XP SP3 hanging on bootup

[Tusker]

G'day all,

My laptop is sticking on bootup. it gets through the login ok, finds the network, but hangs before the desktop & icons come up. Disc light flickers as normal, then stops.

its always been slow at this point, but now nothing. What's it looking for?

Logging in as admin, it hangs at the same point. Logging in under safe mode, I can't get past the login screen.

I tried the recovery CD, that just installed another version of XP which hangs at the same point. Choosing the original XP as the OS now just blue screens.

Everything is there, I can run programmes (like right now) if I can find the exe file in Task Manager.

Any suggestions? Please?

TIA
Max P

[kaa45]

more info

Laptop specs
XP cd has service pack 3 or do you install XP and then run sp3?

[Tusker]

No it was an XP SP2 purchase, & I downloaded SP3 a month or two ago. So the CD is the original.

Anyway I've found the problem - the wallpaper changer was sticking. Uninstalled, booted up, reinstalled, & unticked change at startup. All good.

Regards
Max P