After I updated Windows XP to the installer 3.1, it is unable to boot back into windows...it locks after windows splash screen. I can go into safe mode and remove it and then it will boot back into Windows just fin.

Where are you installing it from?

I got it from Windows updates...and now that I had it back into windows, it freezes after running about 1 min., but at least it goes into windows. I have repaired windows 2 times on this machine and it still does it. I had replaced the motherboard previous to this...maybe it's a hardware issue...but what part of the hardware??

Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Click start then run, type prefetch then press enter, click edit then select all, right click any file then click delete, confirm delete

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

Click start then run, type sfc /scannow then press enter, you need the XP CD and Windows File Protection will show a blue onscreen progress bar, when the bar goes, reboot

If you do not have an XP CD you can borrow a same version as was originally installed XP CD, if you downloaded SP2 then you need an SP1 XP CD

Click start then run, type chkdsk /f /r then press enter, type Y to confirm for next boot, press enter then reboot.

Windows will appear to load normally then either the monitor will show progress or the screen will go blank, do not disturb this.

This will take an hour or so before it gets to the desktop.

Download and install Tune Up 2006 Trial

Run Tune Up Disc Clean Up

Run Tune Up Registry Clean Up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, which will take a few minutes and need a reboot. You should disable the antivirus programme to run this and check it is running after the reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor





Click this for a guide to using Memtest



Click this to download Memtest



Run it overnight if possible

LOL that almost looks a little too automated...I have run the checkdisk and it did fix a couple clusters, and I have gone through and emptied temps, and have cleaned the computer of any spyware.

I'm starting to think it really is a hardware issue, and am putting in a different hard drive that is clean and do an install of Win XP and see if I have any problems.

It is a good enough way of checking for the most common software errors, also checking the memory which could cause installation errors