Windows Startup Problem

[Guest]

Before Christmas I built a computer and installed Windows XPPro. Shortly
after (1-2 months) the computer would not startup. It gets to the Windows
splash screen and then restarts. It gets stuck in this loop. I thought that
maybe the hard drive was bad so I borrowed a hard drive and reinstalled
everything. The computer seemed to work fine, until this morning. My wife
turned it on and it started doing the same thing. I have spoken with the IT
guy here at work and he said it may be the motherboard. Or maybe the RAM.

Has anybody run into this same problem and if so, what did you do to correct
the problem?

Thanks,
Zippy

 

[Guest]

I beleive that if you have a problem with RAM, the computer wouldn't make it
to the Wisows splash screen and would start beeping continuously. I Think the
POST Power On Self test would stop there and signal the erreur with beeps.

The same should go with the motherboard. The POST test is part of the
chipset of the board. If the board fails completelly, you wouldn't get
anything. And if it failes partly, you would probably get a beeping code.

If you get to the splash screen, it probably means that the board and memory
are good. I would probably suspect a Windows installation problem.

You say the problem occured again this morning. Was it with you're hard
drive or with the borrowed one?
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[Guest]

iIt was with the borrowed drive. I have been using the borrowed drive to see
if it worked ok before I sent the old drive back for replacement. I assume
that since it happened on 2 different drives, the drive is not the problem.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

When you boot up, do you see on the screen the description of the videocard,
then the POST doing it's little thing? pay attention to the details. Can you
see an error message? You can use the "pause" button (above the arrows on
the keyboard) to read the screen at human speed.

Also, have you tried to bootup with the windows CD or a bootable disk?
just after the POST, have you tried to force you'r computer into safe mode
by holding the F8 key?

*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*

 

[Guest]

Steph

the computer does go through all the normal post functions. it goes so far
and I get the start in safe mode, safe mode with command line... screen. it
will only move to the windows xp splash screen using last known good
configuration option. however after about 15 - 30 seconds, i get the bsod
displayed for about a half second and then it restarts.

 

[Guest]

Sorry but I think this is beyond me.
The easy answer would be to say that you should re-install Windows and start
all over again, but that wouldn't explain how it all came to be and what are
the chances for it to happen again (There`s nothing I hate more than someone
easily saying "just reinstall Windows" because that's usually a hell of a
long day before everything is back in order + there's always some lost data
somewhere).

All I can recommend is that you put up a new post with the refined details.

Sorry I couldn't help anymore!
Steph.
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[Alan]

Before Christmas I built a computer and installed Windows XPPro. Shortly
after (1-2 months) the computer would not startup. It gets to the Windows
splash screen and then restarts. It gets stuck in this loop. I thought that
maybe the hard drive was bad so I borrowed a hard drive and reinstalled
everything. The computer seemed to work fine, until this morning. My wife
turned it on and it started doing the same thing. I have spoken with the IT
guy here at work and he said it may be the motherboard. Or maybe the RAM.

Has anybody run into this same problem and if so, what did you do to correct
the problem?

Thanks,
Zippy

Try the Win XP Recovery Console on your Win XP CD to repair your
installation. See the following link for instructions.
http://tinyurl.com/29y9c