XP problems

[kma1025]

I just finished building my PC and installing windows XP. After a few times shutting down then powering back up again later, my computer stops loading windows at all. The computer will show the load bar right before the windows XP load screen, but will not actually make it to the windows XP loading screen anymore. It just reboots and cycles through like that. I tried to reformat the hard drive, and the same thing happened. Windows loaded a few times regularly, but then became unable to load. Hoping someone can help me out here.

[Direwolf20]

Are you connected to a cable modem directly, or behind a router/firewall? Any kind of internet protection there?

Have you ran windows update after installing the fresh copy?

My guess is if you are connected directly to a high speed internet connection, you may be getting a virus.

[S1nF1xx]

Run memtest86 and the HDD manufacturer's diagnostics. With any new build memtest should be a standard stability test.

[kma1025]

I hadn't been connected to the internet yet at all. Do you have to actually load windows to get the memtest?

[hulksterjoe]

nope..its dos based ....

[chojin_1999]

List your machine parts. It will be helpful in troubleshooting. Since you said you just built your system you are probably using SATA drives on a current motherboard architecture. Be sure you are using the latest hard-disk controller drivers from the motherboard's website when you hit F6 for “other drivers” in installing Windows, especially if you have a raid configuration. Yeah, running memtest is a good idea too.

[Phoenix86]

Download the ultimate boot CD, link in sig.

It has all the tools you need, like memtest86 and the HDD manufacturer's daigs. Check RAM first.

[kma1025]

K this is what it has...

AMD 3500+ 64 bit processor
Seagate 160GB Hard Drive
1 GB RAM (2x512MB) - Gigaram
AOpen nCK804 motherboard
XFX 6800 GS XXX edition
Asus DVD/CD rom drive
The Power supply that came with the case is supposed to be 450 volts I beleive, but im not sure how to check that.

[kma1025]

But i still dont get why it would load well the first few times then just stop all together too....

[S1nF1xx]

But i still dont get why it would load well the first few times then just stop all together too....

That's why you need to test your hardware. ;)

Bad RAM can cause any number of problems that make no sense. And, as I said in my previous post, anytime you buy new RAM you should run Memtest86 overnight anyway to ensure the sticks are good.

[SmokeRngs]

K this is what it has...

AMD 3500+ 64 bit processor
Seagate 160GB Hard Drive
1 GB RAM (2x512MB) - Gigaram
AOpen nCK804 motherboard
XFX 6800 GS XXX edition
Asus DVD/CD rom drive
The Power supply that came with the case is supposed to be 450 volts I beleive, but im not sure how to check that.

I hope you meant 450 watts. Anyway, that doesn't tell us anything about the PSU that we need to know. The wattage it's rated for doesn't necesarily mean anything. What kind of PSU is it? It should say on it somewhere. There are 450 watt crap generic PSUs that can't run an old PIII. The make and model of the PSU has more to do with it being good than the wattage.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/207.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=207&tm=33)

[chojin_1999]

If your ram checks out, try booting into safemade (keep pressing F8 after the BIOS screen has loaded and select "Safe Mode"). If it's a driver problem it will usually hang on a driver, i.e. agp4400.sys, scsi.dll, etc. If you can get in, install all your updated drivers (disk-controller/mainboard/video card/sound card). Also, on those previous reboots that were fine, did you install any applications before each reboot?

[kma1025]

mmmm my power supply has a red ATX Switching power supply sticker on it. I'm guessing that means its an ATX power supply.

[kma1025]

And I did install my video card drivers and some things from the bonus CD that came with my mobo

[chojin_1999]

Yeah, I don't usually install things from those CD's since the drivers are usually behind about 3 or more revisions on average. Hopefully safebooting and installing updated drivers that you downloaded will help. Also, one of those applications from the CD could have caused issues in your OS too. Just a head's up.