Re: Computer keeps restarting

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

"Kathy" <Kathy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
Have run three memory tests, with several passes for each,
have run the motherboard check. No Errors found. I did a
Norton Disk Doctor scandisk, no problems at all. The computer
has now been on for 9 1/2 hours straight without restarting.
The problem seems to be the startup of Windows.
Windows did start last night and I cleaned up the hard drive,
did a registry check, put a CD in the drive and bang, it shut
down and Windows hasn't started since, just the windows
logo screen and then it wants to run a check on the hard drive
because Windows was not shut down properly last time.
I might try re installing Windows XP, but this computer is
about to go out the window.

"Rock" wrote:

"Kathy" <Kathy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
> Hi Rock
> It's an older computer with 20gig hard disk drive, only had 250meg > memory
> but I have added another stick today. Win XP Pro with SP2 included was
> installed about 12 months ago. The machine had a virus in Jan this year
> but
> that has been cleaned. I have just done a Norton boot/virus scan and I > am
> doing what used to be called a scandisk at the moment.
> The machine will boot to the menu for Startup Choices i.e. Safe Mode, > etc
> etc. It doesn't matter which one I choose, it goes through the files > until
> it
> gets to mup. (sorry I have momentarily forgotten the extension) stops > for
> ages and then restarts. Sometimes it will go to the Windows Splash > screen,
> then the screen that checks your drive for errors will appear for about
> one
> second and the computer restarts.
> I think the last installation was Skype. But the computer was a bit > dodgy
> before, that is - restarting without warning, not often but > occassionally.
> Someone suggested the power supply might be on its way out, however the
> machine has been in what is basically the Dos mode for about 4 hours > now
> without looking like restarting.
> So I am thinking that a vital piece of the Windows Startup software may
> have
> become corrupted. I just don't know how to fix it without reinstalling
> WinXP.
> I have tried the Windows Rescue (or startup) disks, but same problem.
> Thank you for any assistance, Kathy
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>> "Kathy" <Kathy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
>> > Hi, I have Windows XP installed. The computer keeps restarting over >> > and
>> > over
>> > again. Sometimes it will go to the Select Startup Mode, but it will >> > not
>> > start
>> > in any mode, tried them all. I am able to start the Recovery Console
>> > and
>> > go
>> > to the C:\Windows prompt, but I don't know what to do from here. I >> > have
>> > reinstalled the Kernel32.dll Actually got to see the Windows startup
>> > screen.
>> > But that only happened once. Any help would be appreciated. Thank >> > you
>>
>> How far does it go before restarting? What is the history of this
>> problem?
>> What changes were made to the system right before this problem >> surfaced?
>> What is the computer and it's configuration?
>>
>> -- >> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>>
>>


The fact that the failures are occurring at different places in the startup
process suggests to me this is a hardware problem. Could be the motherboard
failing, the power supply, or RAM.

Run at least two of these memory diagnostic utilities. They will create a
bootable floppy or CD. Boot from that and let them run for a long time, not
just a single pass.

Memtest86+
http://www.memtest.org/

Windows Memory Diagnostic
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

DocMemory Memory Diagnostic
http://www.simmtester.com/page/products/doc/download.asp

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot


It still sounds like a hardware issue. Good luck.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

.

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