XP PC keeps re-booting on its own

[MDPVoterfile]

I have a Gateway laptop with Windows XP. When I try and boot the machine all I see is the screen for logging in with Safe Mode, Network Login, or log in with last known settings that worked. I have tried all these options. I see the Windows XP boot login screen and then nothing. A blue screen pops up for a second and then the computer reboots and I am sent back to the screen that would allow me to log in with Safe Mode. If I do not choose a log in option the computer tries to log in on its own and the whole process just continues over and over and over. I never get any further than the Windows XP boot screen. A friend of mine suggested that I could have bad RAM so I opened up the back of the case to switch out the RAM but I did not see a RAM card there. I believe the RAM is integrated in the motherboard. I tried to use the escape key to stop the blue screen so I can see what it says, but it doesn't work. I really need to get on this system. HELP please.

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

Did you install anything recently before this started happening or did this just pop up?

If you got the XP disk, boot into the Recovery Console and run chkdsk /r. Your hard drive might be going bad.

-How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

The RAM may be located under your keyboard. Look on Gateway's web page for the manual for your laptop and it may show you how get to the RAM. You can check your RAM for errors with Windows Memory Diagnostic from

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp.

You may want to try a repair install, but if your Hard Drive is going bad this won't be much use.

- Perform a Repair Installation

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[MDPVoterfile]

I checked out your link for the recovery console and it says... "When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console." I have been to a few sites and all them say NOT to press the R. This isn't my computer its my friends and I don't want to wipe his HD. What if he didn't install the Recovery Console?

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

What context were these sites telling you not to press R. Was it in reference to doing a repair install? If so you would not press R there, because that will not perform the repair install. The Recovery Console is not going to wipe the data on the hard drive. The repair install isn't going to wipe the data either. A clean install will. What sites are telling you NOT to use the Recovery Console. The Recovery Console allows you to perform various tasks to try to get your OS back to operational if you can't get it to start up. If he didn't use the Recovery Console you could try to use some boot disks to try to boot the computer up to run the chkdsk /r. You could also pull the hard drive out of the laptop and put it in an external enclosure and hook it up to another computer to try and recover the data too.

Joey
A+, Network+, MCP

 

[cdogg]

MDPVoterfile,
Go ahead and enter the Recovery Console to run the chkdsk /r command. It's a little like Scandisk from the older version of Windows and will attempt to recover data lost from bad sectors.

If that doesn't resolve the issue, try running a repair install next. If you check the last link in Joey's first post above, you will see how to do that. In fact, Step 3 says this:

3. Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.

The sites that you've been to that have told you NOT to use the Recovery Console are the ones that are showing you how to run a repair (like the link Joey gives). The console is great for more experienced users trying to repair the MBR or other components from a command-line interface.

Also it's possible that part of the boot sector or other sectors on the hard drive have gone bad, which is a sign that the drive is failing. If chkdsk or the repair install fail to complete, then that's probably what it is.

If the repair install completes but doesn't fix the problem, then it could be anything really. Try your best to record the error that flashes up in the blue screen.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[linney]

Have you tried logging into Safe Mode properly by pressing the F8 Key at Boot? This is different from the Options Screen you are being shown when the computer does not start properly. It is different in that in Safe Mode, if you have SP2 installed, there should be an option to stop at the BSOD and not to Automatically Restart, thus allowing you to write down the full error message and any files mentioned.

If you don't have this option, you can use a Digital Camera to snap the error message.


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

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

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

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[triplehxxx]

I am having exactly the same problem. I cannot perform any of the suggested repairs because I can't get into the system or the bios so my laptop just keeps on rebooting to windows and going to the display that needs a selection of either safe mode, last known good configuration, etc. Is there something that i need to do with my hardware for it to bypass this?

 

[linney]

triplehxxx,

Does your Laptop have a F lock key (it essentially allows keys to do more than one operation), which might be preventing you from entering Safe Mode (proper) or even the Bios?

Can you boot from CD?

Is there any other equipment plugged in to the Laptop that could be causing this problem? Things like keyboards, mice, anything USB?

 

[triplehxxx]

linney,

don't know about the f lock key (but pressing alt+function keys makes it do differnt things)

cannot boot from CD (does not go to bios - goes directly to window screen mentioned above)

nothing is plugged into the laptop.

my laptop is a toshiba satellite m30 - hope this helps.

thanks

 

[linney]

Can you try another Keyboard and see if that allows Bios entry, where you can check the boot order, or the F8 key?

Is it stuck in Hibernation or is there any booting screen when you power up?

 

[littlegates]

try tapping the F8 at bootup and enable the disable automatic restart on hardware failure. That way when your system tries to reboot, it will produce a blue screen with the error of your system. That way you can research the issue online from another PC and fix your issue. Here is a good website that I use:

http://www.aumha.org/a/stop.php

PCS3035

 

[HalComps]

Right, we need to figure out what you was doing b4 this started happening then we can sort out what has caused the problem b4 we can fit it. If you can try remember what it was you was doing then we can go from there.