Windows XP Home Edition Keeps Rebooting

[GMack]

Please help me! I recently built a computer for my sister
and purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Home Edition
Full from Newegg.com and it worked fine for several
months. Until recently. One day I started the computer
and the following happened and continues to happen. I
have tried everything to make Windows XP: Home Edition to
stop rebooting after I get to the screen that asks me to
choose "Safe Mode", "Normal Startup", "Last Known Good
Configuration", . . . . Regardless of what I choose it
just keeps rebooting and then it gets to the same screen
and does it all over again. I have even tried repairing
Windows, but that didn't work either. This problem
originated before I was even able to connect to an
Internet source so I know that it's not Blaster. Does
anyone have any ideas how I can resolve this problem?
Microsoft Tech Support is not helping me out at all and
actually refused to help me. Thank you to anyone who can
help me.

 

[Malke]

Please help me! I recently built a computer for my sister
and purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Home Edition
Full from Newegg.com and it worked fine for several
months. Until recently. One day I started the computer
and the following happened and continues to happen. I
have tried everything to make Windows XP: Home Edition to
stop rebooting after I get to the screen that asks me to
choose "Safe Mode", "Normal Startup", "Last Known Good
Configuration", . . . . Regardless of what I choose it
just keeps rebooting and then it gets to the same screen
and does it all over again. I have even tried repairing
Windows, but that didn't work either. This problem
originated before I was even able to connect to an
Internet source so I know that it's not Blaster. Does
anyone have any ideas how I can resolve this problem?
Microsoft Tech Support is not helping me out at all and
actually refused to help me. Thank you to anyone who can
help me.

First, understand that since you bought an Original Equipment
Manufacturer version of Windows, Microsoft is very clear that tech
support should come from the OEM. That is why the software cost you
less than full retail. Of course, in this case *you* are the OEM, but
let's not blame MS for that.

It sounds to me like you are either having hardware problems or you have
bad drivers. Since you can't even get into Safe Mode, I'd approach
troubleshooting from the hardware side first. Open up the box. Start it
up and observe all the fans, particularly the one on the processor and
video card. Did you apply the thermal paste correctly? Did you use the
right heatsink? You didn't give us any of your system specs, so I can't
give you an exact answer. If all the fans are running and temperatures
are normal, strip the box down to the motherboard, video card, and
floppy. Don't even connect any drives yet. Test the RAM with Memtest86.

If the RAM is good, hook up the hard drive and test it with a diagnostic
utility downloaded from the drive mftr. If the drive is good, move on
to testing the motherboard. Etc. If you need more help, then please
repost. Include system specs and what you've already done to
troubleshoot.

Malke

 

[Guest]

not an answer to your question, but my computer did the same thing, It was the worm Agabot.fx and for me it probably came from some files I reinstalled or downloaded but again thats probably not the case. I'm still working on that!

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

Please help me! I recently built a computer for my sister
and purchased an OEM version of Windows XP Home Edition
Full from Newegg.com and it worked fine for several
months. Until recently. One day I started the computer
and the following happened and continues to happen. I
have tried everything to make Windows XP: Home Edition to
stop rebooting after I get to the screen that asks me to
choose "Safe Mode", "Normal Startup", "Last Known Good
Configuration", . . . . Regardless of what I choose it
just keeps rebooting and then it gets to the same screen

Which screen?

I have even tried repairing Windows, but that didn't work either.

It rarely does, contrary to what ppl may tell you. Often causes lots
of new problems, though - gone is your patch against Lovesan, etc.

This problem originated before I was even able to connect to
Internet so I know that it's not Blaster.

<g>

As an OEM licensee, your assistance will come from the OEM behind the
license, not MS. So that's the story behind "they refused to help
me"; the OEM version is cheaper because the support value-add is
undertaken by the purchaser (OEM) not seller (MS).

If you bought the OEM version directly, that responsability is yours!

I'd start by checking hardware:
- see http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/bthink.htm
- fans OK?
- not overclocking?
- RAM OK? (www.memtest86.com, www.simmtester.com)
- file system OK?
- HD physically OK?

If any of above are bent, do NOT attempt to re-enter Windows until
they are fixed - and especially, don't attempt a "just re-install".

Next, I'd formally exclude malware
- see http://users.iafrica.com/c/cq/cquirke/virtest.htm
- good luck if you fell for the NTFS sales pitch :-(

If I ever got back in, I'd strangle a few snakes at birth:
- turn off the stupid "restart on system errors" setting
- turn off the stupid "restart PC on RPC failures" setting
- avoid NTFS, if you have to rebuild from scratch
- set registry so Recovery Console can actually revover stuff

Details left as an exercise for the reader

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Dreams are stack dumps of the soul