CleanUp_Utility_d4459.html

Go with Revo after.

Cheers..

 

Thanks Sikvik.

I have used this before and it did the trick.

Just be careful what you choose to clean up.

 

So I just downloaded the program, and during its installation, I get this message:

Error 1704. An installation for itunes is currently suspended. You must undo the changes by that installation to continue. Do you want to undo those changes? and I selected yes.

The installation went through, I opened up the program, and selected itunes and then remove.

I then opened up revo to uninstall itunes, but even though it said that the window installer cleanup will not uninstall the program and only remove the installation files, I couldn't find itunes in Revo or in control panels remove program to uninstall. So I restarted my computer to see if the problem is gone since it seems like itunes is gone.

The problem is still there, I still get the blue screen, continuous cycles of reboot, so slected f8 and debugging mode to get my computer to start.

Once it started, I tried to reinstall itunes, everything was going smoothly until the very end (I only have 2 green process bars left!) and it freezes at the registering itunes automation server part. I think I'm going to sit and wait for a few more minutes to see if my computer will unfreeze itself, otherwise, I'll have to force shutdown again.

 

ok, so after I forced shutdown and restarted, I see an icon for itunes on my desktop (but not the normal icon, its one of those genric windows apps icons where you'll know that the apps is not properly installed) and when I click on it, it says:
this action is only valid for products that are currently installed.

I looked for itunes in windows installer cleanup, revo and control panel remove programs to uninstall/remove and it's not there. I then started the itunes installer again, and it did not give me the repair or remove option and proceeded with the installation (so I assume itunes installation didn't go through last time). However, it froze again at the same "registering itunes automation server" part.

 

Not sure, but I think that is a normal result after using that utility.

Sort of grabbing at straws here...
I have used this Microsoft online service numerous times.
Close down any open apps and browsers.
Using Internet Explorer goto Windows Live OneCare Clean Up Center
after the scan click the little down arrows at the left of the problems list
to see what it found and check or uncheck which will be corrected.
Make sure the 'Create a restore point' item is checked.
You could also try the Tune Up option.

Don't know if this will help, but it may.
I have used both with no problems.

If you are not able to resolve this problem here within the next 24 hours,
I suggest that you try to contact someone at Apple support directly.
This problem is not unique to you or your situation. Others have had the same.
In my opinion, they should take responsibility for addressing this issue with
their software. Be sure to give them all pertinent information such as the
application version numbers involved and your operating system version.
You might also refer them to this thread if they want to review what steps
you have already taken. Since this is a public forum, I think that would be OK.

 

Hi, I've gone to the Windows Live OneCare Cleanup Center, and done the scans and I still have the problem. But before I call their support center, I've finally managed to take down the info on the blue screen. Is this of any help?

Page_Fault_in_nonpaged_area
Technical information:
Stop: 0x00000050 (0xBA800019, 0x00000000, 0x85CDE6F0, 0x00000002)

 

These two pages describe the error:
aumha.org: 0x50 Page_Fault...
Microsoft Support: STOP 0x50

As you can see, there are several things that can cause this type of error.

This article describes several symptoms that you may experience if the computer is running the Spyware.Service.MiscrosoftUpdate (Trojan) rootkit spyware
The computer may automatically restart, or you may receive a "serious error" message or a Stop error message...

You can look at the Event Viewer to see if there is any info there.
Enter the following in the Run dialog box:
(Windows key + R) or (Start -> Run...)
EventVwr.msc

To turn On Windows installer logging which may provide more info about your error.
There is a "Fix It For Me" option so you don't have to "Fix It Myself" which
requires editing the registry.
How To Enable Windows Installer Logging


Don't know if you have this option available or if you already tried it.

Sorry I haven't been able to help you pin this down.
I was hoping that someone with a good bit more knowledge would pop in
with a "Eureka" post or a magic bullet solution.
When you finally find a resolution, I hope you will post it here.

 

IMHO

Sometimes one gets to a point with these issues, that just go on and on, that the best solution is to retrieve the data you want and reformat/reinstall the OS.

This is of course up to you but I would seriously start considering this option.

System files can get so screwed that you just can't bring everything to normal anymore.

I remember when I ran 98, I would do this every 6 months as matter of routine. And I know some people who treated XP the same way.