boot hangs before logging, how do I troubleshoo?

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   I need to troubleshoot an XP system which hangs during the boot process, before it has a chance to write the ntbtlog.txt file. This system was restored from a ghost image. When it boots it displays the Windows graphical logo with a progress bar which hangs after about 15 seconds.
After adding /sos /bootlog to boot.ini the boot process shows a text-only logo display which confirms  that "boot logging is enabled" then windows hangs just like when the graphical logo screen is shown. Again, no ntbtlog.txt is created.
This is the first time I deal with a system that hangs before creating ntbtlog.txt, I don't know how to proceed, so I'm asking for pointers to low-level troubleshooting tools, and resources too because I need to educate myself for this task.  Thank you. 

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st101 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 December 2005 Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote st101 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: boot hangs before logging, how do I troubleshoo? Posted: 22 February 2012 at 5:09pm
	I need to troubleshoot an XP system which hangs during the boot process, before it has a chance to write the ntbtlog.txt file. This system was restored from a ghost image. When it boots it displays the Windows graphical logo with a progress bar which hangs after about 15 seconds. After adding /sos /bootlog to boot.ini the boot process shows a text-only logo display which confirms that "boot logging is enabled" then windows hangs just like when the graphical logo screen is shown. Again, no ntbtlog.txt is created. This is the first time I deal with a system that hangs before creating ntbtlog.txt, I don't know how to proceed, so I'm asking for pointers to low-level troubleshooting tools, and resources too because I need to educate myself for this task. Thank you.

tamahome Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 January 2006 Status: Offline Points: 221	Post Options Post Reply Quote tamahome Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 February 2012 at 6:36pm
	Procmon boot logging? You don't have a firewire card with a network device in device manager do you? That made one of my computers hang on boot.

st101 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15 December 2005 Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote st101 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 February 2012 at 7:10pm
	No firewire card. And I can't get to device manager anyway, since the system won't boot. Now educating myself on procmon boot logging. Edited by st101 - 22 February 2012 at 7:14pm