Computer keeps restarting before loading Windows XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gactimus
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Gactimus

I have a problem with my computer. My computer is a year old and has been
working fine until this morning. I turned on the computer and it goes through
the Power On Self Test and then right before it's supposed to start loading
Windows XP the computer resets and starts the process all over again. It will
keep repeating this process until I turn the computer off. If I press F8 it
will still ask me a bunch of startup options, including Safe Mode, but no
matter what option I select the computer will instantly restart and repeat
the process.

Can anyone help me with this?

By the way, someone in another forum suggested reseating the RAM and trying
each of the RAM sticks by itself. I tried it and nothing changed.
 
Gactimus said:
I have a problem with my computer. My computer is a year old and has
been working fine until this morning. I turned on the computer and it
goes through the Power On Self Test and then right before it's
supposed to start loading Windows XP the computer resets and starts
the process all over again. It will keep repeating this process until
I turn the computer off. If I press F8 it will still ask me a bunch of
startup options, including Safe Mode, but no matter what option I
select the computer will instantly restart and repeat the process.

Can anyone help me with this?

By the way, someone in another forum suggested reseating the RAM and
trying each of the RAM sticks by itself. I tried it and nothing
changed.
Click to expand...

Since the failure occurs before the operating system can load, you
probably have hardware failures. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Malke
 
Since the failure occurs before the operating system can load, you
probably have hardware failures. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.
Click to expand...

The computer is a desktop.
 
Since the failure occurs before the operating system can load, you
probably have hardware failures. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).
Click to expand...

Alright, I turned on the computer to try some of your suggestions but now
the fans turn on but nothing else happens. The monitor doesn't turn on, no
beeps, nothing at all.
 
Alright, I turned on the computer to try some of your suggestions but now
the fans turn on but nothing else happens. The monitor doesn't turn on, no
beeps, nothing at all.
Click to expand...

Look at number 4 posted by Malke. Your power supply probably has
gone south, try replacing it. If you do not have the ability or
inclination to replace the supply, take it to a good repair shop as
she has suggested. Good luck.
 
Gactimus said:
Alright, I turned on the computer to try some of your suggestions but now
the fans turn on but nothing else happens. The monitor doesn't turn on, no
beeps, nothing at all.
Click to expand...

Call the tech support for the manufacturer of the computer and/or take
it in to a reputable repair shop.
 
Look at number 4 posted by Malke. Your power supply probably has
gone south, try replacing it. If you do not have the ability or
inclination to replace the supply, take it to a good repair shop as
she has suggested. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that's the problem. Hopefully that will work. I guess I'll go
pick one up tomorrow.
 
In the worst case your going to have to re-install XP. And that will mean
lossing your user files. So DON"T DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU"VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

I had a similar experience a few day ago, but that was because I'd changed
the motherboard. XP doesn't accept changes of the HDD (System Volume) or the
Motherboard without complaining. I was expecting a "too many hardware
changes" type message but only got into the loop you found.

I suggest as a minimum you do the following.

Get a start-up floppy from a previous version of Windows. Win 95, 98 etc.
boot from this on start-up. (You may need to go into BIOS to change the Boot
sequence.) Then attempt to access the C: drive from the A: prompt. You should
be able to see the directory structures by doing a DIR. If the C: drive is
not accessible, check that the BIOS is recognising it. A failed HDD (C:Drive)
may be your problem. If you can get access to the C: drive, you must get you
user data off this before proceeding. If your computer has two HDDs and BIOS
can see both, you may be able to copy data from one to the other. (Use the
Copy command in DOS) Otherwise, the best plan would be to get, or borrow,
another HDD and install this in your machine. You can then install XP on this
and then Phone Microsoft to get it re-activated. (Make sure you get the
Master/Slave the right way round and/or set the boot partition correctly.)
Once done you can pick up the user files (My Documents) from the other drive.

The important thing is. If you existing drive is OK, so are your user files
(My Documents) Don't try to re-install XP before getting this data off. XP
will format your HDD (deleting all the user files) if you try to re-install
it.

Because you can't access XP, you can't make a back-up (.bkf) file. which is
what you should have been doing regularly anyway, but most people don't.

Hope this helps. Don't panic. Don't act without thinking. Good luck :-)
 
Gactimus said:
I'm hoping that's the problem. Hopefully that will work. I guess I'll go
pick one up tomorrow.
Click to expand...

