XP Boot Problem
 

I've got a computer running on XP
When I boot it up, I'm getting the following error.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe
The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction.

CS: 0de3 IP:0121 OP: ff ff ff 31 00

When this error box pops up part of my desktop is loaded and it wont go any further. There is no start bar, desktop icons, or anything. The only thing I can do is ctrl+alt+del and get the windows task manager window to come up.

I've tried booting in safe mode and get the same error. I try booting to a command prompt and get the same error.

Anyone ever see this before or know how to fix it without reformating?

:helpme

start > run > type msconfig

System Config Utility will open

click startup tab on far right in the top row

click disable all

apply

close

reboot



.. if problem is gone, go back in there and re-add items in small groups (3-5 at a time) until problem returns .. then turn those back off one at a time to figure out which one is causing the error and leave it disabled.

good luck with it.

try this: when you are at the windows manager (after hitting ctl alt dlt) try ending the task NTVDM.EXE... other than that I hate to say you have an error that may only be fixed after reformatting.

format c:

i fucking hate windows XP

Thanks for the info.. I hadn't tried this yet. I thought you had fixed my problem but when it rebooted it still comes up with the same screen.

Quote:

try this: when you are at the windows manager (after hitting ctl alt dlt) try ending the task NTVDM.EXE... other than that I hate to say you have an error that may only be fixed after reformatting.

I could not fi nd any task running called NTVDM.EXE
:(



Anyone have any other suggestions?


:helpme

If you have xp disk boot off it and use the repair funtion....

NTVDM = NT Virtual Dos Machine

Check your startup and registry for old 16-bit apps and if you don´t need it uninstall

Not a bad idea... and I would have already done this but I need to recover some of files on the drive first.

This wil be my last resort...

try the two things I said it should work bro

XP has the system restore function correct? You can always go back to "last known good configuration"

When I try to run system restore I'm getting the following message:

"System Restore is not able to protect your computer. Please restart your computer, and then run System Restore again."

I restart and try to run it & I keep getting the same message over and over.

AACK

:helpme

Did you try repair????

get down on your hands and knees and blow in the A: drive ... might get you what your looking for
:1orglaugh

The machine is an HP Pavilion
It came preloaded with Windows. There is no disk. It does have a boot disk which has a repair feature, but the repair feature will only allow you to put it back at the factory default. This will wipe the drive clean.

I did what MakaveIi said and unchecked everything in startup.
I also unchecked the 16-bit support from both system.ini and win.ini

I'm not too sure how to get into the registry to remove 16-bit apps with the limited access I seem to have.

I had a HP as well in past. One lets you wipe out the drive. But theres also an option to just reinstall XP and that will keep all your current files intact.

If you have other computer copy the command.com file from it to current computer in the system 32 folder....

If that doesn't work run online virus scan and trend micro or download hijackthis and post your logs here.

you didn't make a HP Recorvery disk then. I take it.

two late now but you could have made one, I did because I had 2 wait 3 hours for the store 2 open....

they give you one chance to make it and warn you three times you get only one chance once you start. So i started making one when it came time to put blank CD in, OOPs they wanted a DVD it was 7:00 am and I didn't have any DVD's