Updated and now pc doesn't work...

[MeMyselfAndI]

Did anyone else have any trouble with the most recent program update?  I can't get windows to open since I did the update.  I can't even get into safe mode to uninstall it.    Any suggestions?  I know one thing, I'm not doing the update on this pc.  lol

[Vlk]

What OS are you using?
Before the update, everything was working just OK?

[MeMyselfAndI]

Windows XP, and yes, before the upgrade everything worked fine.  When I go to turn on the pc it tells me it didn't shut down right the last time and gives me several options.  Every time I try safe mode it just gives me a long list and then restarts.  Sometimes I get a blue screen that's probably telling me what's wrong, but it doesn't stay long enough for me to read it before it restarts.    I really don't want to have to use my restore disk and lose everything.  

[Vlk]

Sounds more like a fishy driver to me -- haven't you upgraded any system-critical drivers recently? (motherboard, video, soundcard, ethernet etc.)

The thing is, if booting to Safe Mode, absolutely no part of avast gets loaded. That is, it behaves (at least before reaching the logon screen) exactly as if avast has been uninstalled...

At what stage does the system freeze if you try normal boot?

[mr.morden]

microsoft knowledge base article - 307545

!!!!

try this

http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/TroubleshootingXP/startup.htm

!!!!

try to get info what that blue screen is saying..its important for future knowledge base

[MeMyselfAndI]

I haven't updated anything else in days.  This happened at the very first start after installing the avast update, so I don't know what the problem is.  Is there a way to see the blue screen long enough to read it?  

If I try to start normally it will freeze right after the WindowsXP screen.

I'll see if I can find anything in that link.  Thanks to both of you.  

[Vlk]

Oh, there's the blue screen? I though it would freeze, not blue-screen...

Can you access the Windows Recovery Console? I'd be quite interested in the files in the \windows\minidump directory... (these contain the dumps generated during the blue screens)

[MeMyselfAndI]

My pc didn't come with a windows disk.    I think I give up.  I'm going to have to cut my losses and reformat.  

Is there a setting for how long the blue screen stays?  How do they expect anyone to see it when it's there for a second?  

Thanks guys.  

[MeMyselfAndI]

I got in touch with the tech support for my pc and they are sending me a disk so I can get into the recovery console.  I'll see if I can find the minidump directory when it gets here.

Thanks again!