Yes. The PSU may be the problem, but it could also be your BIOS/Motherboard.
Did the HDD and Floppy/CD spin up?

Again. Unless you not bothered about the data on your computer, disconnect
the HDD before you do or change anything else, and don't reconnect it (power
or data) until you've got the thing to get through its BIOS checks. You only
need power, keyboard and Monitor connected for this.
 
Yes. The PSU may be the problem, but it could also be your
BIOS/Motherboard. Did the HDD and Floppy/CD spin up?

Again. Unless you not bothered about the data on your computer,
disconnect the HDD before you do or change anything else, and don't
reconnect it (power or data) until you've got the thing to get through
its BIOS checks. You only need power, keyboard and Monitor connected for
this.
Click to expand...

How do I do BIOS checks?

Thanks for your help so far. I will *not* be reformatting my HDD until I
have tried everything.
 
Yes. The PSU may be the problem, but it could also be your
BIOS/Motherboard. Did the HDD and Floppy/CD spin up?

Again. Unless you not bothered about the data on your computer,
disconnect the HDD before you do or change anything else, and don't
reconnect it (power or data) until you've got the thing to get through
its BIOS checks. You only need power, keyboard and Monitor connected for
this.
Click to expand...

Also, I have heard that popping in the Windows CD and running the recovery
console can help. Is running fixboot and fixmbr safe?
 
Comp Tech said:
Wrong,
A repair install will not cause you to lose your files.......
Click to expand...

Yeah. You may be right, but I'd always prepare for the worst, especially
with what sounds like a flakey system. (We now hear it won't even get through
BOIS tests)

If you have more info I'd be interested. BTW, proir to re-installing XP I
created a back-up via the ASR option in Back-up. Although I selected that
option, which XP Install recognised, and despite the fact that it loaded all
its own drivers for network and video, when it came to up-loading the back-up
it couldn't access the network! And this despite the fact that it somehow
knew the name of the back-up machine and file location. I thought of
installing my own network driver via floppy ('cos there was a point at which
I got a DOS prompt) but decided to do a freah install and then restore via
that option in the Back-up GUI. This worked OK (after telephoning MS for
re-activation) but the restore was not complete (I had to re-load the top
level of MS Office, athough the components worked, compainingly, but had
forgotten the Recent Files) I never needed the ASR Floppy, wa's tha for den?

Given that I haven't, have you experience of the Repair function? (Was that
one of the other bullets in the "what type of installation?" screen at the
start of XP Install, I can't remember?)

Regards
 
Insert the XP CD, boot to it, Choose install option (NOT THE RECOVERY REPAIR
OPTION), the on the following screens you will be given the chance to do a
repair install, after carefully choosing the correct windows to repair it
will seem to be doing a complete install, but it is only repairing the old
windows on your computer. I have used it many times and it does work fine.
 
How do I do BIOS checks?

Thanks for your help so far. I will *not* be reformatting my HDD until I
have tried everything.
Click to expand...
If you've got the maunual for the motherboard and BIOS, that will tell you
what all the Beep sequences mean. If you can, given your system's not
working, download the documentation from the maunfacture's web site.

If needs be you can remove all the plug-in cards, memory and IDE/Floppy
ribbon connectors from the motherboard. If you do, be very careful not to
damage the ribbons or connector pins by pulling things out at an angle. I
wouldn't do this unless you get real problems.

So, as a minimum, you need the motherboard, the power supply and the
connection to the power-on switch.

When you power up, the CPU fan and the PSU fan should start. If they don't
you've got a problem with the PSU or the mother board. (Don't forget to check
that the power connector is properly seated in the motherboard.) The
difficulty is that if nothing happens, you don't know whether it's the switch
signal not getting to the PSU, or the PSU not responding to the signal.

If you get passed this point, the BIOS will BEEP to tell you what has
failed. If the Beep sequence is for memory test fail, this might be because
you've removed the memory. Re-installing it will clear that "fault" and you
can go on to the next. If you can get the video card working you will be able
to see on the screen how far the BIOS tests have got before failing. Just
work though it to clear all the "faults" until all you get is the long
all-clear beep at the end.

Remember it's unlikely that you've got more than one actual fault. You just
need to find it.

Once you've got though the BIOS checks, re-start and press the Del Key (or
whatever is required) to enter the BIOS Setup. You will then be able to check
that BIOS can "see" the HDD. (There should be an HDD detection section) Plug
your HDD power and data cables back in only while the system is powered down.

That's all for now. Good luck.
 
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