Stuck in a reboot loop

[Guest]

A computer I was asked to look at, running XP PRO, is stuck in a reboot loop.
This all started after a chkdsk. I noticed that chkdsk found some corrupt
files and replaced them with (???). Now the system boots up only as far as
the initial system information screen and memory self test followed by the
white bar that goes across the bottom third of the screen. It will then
offer me a choice of 2 hardware profiles. No matter which profile I choose,
it then reboots and goes through the same thing over again. I've tried to
boot up in safe mode as well as trying to use the last known good
configuration but all attempts end up the same. I can't get past the white
bar. System seemed to be working OK until I ran chkdsk. The computer was
donated and has no disks to go with it and appears to be a custom built unit.
Any ideas? Can I use my XP HOME disk to try to get it to boot up, or would
that mess up something else?

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

A computer I was asked to look at, running XP PRO, is stuck in a reboot loop.
This all started after a chkdsk. I noticed that chkdsk found some corrupt
files and replaced them with (???). Now the system boots up only as far as
the initial system information screen and memory self test followed by the
white bar that goes across the bottom third of the screen. It will then
offer me a choice of 2 hardware profiles. No matter which profile I choose,
it then reboots and goes through the same thing over again. I've tried to
boot up in safe mode as well as trying to use the last known good
configuration but all attempts end up the same. I can't get past the white
bar. System seemed to be working OK until I ran chkdsk. The computer was
donated and has no disks to go with it and appears to be a custom built unit.
Any ideas? Can I use my XP HOME disk to try to get it to boot up, or would
that mess up something else?

Have you tried to boot into safe mode and do a system restore back to
an earlier date?

If you can get into safe mode get hold of the magic jellybean keyfinder
and recover the key to the installed version of XP, if the installed
version is XP Home then you could use your CD with the key you recover
from the faulty unit.

 

[Glen]

The op can't get into safe mode, it says so in the post. However, you can
run system restore from the recovery console. If system restore doesn't work
a repair install is probably the only way to fix the problem although
someone else might have other things to try.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449&sd=tech

How to perform a repair install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Glen

 

[Guest]

Glen,
How do I get to get to a command prompt? Here is the actual progression
when I press F8.

After the system information/memory self test, I get a message that "...
windows did not start successfully....choose..."

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Last Known Good Configuration
Start Windows Normally

If I choose Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration or Start Windows
Normally\Enter\Choose Profile\
(original) hardware profile\Enter
I get a brief flicker of a blue screen - can't tell if it's the BSOD or
possibly the BIOS setup screen
then it reboots.
If I choose Safe Mode or Last Known Good Configuration or Start Windows
Normally\Enter\Choose Profile\
second hardware profile\Enter
I get the white bar going half way across the lower third of the screen
then it reboots.
If I choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt\Enter
drivers begin to load - list goes about half way down the screen then I get
the choose profile screen again
drivers begin to load again - list goes almost down to the bottom of the
screen then I get a brief flicker of a blue screen again - can't tell if
it's the BSOD or possibly the BIOS setup screen
then it reboots again.

There is no option listed for a command prompt only.
How can I get to a command prompt?

I can get into the BIOS setup and boot up using the CD for my WinXP HOME
(even though the OS is XP PRO) where I have the option to repair installation
etc,.

Question: Can I use the XP HOME CD to repair the XP PRO OS? Or, are there
some other options you can think of?

Bob (Sailin)

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

You can not use the XP Home CD to repair XP Pro, you will need to get
hold of an XP Pro CD and use that. Have a look at:-

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Guest]

OK, I have the original product key from running "Belarc Advisor" (run prior
to this clusterf**k), and as a matter of habit, I exported a copy of the
registry settings to a file in the Documents folder and made a system restore
point before doing anything else. I also looked at and printed out the info
from the links you and Glen recommended. But if I understand this correctly,
I can't access the repair console or use any of the above unless I can get to
a command prompt (am I missing something here?).

I do have a friend running XP Pro so I could borrow her CD, but If I do,
will that result in activation "issues", or could I just use her CD to repair
and retain the existing copy on the problem computer?
Bob

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

OK, I have the original product key from running "Belarc Advisor" (run prior
to this clusterf**k), and as a matter of habit, I exported a copy of the
registry settings to a file in the Documents folder and made a system restore
point before doing anything else. I also looked at and printed out the info
from the links you and Glen recommended. But if I understand this correctly,
I can't access the repair console or use any of the above unless I can get to
a command prompt (am I missing something here?).

I do have a friend running XP Pro so I could borrow her CD, but If I do,
will that result in activation "issues", or could I just use her CD to repair
and retain the existing copy on the problem computer?
Bob

Provided that her CD is the same as your install then you should have
no problems. XP CDs are not individually tied to a key, provided you
have a genuine key to suit the type of CD (OEM, genuine MS, retail,
update etc) you can use any CD to reinstall.