My PC is running on WinXP Home Edition. For some reason,
it keeps restarting when I try to log on to Windows. I try
to log on to Safe Mode to see if I can do something in
there, but I can't. What can I do about this. Do I have a
virus?
Please help.

Thank you.

You might have a virus. Did you try running your antivirus software in Safe
Mode or was that one of the things you were unable to do? If you can get
online in Safe Mode you can run a virus scan at the following site:
http://housecall.antivirus.com/explorer.html

If a virus is truly suspected I'm reluctant to have you do this but,
assuming you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, try a Repair
install as follows:
NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.


--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"NOKSDUM" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:04af01c3ccd6$603660f0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> My PC is running on WinXP Home Edition. For some reason,
> it keeps restarting when I try to log on to Windows. I try
> to log on to Safe Mode to see if I can do something in
> there, but I can't. What can I do about this. Do I have a
> virus?
> Please help.
>
> Thank you.

Thanks for your suggestion abou the above subject. I think
I would like to wipe out the entire HD and start afresh
since I really don't have much data on it. I couldn't even
get into Safe Mode to run a virus check.

Where can I get a recovery disk? Is it online for download?

Thank you!

The "recovery" disk as it were is the XP CD which is bootable. Below is the
procedure for formatting and reinstalling XP. NOTE: the information below
assumes you have an actual XP CD. If you only have a recovery partition,
you will need to consult your owners manual or with your PC manufacturer's
tech support for the procedures for wiping the drive and starting over. It
would usually be a normal part of your system's recovery routine.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter set press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

A few screens into the boot process, if you see the message on the boot
screen to "Press any key in order to boot from the CD," do so.

After loading drivers and files, you should be taken to a screen with
the following:

To Setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To Repair a Windows XP Installation using Recovery Console press R.
To Quit setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

In your case, press ENTER.

Agree to the License agreement by pressing F8.

You will then be taken to a screen with two options.

To repair the selected Windows XP installation press R.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing,
press ESC.

This will bring you to a partition map where you
can delete, create and format partitions.
Select the drive you wish to format, delete the partition, then create a new
partition, format as desired and continue with XP installation.


--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:015201c3ccdb$3b07b1d0$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks for your suggestion abou the above subject. I think
> I would like to wipe out the entire HD and start afresh
> since I really don't have much data on it. I couldn't even
> get into Safe Mode to run a virus check.
>
> Where can I get a recovery disk? Is it online for download?
>
> Thank you!
>