XP Tablet Edition: Can't Login?

[ddrueding]

One of my laptops is a Gateway Tablet: Model CX2726

After restoring a backup image via acronis, it boots to the screen right before the login screen; a blue one that has the "Microsoft Windows XP" logo (you've all seen it before) and stops. Occasionaly, if I let it sit there, I will see the login screen appear for a frame and then it's gone. Same thing (at a different resolution) in safe mode, last known good does nothing. Alt-Ctrl-Del does nothing. The mouse is still responsive, and the Tablet specific buttons bring up error messages (as they should at this point), so it's not locked up.

Help?

 

[Adcadet]

have you tried safe mode?

 

[ddrueding]

...Same thing (at a different resolution) in safe mode,...

Yep.

 

[P5-133XL]

Have you tried an inplace reinstall?

 

[ddrueding]

Unfortunatly, this laptop requires an "F6" SATA driver to install the OS, and I don't have a USB floppy handy. I tried slipstreaming the driver and it didn't work

 

[Mercutio]

Could you maybe pull the drive and work on it in something with similar hardware? A desktop with an intel chipset would be a good start.

 

[ddrueding]

Yes, that is a good idea, but I don't happen to have any of those lying around. I'm getting close to ordering another "restore CD" from Gateway (mine is lost).

 

[Mercutio]

People ask me why I have so many computers. Stupid crap like what you're describing is a big part of the reason.

 

[ddrueding]

Completely new install, exact same issue. I also tried re-restoring an older image that was working perfectly. Same issue. WHat drives me nuts is that it is SO CLOSE to working properly. I can see the login screen flash by every few seconds.

 

[ddrueding]

As an update; I just threw in an Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft CD and it booted fine, detecting everything but the touch screen and wifi card without me touching it. SWEET!

 

[ddrueding]

Ubuntu installed fine, and performed quite well, but it isn't ready for prime-time as a workstation yet; even if the only complaint is that is has a clunky UI.

As another note, Vista Ultimate went right on as well, not requiring a driver disk.