Computer keeps restarting

Published on July 15, 2006 By jazzymjr In Windows XP

A friend on mine's computer all of a sudden just keeps restarting. Cannot load windows, gain access to the root directory, etc. Sometimes the boot screen will show up, other times, it won't. Checked the bios and everything looks fine there. I even changed the boot drive to the CD ROM, put the XP disk in, but it still does the restart thing. Once in a while, a BSOD will flash momentarily, but can't read what's on there....too fast.

I put in a new power supply cause his was awfully hot. Figured it might be because it was over-heating. But that was a no go as well. I cannot access his floppy drive either.

No new hardware installed in over a couple of months....so, I figured that can't be it. I even unplugged all peripherals except for the video card, sound card, mouse, and keyboard.

I am totally stumped....anyone have any ideas?

Comments (Page 1)

Corky_O

on Jul 15, 2006

Did you try reseating the memory sticks?

MasonM

on Jul 15, 2006

I'd be leaning towards a failure in the processor, motherboard, or memory card(s).

tjesterb

on Jul 15, 2006

Do you hear any beeps when it tries to boot up, and if so, how many?

PurrBall

on Jul 15, 2006

Does Windows start to boot?

You might want to try safe mode, or do a Repair install.

starkers

on Jul 15, 2006

I had a similar problem some time ago.....a techie friend dumped the memory/restore cache in the BIOS, rewrote it to recognise the connected hardware, etc and did a repair install of XP to restore the OS boot sequence.

I'm not sure of the exact procedure or if this helps, but he said it had something to do with the BIOS not correctly reading the HD and needed updating. If that's not it, hopefully yrag or someone can nail it down better than I and offer a solution.

Best of luck with it.

jazzymjr

on Jul 15, 2006

Did you try reseating the memory sticks?

Yep....and checked all the cables too.

Do you hear any beeps when it tries to boot up, and if so, how many?

It has the regular one short beep at start up which is normal for it.

Does Windows start to boot?

You might want to try safe mode, or do a Repair install.

Sometimes I can get as far as the boot screen, but that is it. Even when trying to do a re-install of XP, it only gets as far as doing the temporary installing of files..then says windows is starting, then please wait....then it dies! Freezes up.

Since I posted the original article this morning, I took out the recent video and sound cards and put the old ones back in. No luck, so change in the behavior.

I think he got a trojan or something in the Master boot record, but I can't access the drive to re-format it! This is maddening!

werewolf

on Jul 15, 2006

you can boot from the XP install and go to the recovery console instead of installing. Won't ever access the hdd. Once you get to the command line type 'fixmbr' (without the quotes). That will repair the mbr, if that is, indeed, the problem.

BluDrgnBoi

on Jul 15, 2006

i had a problem like this and it was hdd failure - the smart feature would cause the hard drive to reboot and if the power supply had been running hot sounds like it might have been hit by a surge

jazzymjr

on Jul 16, 2006

I was able to boot from the XP disc. When I typed the R to get to the Recovery Console, the computer froze up solid! Couldn't do anything!

had a problem like this and it was hdd failure - the smart feature would cause the hard drive to reboot and if the power supply had been running hot sounds like it might have been hit by a surge

I have a sinking feeling it is a hard drive failure also. I was just hoping that it may have just been a trojan or something. I don't have an extra disk around to test to see if it is a hdd failure...so, he is gonna get a new drive.

PurrBall

on Jul 16, 2006

You can try a Linux Live CD to get the data off onto a removable drive (usb flash drive) before dumping the drive.

And yes when my hard drive failed, first devices stopped working, and eventually it just started rebooting.

werewolf

on Jul 16, 2006

Meowys suggestion is an excellent one.

Have you checked your hdd power and data cables just to make sure they are all seated correctly? Yeah, I know kind of a duh! thing, but you never know

starkers

on Jul 16, 2006

Have you checked your hdd power and data cables just to make sure they are all seated correctly

Different circumstance, but recently my machine kept wanting to reboot when an idiot tech didn't connect my main drive with C: properly after a case upgrade. It was as if my PC was in a continual loop of rebooting, but once the cables were connected correctly and the BIOS could recognise the HDD, all was well again....hopefully that's all it is.

Tominated

on Jul 17, 2006

I have the same problen, but when I went into safe mode it stalls on a file and then reboots. Luckily dad is taking it to his works tech guys

jazzymjr

on Jul 17, 2006

You can try a Linux Live CD to get the data off onto a removable drive (usb flash drive) before dumping the drive.

Fortunately, I had backed up all his data a couple of weeks ago. I do that once a month, as he has a habit of messing up his computer, forcing me to wipe it about every 3 months or so.

Have you checked your hdd power and data cables just to make sure they are all seated correctly?

Yep, that was one of the first things I did. I checked all the cables to everything, and re-seated the memory sticks.

Xythe

on Jul 19, 2006

Well chances are if you can boot to Knoppix, then you have a software issue.

Some things I might do are to remove all external devices from your PC and try to boot.
Have you installed any new hard/software lately?

I think you will know a lot more after you try booting to Knoppix.

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