Windows XP Rebooting during Boot Screen

[Takieyda]

System Specs:
Windows XP Pro SP2
Epox EP-8RDA3+PRO
AthlonXP 1800+
256MB PC2700
PNY GeForce MX440
SB Audigy

Ok, this ones got me puzzled. My wife's computer has been rebooting on us at a seemingly random rate. At first I thought it might have been something with Windows, but that wasn't the case as I reloaded the machine and it didn't help. Then I logically thought it might be a heat issue. No the temperatures were acceptable and nothing in the environment has changed.

Next I tried the power supply and switched it out with one I had in another PC. That didn't help. After that I thought well maybe the motherboard was finally giving out. It's a 3y/o system and some of the capacitors on the motherboard were expanding for some reason. So I ordered the Epox listed above.

That brings us to tonight. I've installed the motherboard without problems but the system still reboots at the boot screen (See below). I get a little blip of a BSOD, but it's too fast for me to catch anything and then it reboots.

At this point I start searching Google aand other sites for some answers. One suggested that it may be memory related. So I download and run both MemTest86 and MemTest86+ and each test passes. (I only ran once through each.) The only other things I can think of are that it's either OS related and I need to reinstall or that it's HDD related, maybe a bad sector or somthing.

So to somewhat test my theory about it being HDD/OS related I run a few experiments. I obviously noticed that the PC didn't reboot during either of the MemTests; so I booted into the Acronis True Image Rescue CD I had. I let that sit for 20 minuts or so. No reboots. Next I burn a copy of Knoppix 4.0.2. Boot into it and it's been running for about 30 minutes. No reboots. Within Knoppix I can access the data on the HDDs and everything seems fine.

So does anybody have any other ideas for me to try before I reinstall? I'm pretty stumped on this so if nothing else I'll restore back to the fresh install image I have before doing a full format/reinstall.

As always thanks!

 

[linney]

To get further information about any error look in your Event viewer.

Look in the System or Application folder. You can get to the Event Viewer via right click My Computer icon and select Manage.

Any errors logged in the Event Viewer can be expanded by double clicking on the error line.

Take any event error I.D. number and search for it on these sites.

http://www.eventid.net/events.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/support/ee/search.aspx

Also check any "Information" line that mentions "savedump" and you should find reference to "recovered from a bug check". This is the Stop Error that caused your problem.

You can also turn off "automatically restart after an error" so it will just halt at the fault and display the full Stop Error and blue screen.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties .
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery .
Click to clear the Automatically restart check box under System failure , and then click OK . The error message on a blue screen should remain on the screen so you can record the error information.



Somebody the other day had a similar problem (there can of course be many causes), it turned out to be caused by the UDF Reader.

A general checklist is included in this thread.

xp freeze troubleshooting
thread779-935320

 

[Takieyda]

Thanks for the info, but I can't even get into Windows to do any of what you said. The machine will bring up the boot screen for about 1 sec, blip a BSOD for less than a sec and reboot. I'm at work right now, so I can't check, but don't some BIOSs have a feature to halt the system on error like your speaking of?

Also, I left Knoppix running over night and so far no problems which further leads me to believe it's HDD or OS related.

The checklist you mentioned with my comments:

antivirus
Spybot
Adaware [blue]I can't even get into Windows.[/blue]
Spyware Blaster
CWShredder
various on-line anti-virus/anti-trojan scans
---------------------------------------------------
chkdsk /r [blue]One of my next steps.[/blue]
hard drive diagnostics
---------------------------------------------------
memory diagnostics [blue]I've ran Memtest86 and Memtest86+[/blue]
---------------------------------------------------
resolve any IRQ conflicts
update all drivers [blue]Again, can't get into Windows[/blue]
resolve any Event Viewer errors
---------------------------------------------------
reseat RAM [blue]Replaced the Mobo so this is covered[/blue]
reseat all PCI cards, IDE cables, drives
---------------------------------------------------
decelerate hard drive (Display>Settings>Advanced>Troubleshoot>slider at half
disable IE pop up blocker [blue]Windows[/blue]
set MSCONFIG to normal startup (previously selective startup)
---------------------------------------------------
BIOS changed from pnp OS to no pnp OS, then back again
temperature OK, fans working [blue]Temps ok, fans work, no BIOS updates, I'll check on the PNP OS.[/blue]
BIOS update if available
---------------------------------------------------
disable hibernation and disk/monitor shutoffs
disable screensaver [blue]Windows[/blue]
disable Windows Firewall, and all exceptions
security set to medium
---------------------------------------------------
verify router settings [blue]Can't see a router causing reboots. Nothing happening on other computers on my network.[/blue]
---------------------------------------------------
underclock processor, example: 133 mhz to 100 [blue]I'll have to check this[/blue]

 

[BadFrog]

Have you tried fdisk /mbr

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[linney]

Have you tried Safe Mode to see if it boots from that?

XP SP2 has the option via the Safe Mode screen to turn off Automatic Restarts.

If you have a Digital Camera you might be able to photograph the error message.

Will it load the Recovery Console?

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.