Computer keeps rebooting on Windows XP logo.

My computer keeps rebooting unexpectedly. Lately, its been whenever my computer gets to the Windows XP logo loading screen, and the rebooting always stops at a screen with "Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last Known Good Configuration and Start Windows Normally. I've tried using all options but I still can't get into Windows as it reboots itself.

Hope someone could help me on this matter.
Thanks in advance.

 

Not trying to hijack this thread...just having the same problem!

No error messages, Windows just reboots over and over with the same screens as above.
I don't have a Windows XP disc...just the "recovery discs "...OEM install

I'm about ready to use the recovery discs and start fresh but I really didn't want to lose and my files and data.

 

Anything updated? Any windows patches or software or hardware ? Did the computer shut off cleanly before this problem occurred ?

 

I'm not sure if the pc was shut down cleanly before the problem started, (living in SW Florida and we get lightning/power outages almost daily). My kids told me what was happening and I've been unable to fix it since.

Best of my knowledge, no updates, or patches.

 

Can you go into Safe Mode with Command Prompt ?

If you can, log in as Administrator or an account with Administrator priviledges and type fsutil dirty set c: in the command window. Reboot & let the chkdsk run. May be that would sort out the problem.

 

Also, you should be getting a windows error (bsod) if there is a hardware failure, but im sure that it might not do that all the time. Does it beep alot when it restarts, if so that could be a hardware problem, such as fried motherboard or faulty RAM. Not sure if my addition to this will help at all but that is basicaly the same thing that happend to me, i couldnt even get the computer running it just kept rebooting over and over again.

 

Hi,

You'll only see the blue screen (BSOD) flash before it reboots if your PC has 'Automatically Restart' (reboots on error) still enabled.
If you want to see the BSOD in order to get a clue about the possible cause, you'll need to disable this setting.
Get into SAFE MODE (press F8 after the POST and choose SAFE MODE from the list).
Once Windows starts, press the WinKEY (the one with the Windows flag between left Ctrl & Alt) and tap the PAUSE/BREAK key to get System Properties box (or right-click MyComputer and choose Properties)
Choose the 'Advanced' TAB then see 'Startup and Recovery' (third item down) and press the 'Settings' button.
Take the tick out of 'Automatically Restart' then OK out of all that and reboot.
The next BSOD will remain on the screen and not cause the PC to reboot.
Now you can look for file name clues etc.
Dodgy drivers can cause a reboot because XP fails to load it (so it reboots to have another shot at it), so look for something your recognise.
If it looks like something like ATI or nvidia then it could be your display driver. Get back to SAFE MODE and uninstall it from control panel Add/remove programs.. Then reboot.
Hopefully, Windows will load it's default VGA drivers which hopefully will allow you to get online and download the latest drivers from the manufacturers support site.
Also check that your AV is updated and perhaps run a full scan as well.

Other common causes are dirty RAM contacts, dodgy IDE or SATA cables, bloated mainboard capacitors, ceased AGP or PCIe fans (overheating GPU) and faulty PSU's.. (the list can go on actually)

 

Quite right - I read too fast My apologies..

As you suggest in post#3 a Repair might do the trick.
However it's quite likely that in view of the problems even with safe mode, that a repair will fail as the issue is likely not a driver or specific service.

In these cases I would proceed with a number of steps.
Removal of the RAM, clean the contacts, re seat the ram.
Make sure the CPU Heatsink is clear from dust. A small can of compressed air can help clean this out.
If the system has an AGP or PCIe display card which uses a cooling fan, make sure this still spins and is clean of dust etc.

Also I often remove the HDD and connect it to a USB adapter in order to run a Virus and Spyware scan from another machine.

Once this step is completed and any nasties found are cleaned up, I'll re fit the drive to the original PC and try booting again.
If the problem persists, I've had a lot of success running SPINRITE.
Of course, none of these suggestions will work if the HDD itself has developed faults. Diagnostic tools run froma bootable CD can help here.

 

Same here.

Safe Mode,
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Safe Mode with Networking
Start Windows with Last Known Configuration
Start Windoes Normally

Those are the options and none are working.

Again, I'm not trying to hijack this thread, I just feel that Sarah and I have the same or extremely similar problem.

Thanx.

 

Time to do a XP Repair install.

There is no other option other than PE Boot CD's and those take a lot of prep and should be done before hand to be available at times like this.

This re-installs Windows system files and keeps all your settings, programs and data.

Boot from the CD as if to install Windows, you will get an offer to repair using Repair Console do not choose that just continue.

You will get to a screen that setup says it found an existing Windows installation and offer to repair it. This is what you want. Hit R to repair from there it will look like a normal windows install.

See the below perhaps print it. For now only view the screens to match my instructions above.

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-repair-Windows-XP-t138.html

Put CD in CD drive reboot it may say "Hit any key to boot from CD" hit enter.

If not then watch the screen to see if there is an F key to enter Boot selection menu. Some use F10 or F12.

None of the above then get back an we will guide you thru the BIOS boot order.

Mike