Resolved WIN XP Pro won't load or go to safemode

Trying to help a friend get computer back to work. It's XP Pro w/SP3, 2 gb ram, HP Compaq dc7700.
He was running Spybot after updating it and it shut down and now just continually tries to reboot. Gets to Windows screen, doesn't load and then reboots. Try to open in safe mode and it looks like it will go -showing lists of drivers- and then just sits there.
After some advice I have tried the following things to no avail. So now I come to the place that has always come through with the right advice; should have come here first.

Tried last known good config.

Booted with a downloaded WIN XP Recovery ISO disk - don't have the WIN XP disks or recovery disks. Ran chkdsk about 6 times until it finally didn't mention any items repaired.

Tested hd under F10 and then with Seatool. Both say hd is good.

Reseated all connections inside the computer and outside.

Pulled the 2 RAM sticks one at a time and tried with just one and then the other.

Replaced the CMOS battery and reset BIOS to defaults.

Changed the boot order so that hd was first, followed by the cd, diskette, usb device, and disabled the network controller.

The only thing I didn't try was updating drivers - because I can't get into Windows or safe mode - or a fresh load of WIN, cause we don't have the disks.

thanks for your help.

 

Note that I have seen more than one system do that aggravating "sit there" thing . . . for over 20 minutes. Then all of sudden they finish booting on up into Safe mode.

 

I'll give it a try.......... Didn't work. Sat there for a min. and then started the rebooting again.

 

I'd try an XP repair:

1. Boot the computer from a borrowed Windows XP CD (same version of course).
   
   
2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen press [Enter] to start the Windows Setup.
   
   Note: Do not choose "To repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press R ", (you Do Not want to load Recovery Console).
   
   
3. Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing Windows installations.
   
   
4. Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and then press [R] to start the repair. Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and reboot.
   
   
5. Do not press any key to boot from CD if and when such a message appears. Setup will then continue as if it were doing a clean install, but your applications and settings will remain intact.

--

How to perform a re-install of WinXP

Repair XP

WinXP Non-destructive Total Rebuild

 

His is xp pro and I have xp media center. That won't work?

 

Nope. According to your first post, you'll need "XP Pro w/SP3 ".

 

Oh my. I just happened to look at the spybot forum on this issue since my friend said he was updating and running spybot when it all happened. Under the post heading
" Major problems with 9-26-2012 update file" I found a description of my problem.
Apparently the update caused the file ws2help.dll, to be renamed as ws2helpxp.dll .
So I booted from the XP Recovery Console ISO disk I had and got to the DOS prompt and renamed it back to ws2help.dll. And the comp booted right up to Windows, no problem.
Think others might need this easy info. Link is here:

http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=66804&page=3

 

I agree, lucky break and good tip (avoid Spybot).