XP restarts over and over when I switch on (vXP SP1a)

[Guest]

When I switch the PC on it fails to complete the start up of XP before
powerig off and restarting.... over and over. Have tried:
- enterring safe mode (can't it just shuts down)
- the last successful configuration option (it runs... and then shuts down)
- booting from CD (it will do this but does not provide a repair
installation option at any stage... it takes me to a screen 6 which shows the
hard drive partitions whatever that means)
- I can get to the Recovery Console but am a little nervous.

(Have looked at
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658-1, not
sure if this would help)

MAIN WORRY is losing my data if I do a full reinstall.

Greatful for any help (should have backed up that data... hence my 'name'!

 

[Rock]

When I switch the PC on it fails to complete the start up of XP before
powerig off and restarting.... over and over. Have tried:
- enterring safe mode (can't it just shuts down)
- the last successful configuration option (it runs... and then shuts
down)
- booting from CD (it will do this but does not provide a repair
installation option at any stage... it takes me to a screen 6 which shows
the
hard drive partitions whatever that means)
- I can get to the Recovery Console but am a little nervous.

(Have looked at
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658-1,
not
sure if this would help)

MAIN WORRY is losing my data if I do a full reinstall.

Greatful for any help (should have backed up that data... hence my 'name'!

Install the drive in another computer as a slave drive, then backup the
important data. After that you can work on some troubleshooting.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Rock. If the data is encrypted in 'my documents' by XP (I think it
does that?) would I be able to read the data from the other machine? Also,
as you are obviously clued up on these things can I do this by using a spare
laptop and do I need to physically remove the drive from the problem machine
or can they be connected some other way? Do you know any good (easy to
follow) guides to how to do this and of any good software if needed.

 

[Drew Tognola]

nicebutdim.

Yes, select R If you can get back to the recovery console. You will not lose
your data after a repair installation. After getting back to your desktop,
follow these steps:

* Right-click 'My Computer', select Properties
* Select 'Advanced' tab
* Select 'Settings' under the heading 'Startup & Recovery'
* Uncheck 'Automatically restart' under the heading 'System Failure'
* Click OK twice
* restart computer and write down any error messages that appear
* After restart, open 'Event Viewer' & note any errors

Drew

 

[Ron Martell]

When I switch the PC on it fails to complete the start up of XP before
powerig off and restarting.... over and over. Have tried:
- enterring safe mode (can't it just shuts down)
- the last successful configuration option (it runs... and then shuts down)
- booting from CD (it will do this but does not provide a repair
installation option at any stage... it takes me to a screen 6 which shows the
hard drive partitions whatever that means)
- I can get to the Recovery Console but am a little nervous.

(Have looked at
http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658-1, not
sure if this would help)

MAIN WORRY is losing my data if I do a full reinstall.

Greatful for any help (should have backed up that data... hence my 'name'!

If you can boot to the Recovery Console then try entering the
following command when it stops at the command prompt:

CHKDSK /R

One of the fairly common causes of problems such as yours is a damaged
or corrupted data structure on the hard disk. If you could see the
error message (you probably have the "restart on failure" option set
which means the error message does not stay on screen long enough to
read) it might be indicating Unmountable_Boot_Volume as the cause In
that case the CHKDSK command will fix it. Not a high probability that
it will be this problem, but it is certainly worth trying if all else
has failed.

For detailed instructions on how to do a Repair Install see
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."