XP boot up problem

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Hi,

I was asked to look at a XP based machine that failed to start yesturday.
On arrival the machine hung in the XP screen with the "Zipper" going across. I restarted it and it brought the message up saying that Windows had failed to start properly.
I chose to start with last known good and it failed. It then started in Safe mode. No logs in Event viewer for the previous day. It then started and worked perfectly normally.

The person whose computer it is say they have made no changes to it

 

Just an idea, but when ever a user says they have not done anything to the PC, I -
1. Don't belive them and ask again
2. Look for the software auto updaters -
Anti -Virus
Antispyware
Windows update
Hardware drivers
Games etc
Just about every program now has some sort of internet update 'feature'

Jam.

 

Jamin makes a good point. I like to manually update all of my software but many users set software to update automatically. Something could have crawled in without the user being aware of it.

 

Thanks for the tips
As you say Jam these things always happen even though nothing has changed!

 

I'd agree with Jamin. Users LIE! particularly if its with a corporate PC to the company helpdesk (the worst offenders are those that think they know what they're doing and end up screwing the PC - the lie like their life depends on it). If they say they didnt do anything to it - particularly if you didnt ask - be suspicious!

Bear in mind that windows is a bitch with random problems, i wouldnt worry too much about the problem until it recurrs.

Fergal