Multi boot system running Win98SE, Win2k and WinXP Pro with SP3 boots and runs normally in Win98SE and Win2k but not WinXP on 2 different PCs. WinXP boots okay when booted normally and things seem to work for about 30 seconds after boot at which time no programs including StartMenu respond to mouse click, and Task Manager isn't opened when Ctrl-Alt-Del is pressed. Boot WinXP to SafeMode with Networking works as expected which is how I'm posting here. This problem began 9-13-13 on both PCs which lead me to suspect possible virus, but I've found no report from Google searches of this kind of virus recently and am running Avast anti-virus, Spybot Search and Destroy plus Zonealarm. All of the following have been tried, but the problem persists:
1. Ran disk cleanup and defrag
2. Ran chkdsk /r
3. Ran msconfig and unchecked all programs under the startup tab
4. Ran System Restore and restored system to 2 available restore points
5. Restored recent backup image
6. Did repair install
This is the first time I've had an identical problem occur on 2 different PCs simultaneously and the first time I've had the restore of a recent backup image fail to fix any Windows problem. I now wonder if even a fresh install will fix the problem. Both the PCs were originally setup with IDE hard drives and ran without issue for several years, but both PCs were upgraded to sata drives within the past 6 months. Could sata drives be an issue on some systems, and would reverting to IDE drives fix the problem? Does anybody know of possible cause or fix for this problem?
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