Resolved PC constantly rebooting in Normal Mode

This thread is a carryover/transfer from the Malware Forum under the title: XP Rebooting in Normal Mode

System Specs:
Dell Optiplex 745C
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU
6300 @ 1.86GHz
1.86GHz, 0.97 GB of RAM

Windows XP Home Edition
Version 2002 SP3

Motherboard: Dell Inc || ORF699

Note: The system has been through a thorough scouring in the Malware Forum and has been determined to be virus and malware free. I will restate the problem and hardware related actions already taken below...

PROBLEM: When powering up and beginning the boot cycle (either from Disk or Hard Drive) in Normal Mode the system will either flash and go to a blue screen...not the BSOD... then the monitor will loose a signal and the system will begin the reboot cycle. The system will accept the F2 or F12 inputs and system access is available to enter the BIOS setup etc. One can change the boot sequence etc. no problem. When Recovery Console is selected the program will proceed to a point where it hits a blip. The console then goes blank (black screen) briefly and comes back on and proceeds through the sequence until the first command prompt. At this time the cursor is not flashing and the screen is basically frozen and will not accept any inputs from the keyboard. The only way to reset is to do a manual shutoff/turn on from the CPU on/off button. The system will boot into Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking and work all day without a glitch. For any and all of the logs please refer to the Malware and Anti-virus Forum (XP Rebooting in Normal Mode). I thoroughly cleaned the internal reaches, circuit boards, RAM sticks, heat sinks, and fans of any and all dust-bunnies and the like. Any suggestions??? Am I in the correct Forum, at least, assuming it might be a heat or hardware issue?

ADD NOTE: I am not or better do not, have constant access to this unit so some of the recommendations may take a few hours or until the next day to impliment. ..Thank you.

 

Hi clitwin13,

I haven't yet looked through your other thread but I would think it's more likely to be software related. Keep posting in this thread though, if required a Mod will move it.

What happens if you keep the system running in safe mode for an extended period of time (several hours)?

Please enter your System Details. It helps us in answering your questions!

 

I've just read through the thread, you still have not ran Western Digitals diagnostics (there is no recovery option on that CD).

Please read again Broni's intructions and post back with the results of the lifeguard tool.

We cannot help you until you do.

 

The system won't let me enter the values to activate the program in Recovery or with regard to the Western Digital Diagnostics program do repair. Every time I get to the spot in the program where I am to enter a value to launch Recovery Console or do the Repair with WDC the keyboard is locked out. Broni advised to move the thread out to more open waters where others will see the problem and perhaps be able to advise.

 

The system won't have a say regarding lifegaurd (and recovery/repair) is not an option. I can only assume you have not created the lifeguard CD correctly.

 

That is great news..I would rather it be my fault. ... I downloaded the program onto my HP Pavillion g6 Laptop with Windows 7 and burned it to disk. I will attempt again and report back. Thanks so much

 

I will review Broni's instructions and reburn a Western Digital Diagnostic CD load it and report back. Unfortunately it will have to be tomorrow morning. Thank you for your help. ...ckl

 

I saw it Evan , thanks for the input anyway.

TBH I'm not sure if it's RAM, HD, SW or PEBKAC but hopefully between us we'll sort it out.

 

The problem should be due to a startup program or a bad driver. If you see a blank (blue) screen and then the monitor says "no connection ", it would say to me that graphics adapter was shutting down.

In Safe Mode, try going to msconfig (let me know if you need help to find it) and stop the graphics software from running at startup. If you are not sure, do websearches on the startup items, identify your graphics software and disable that program.

See if it starts in Normal mode.

You can also try starting up in VGA or Low Resolution mode, depending on your version of Windows. (Please put your System Details in your WindowsBBS user profile
http://www.windowsbbs.com/adding_system_specifications.html)

If that works, update the graphics adapter software, but consider that you might not need the latest version, rather, the version that is best suited for your model. Would you have any other graphics software from a previous adapter on your system (in Add/Remove Programs)?

Matt

 

Ok .. Thank you all for your inputs ..Let me start by satisfying the System Details of this unit...

Dell Optiplex 745C
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU
6300 @ 1.86GHz
1.86GHz, 0.97 GB of RAM

Windows XP Home Edition
Version 2002 SP3

Motherboard: Dell Inc || ORF699

64-bit (Intel EM64T)

0.97 GB RAM (2x512MB DDR2 SDRAM)

Hard drive: WDC800JD-75MSA3

DVD/CD-ROM: TSST Corp DVD+-RW TS-H653B

Sound Card: Sound Max (Analog Devices) smax4pnp

DSL ethernet connection

Monitor: Dell E178WFD

If the Power Supply info is critical I can retrieve it from inside the unit.

I am onsite and attempting a reburn of the Western Digital Diagnostic program at this time will post the results shortly...Carl

 

I just went to the Western Digital site for the specific hard drive and downloaded the suggested program to my laptop and used the recommended program to burn it to disk. I inserted it in the PC tower and confirmed that the boot sequence for loading the CD as the first priority and the SATA drive as #2. The system did not give me the prompt "if you want to boot from CD press any key" . I did get that prompt when I inserted the Dell Windows XP recovery disk (before the system freezes) so I am going to load that CD and swap it out with the Lifeguard Disk before proceeding to see if that works.

Well that didn't work very well. The system just reverted to the hard drive...learn something new every day.

 

Observation: When I use the F12 key on startup (it shows the sequence that I selected via F2 for the boot sequence), but when I continue start up with the F1 key the system tells me the "selected boot device is not available ". Is it not reading the CD drive.? or is it not reading the burned CD? When I install the Dell Disk I get the prompt. Is there something else I can try to force the drive to be read?

 

How did you burn the CD? If the cd isn't a bootable cd, you get no prompt.

I havent seen your other thread, but improper burning is usually the culprit.

 

Thanks ...I'll go out now and buy a bootable CD ... I mean a higher quality CD/DVD and reattempt. ...carl

 

No no, its not a different cd... it's how the cd is burnt, any cd can be used to do it, it just needs to be burnt properly.

When you explore the disk, is it 1 big file, or many files?

It should be many files.

 

I understand it is the process ... but I know there are better quality disks. I downloaded the recommended burning program "InfraRecorder" and followed the instructions. I will check the files on the CD ...Thanks

ADD NOTE: I will be away from the subject computer for a few hours ...will check back in later today....duty calls.

 

Clint, I've a feeling you're downloading the windows version of lifeguard. In your present predicament this will do you no good.

Download Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD) (Diag504fCD.iso) and burn the ISO file to CD as you would burn an image not data.

 

Wildfire.....Thank you...I have been burning the DOS (CD) as Broni told me to but have been doing it as data ...my bad. I will correct that tomorrow morning and give it another go. Sorry about that.. thanks for your patience.... Carl