Check the BIOS setup for an option called "Legacy USB". If it's
enabled XP will attempt to initialize/load drivers prior to the GUI
loading. Some devices such as USB external drives seem to stop
or prevent XP from booting when Legacy USB is enabled.

"sinedthegreat" <sinedthegreat@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E3FD47BA-E763-4E7D-A890-183B745B937C@microsoft.com...
> Also, does this happen at the beginning of the boot sequence, that is,
> before
> windows xp starts? If so, this is not a XP problem and reinstalling or
> changing anything in XP won't solve the problem.
> "Og" wrote:
>
>> Be sure that your System BIOS is _not_ set to boot from a USB device.
>> Steve
>>
>> "mclaren1975" <mclaren1975@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5F2F9593-E658-4300-982D-61C48482C146@microsoft.com...
>> > JUST did a clean install of XP Pro and I am having the exact same
>> > problem
>> > that caused me to do the install. If I have ANY USB devices installed,
>> > XP
>> > won't boot. I have four on board USB boards, 2 more PCI cards with 4
>> > each
>> > for
>> > a total of 12. I can't seem to locate any updated drivers. Uninstalling
>> > and
>> > re-sinstalling the USB drivers doesn't work.
>> >
>> > I've tried it with all kind sof combinations of devices and there
>> > doesn't
>> > seem to be a common thread. MoBo, power supply, memory, HD are all
>> > fine.
>> > All
>> > bought within a year.
>> >
>> > Any ideas?
>>
>>
>>