Computer won't start up

First of all, I'm running XP. I just installed the Microsoft Office 2007 suite and there was an iTunes update loaded prior to the computer being restarted. Everything was normal until it froze on the first screen that pops up before Windows XP loads. I've tried pressing F10 for restore, esc, and I the other key that the menu on the bottom defines but there is no response. Is there anyway to get into the system to try and fix it and if so what can be done?

Hi sabatage

Sounds like a mixup of installation files.

First thing to try, would be to try "last known good configuration" in
the safe-mode menu.

Reboot the machine
Right after first BIOS screen or beep (Whichever comes first)
Start tapping the F8 key.
If you caught it right, a black DOS-like menu will appear.
Choose the option "last known good configuration"

See if that will get you any result.

If the machine boots well enough, post back and we take it from there, before
you go ahead try install again.

Regards Abydos

Hello, If you can not get to the advanced boot menu by pressing F8, Step I. Access the reconvery console using the OS CD. as suggested already you need to have your OS CD to repair it. To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM, use the following steps: Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer. Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console and follow the process till you will be at the recovery console command prompt.Getting to the Windows Recovery Console STEP II. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines(in blue) then press enter after. 1. cd \ ( Note: between "cd" and "\" there should be a "blank space" else the command won''''t work ) 2. cd system~1\_resto~1 If it gives an error "Access Denied" while accessing the folder, follow the method below cd \ cd windows\system32\config ren system system.bak exit Thenrestart the computer and follow step I. 3. dir when you hit it will list all the restore points folders like rp1,rp2……………. we have to see the last restore point to copy the file from a recent backup. if the restore points have more than one page then u have keep on hitting the key to view the last restore point folder. 4. cd rp {the last restore point no. } (Note : Example : cd rp9, if rp9 is the last restore point, where last restore point no.=9 ) 5. cd snapshot Now the command Prompt will look like this c:\system~1\_resto~1\rp9\snapshot> ( Note : restore point 9 assumed for clarity of the content, you have to goto the last restore point folder as described in the previous lines) Now according to the error message we have to copy the appropriate file from the restore point folder. 6. copy _registry_machine_system c:\windows\system32\config\system 7. Type Exit then press enter. your computer should restart and don't forget to cross your fingers

I finally figured it out and feel a bit stupid because of what was actually causing the problem. My son had plugged his mp3 player into one of the USB ports to charge. I never knew that would cause such a problem upon start up so I didn't even look for it. When he came back for his mp3 player everything cleared up fine. It was froze tight before this though. None of the key punching did anything. So, anyway, I felt it necessary to thank you for your reply and to fess up about what the actual problem was. Who knows, maybe someone else will have a like problem and won't have to stress out like I did. Thanks again!

Glad that you got your problem solved! It certainly does make a difference if people tell what actually solved their problem, because it occasionally happens that that information helps others (also using search engines). Thanks a lot for that!