windows xp on reboot loop

[smiler76]

I have a laptop which when I turn it on, won't get past the Windows XP splash screen. Instead of going to the desktop it seems to go into an alternative start-up screen with options to reboot into safe mode, safe mode with networking, last known safe point (or something to that effect) and start windows normally.
Whichever option i choose it just does the same loading of the windows splash screen and then going to the multi-option for rebooting screen. I can't get it to the desktop stage.
Can anyone help please.

[vehelpfulguy]

It is "last known good configuration".

If you select this then Windows SHOULD choose a copy of the important system files that last gave a good boot up.

If it doesn't it may mean there isnt a good copy of the system files.

If you have a Windows XP CD you could boot from the CD and when prompted select "Repair Windows" and that should re-install all the important files and leave everything else intact.

[KevSparky]

Sounds to me like this is the advanced windows startup screen. You access this screen by holding F8 on your keyboard at startup. If the F8 key is stuck it could create a loop like that. Try disconnecting your keyboard, if that doesn't work disconnect everything except the monitor and see if it boots

[baylisst111]

As KevSparky says, press F8 before the loading/boot options screen appears (I just mash it over & over until it appears)

Then choose the option "Turn off automatic restart on system failure" and you should get a blue screen of death. If you could let us know what the BSOD says that'd be great. What's most useful is the third or so line which is in all caps and usually has _'s in