Win XP boot fails

[Roger R]

My friends desktop computer has ceased to boot to Windows XP Pro (sp2)
He doesn't recall any event that could have caused the problem

It gets as far as the Windows loading screen and then
restarts...continuously.
It will not boot even to safe mode.

Diagnostic start up shows the drivers load ok until the graphics driver is
loaded, at which point the system restarts.

What should he do to resolve the issue?

Help appreciated.

 

[Twayne]

Any chance that happened because the windows update sent him SP3? If
so, removing SP3 might be the ticket. Use Add/Remove to uninstall it.
Oh' never mind - you can't even get to Safe Mode.

Can you press F8 as it boots to get to that menu? If so, try loading
the "Last known good configuration".

Failing that, unless someone else pops in with a better idea, it might
be time to think about collecting all your CDs together along with the
keycodes, and starting a reinstall of the operating system. Follow
whatever the manufacturer instructions are for whatever computer it is,
to get it back to its original operating mode when delivered. You WILL
lose ALL of your data tha tway; everything on the disk will be erased.

Come back and let us know how it's going. Or not going.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Learner]

I had exactly the same problem (but no SP3) found out it was a video
card/driver problem. Replaced both (card had capacitors on the way out) and
everything worked out ok in the end.

Had one other problem arose at the same time, I couldn't use the keyboard to
get into 'LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION', because mine kept rebooting and
going nowhere. Couldn't do anything while in F8. After checking thru the
BIOS I noted that the keyboard had been disabled very frustrating that one.
HTH