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A computer question

J

J3Rz

n00b
Joined
Jul 28, 2004
Messages
18
I have a system that keeps restarting itself. It won't load into Windows (this is an XP system) and when I try booting into Safe Mode or any of those options, it won't load. Could this be a memory issue? I took out each memory chip seperately and it restarted both times. I've been told it also may have some trojans on it as well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
Is this a fresh install of windows, or had the computer been working up till this event?
 
It's been working until I restarted it after downloading a Windows Update. That's when it started restarting constantly.
 
When restart where you choose to start in safe mode, try selecting the "Start windows with last known good configuration."
 
We did that as well as every other choice in the advanced startup menu.
 
Random re-boots can easily be caused by a bad power supply. Id check into that and maybe do a quick swap if you have a spare.
 
Mine has been doing this lately.. I think it is something with RAM.. since I just recently put in some new DIMMs then the problems started. Mine will start to load windows then reboot.. I usually have to turn the computer off for less than aminute and then will boot up. Try leaving the power on to the computer while the comp is off.. then try starting it up after about 15 seconds. It usually works for me. This morning was a rough time getting into windows but after half dozen tries.. finally booted. Once I am in windows, I can usually restart it just fine. It usually only happens after it has been setting over night. New ram is on it's way.

One thing you can do is to test the RAM.. I have been using Memtest cd [Ultimate boot disc wouldnt load memtest on my computer for some reason.. worked on a laptop] but when I run memtest.. I get a ton of errors even on the first test.
Tested the laptop after installing another DIMM and it passes everything except test 5 for some reason.. I think it is ok, though.
 
If it's shortly after a windows update, its likely what happened at my work (I work at a tech helpdesk) where the update installed incorrectly, so windows cant load. A telltale sign is a quick flash of a blue screen with an error line at the top or bottom, although I've seen it without this blue screen.

Usually we just do "start with last good config" or whatever and it works, and we reinstall the update, but if thats not working you could try booting into safe mode and then unsitalling/resintalling the update(s) that are giving you the problem.

Then again, it could be memory like others have said, but it would be a weird coincidence if u just installed updates and then this problem occured...which ofen happens due to updates being bad. But good luck none the less
 
a bunch of computers at work did crap like that... they would take 3 or 4 tries to start up.. they would freeze or restart sometimes.. turns out they all had leaky caps...

what are the specs of this comptuer??
 
Ack.. the leaky cap syndrome... have one board with leakers that is running ok as long as you aren't playing games.. and if you do want to play games.. had to have it at AGP2X. Now it is the parents computer with agp2x and an unerclocked GF2 [fan is on it's last leg so the GPU runs hot]
Had another motherboard that I just got replaced for a friend with leaky caps.. wouldn't even post. Worked fine before I bought it.

Just got some Corcsair C2 RAM for my computer to get rid of the Kingmax and all is running good.. will see tomorrrow morning after it sets a while with no power. That will be the teltale point.. but it did pass memtest so I'm thinking all is good.

Anyhoo.. Good luck on solving your problem.

Oh.. was formatting a laptop and had WinXP home installed but would get popups on every startup that the system recovered from an error [especially after updating windows]. Reinstalled and all is good so far.. still need to update. Was probably cause on the first install, the drive had troubles reading files so I had put a WinXP Pro disc in to get a few files off.. not too smart.

Right click My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced tab -> Startup and Recovery Settings -> Uncheck Automatically Restart
That should help you get BSOD so you can see what is going on instead of instant restarts.
 
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