How to troubleshoot Windows XP boot process?

Question

I have an XP installation that won't boot properly. Windows boots until just before I have the option to select a user. I can't get into Windows normally (and Safe Mode is the same) to check things like the Event Viewer.

Is there a way of checking where Windows has got stuck and why?

What tools does Windows XP already have to do this? Are there other tools or apps to highlight what is going wrong?

I realise I could just reinstall or repair XP, but I don't really want to without knowing that it can't (easily) be fixed.

Answer 1

By chance, happened upon a fantastic MSDN article How Windows Starts Up, Part 2 - Bootloader Phase (- there should be four parts but I can't locate the other two.)

There's even one about How Windows Shuts Down.

Also, there's Troubleshooting the Startup Phase.