A co-worker asked me to look at her PC.

Cold startup gets to the user logon screen. I can switch between the 2 named users, but the system reboots before I can enter a password. The cycle repeats continuously.

So, I find a fix at MS that suggests replacing the kernel32.dll. I do so via the recovery console. Now I get the XP startup screen, but before it ever shows the logon screen, a BSOD flickers up and disappears real fast...and it reboots yet again. I'm worse off than before! I can't catch any of what the BSOD is saying, but I *suspect* the dll file from the XP CD (SP1a) is older than the version the system already had (since it has gotten online updates in the past to now be SP2).



Any and all ideas appreciated! Thanks in advance!

howdy jwramc..

When you cold boot. Choose the option that says "Auto Restart on windows errors" Thats not the exact wording but it is at the bottom of the list. Then let us know what the BSOD tells you

Paraphrased:

"Kernel32.dll was relocated because Gdi32.dll is occupying the address."

Have you tried doing a repair install of XP , but not through the recovery console?


Put the cd in boot her up let it go through motions, "Do not Click the repair just yet" click enter to install windows. Then when you get to the partitions, click R on the installation of XP that shows up..

If I understand you correctly, I ignored the first 'R' option and chose 'ENTER' to accept the license, then the list of partitions showed up and only INSTALL, 'D'elete partition and 'C'reate partition are available. No 'R'.

Very sorry about the delay, bad snow storm knocked out me power..

Here is a walk through for it..

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install