XP restart loop in setup

[Sam Stafford]

I have built a new PC system and upon a clean install of
Xp, after the Windows CD has transferred the essential
files, it says 'starting windows' or something to that
effect.
In a few seconds it unerringly restarts, going through
the setup again in a loop. It doesn't even get to the
partition setup. I have heard at this time it is scanning
the hardware of the PC, so it may be a fault there. Is
there any way other than trial and re-testing that will
identify the faulty hardware?

I have a DFI ultra infinity NF2 motherboard
geIL 512mb RAM
Radeon 9800 Pro Graphics
Seagate barracuda IDE HDD 120Gb

I have tried this on XP Home AND Professional andneither
disk has any visible scratches.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Windows XP Does Not Respond at "Setup Is Starting Windows XP" Message
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310760&Product=winxp

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I have built a new PC system and upon a clean install of
| Xp, after the Windows CD has transferred the essential
| files, it says 'starting windows' or something to that
| effect.
| In a few seconds it unerringly restarts, going through
| the setup again in a loop. It doesn't even get to the
| partition setup. I have heard at this time it is scanning
| the hardware of the PC, so it may be a fault there. Is
| there any way other than trial and re-testing that will
| identify the faulty hardware?
|
| I have a DFI ultra infinity NF2 motherboard
| geIL 512mb RAM
| Radeon 9800 Pro Graphics
| Seagate barracuda IDE HDD 120Gb
|
| I have tried this on XP Home AND Professional andneither
| disk has any visible scratches.

 

[HentaiPockyStick]

I have built a new PC system and upon a clean install of
Xp, after the Windows CD has transferred the essential
files, it says 'starting windows' or something to that
effect.
In a few seconds it unerringly restarts, going through
the setup again in a loop. It doesn't even get to the
partition setup. I have heard at this time it is scanning
the hardware of the PC, so it may be a fault there. Is
there any way other than trial and re-testing that will
identify the faulty hardware?

I have a DFI ultra infinity NF2 motherboard
geIL 512mb RAM
Radeon 9800 Pro Graphics
Seagate barracuda IDE HDD 120Gb

I have tried this on XP Home AND Professional andneither
disk has any visible scratches.

The same thing happens to me when I have an aggressive high setting on my
MSI mobo.

Did you do some overclocking on the bios itself or use a high setting?
If you did, try this, set your bios to minimal settings, save and reboot.

Go back to your bios and do a regular setting for your system, just remember
ofcourse to disable anything you don't need, and reboot.

If you can get onto the logon screeen... then probably the setup in your
bios was too agressive.

Now here's the fun part... reboot and go to your bios after each boot and
setting and increase each individual settings one at a time after each
successful boot for your overclocking hearts content and see if you can get
to the logon screen without the rebooting. If it does reboot, then switch
back the item that was overclocked back to it's prior settings before the
reboot.

Hope this helps.