XP repair install reboots/crashes and restarts

Ok this first started about a week ago where windows would crash just after startup got done, the one where it shows the windows logo and the loading bar. It would crash with a fatal error. So I first tried to load last known good configuration. Nope still the same problem. So said ok let us try safe mode. Still computer crashes after loading bar and logo screen. Then I decieded that it was bad boot files possibly as that has happened on another of my computers before. Tried all the tricks I knew how to use with recovery console. Nada. So I tried to do a repair install, done a couple of times in the past with other computers.

This is where I am now stuck. I put the disc in, boot to the setup menu and begin the install. Roughly at the 9 mins left to complete the setup (that is what the setup is saying in the left hand side starts at 39 mins), or where it is trying to load components or register them. The computer reboots and starts all over in the setup.

Now I can't even do a clean install or have it reformat the drive. I have however got a copy of Ubuntu from my father and am able to run it off the DVD drive. I can view the hard drive and even search and start pulling anything I forgot to save perviously to a thumb drive. What can I do to fix this looping boot and get the computer to complete the repair install or get it to put a fresh one on?

 

Since it was happening (crashing) when Windows was running and now again when you are trying to repair it, I might suspect a hardware problem first. Disconnect any added hardware, including add-in cards. Test the RAM/memory, see my signature. Open the case, check all the fans are spinning freely, including the one in the power supply (a good flow of air is coming out). Check for dust build-up.

Run CHKDSK /R from the Recovery Console.

When you mention "register" the components, I wonder about the health of the registry, but I don't think it should be causing problems at the loading bar stage.

You could reformat the partition and even remove/delete and rebuild the partition before you do, but I think I would check the hardware first.

Matt

 

If you have more than one memory stick try running with just one stick installed, if there is no change then try it with another stick and continue until each stick has been used.

Chkdsk, as Mattman suggested, may uncover a faulty drive but the best test would be to run the manufacturers diagnostics. This guide will show you how to do it.

 

before I tried doing a repair install I pulled the ram and checked it on another computer. Nothing wrong there. This is a laptop and I haven't added anything to it all hardware wise. I check to make sure the fan and heat sink were not dusty and that the fan was running which it is. I tried using the recovery console and had it check the hard drive, repair the boot files and still had the problem.

The computer would intially crash in all modes immediately after the windows bar and logo got done. It looked as if windows was about to start, the mouse icon would appear on a black screen then it would crash with a fatal error and start all over again.

I attempted to do the reinstall after the recovery mode failed. I inserted the disk, selected the option to install windows, selected repair install and it begins the setup for loading windows, then it gives you the screen showing that it is loading all the items it needs to install windows (like when I do a fresh install on my desktop at home) then when the install bar says you have approximately 9 mins left for the windows installation the computer crashes and when you boot it back up, I have it set to only boot from the disk drive and nothing else, it says that the windows install setup is restarting and around and round you go. I can not even select to reformat the hard drive or partion. I do have access by running ubuntu off the disk drive so I can access all the files. I have been pulling off the data I need. SO I know the disk drive is booting like it is supposed too.

My question now is what would cause windows to do that? THe reason I am trying real hard to save the programs on the computer is some of them I need for school.

 

Yeah that was one thing I tried first as that is what microsoft told me. Tried both sticks individually by themselves in each slot, still the same problem. I have run the chkdsk and nothing was found to be wrong. I can run Ubuntu from the CD/dvd drive with out a hitch. Access all the files on the hard drives with out a problem. Just windows won't boot or the setup now won't complete. A friend of mine mentioned something about winlogon file or another similair file. But he is offshore right now and I can't get a hold of him for several weeks.

 

What make and model laptop? Are you using the factory supplied or recovery CD that was burned previous? Is the disk scratched? Were there any changes of the factory installed hardware?

 

As your system is crashing when you are trying to reinstall XP it has to be down to a fault on your MOBO or the hard drive is faulty.

I would suggest that you run the manufacturers hard drive diagnostics, which I gave all the information for earlier, to be sure that your hard drive is ok. Then that will only leave the motherboard as a suspect.

The winlogon.exe is connected with windows autorisation checks and is not going to have anything to do with this problem.

You could try to run a full format of the drive from the hard drive diagnostics before trying another reinstall.

Does this laptop have a SATA or IDE hard drive? If it has SATA you will need to install the SATA drivers during the reinstall as they are not included in XP. You won't have a floppy drive on your laptop so you will need to integrate the drivers into your XP disc making a new copy. You will also need to get all the required drivers for the motherboard chip set and other hardware components which XP has no generic drivers for.

As asked by Whiskeyman, are you using a genuine XP disc, a copy or recovery discs that were supplied with the laptop.

 

Dell D610 1.8 Pentium M 2gb ram 80g HDD (IDE), I have tried with the factory supplied disk and my brothers retail that he bought. Both have the same thing pop up, the factory disk was brand new and shiny while the disk from my brother had some smudges but I cleaned them off.
The only thing changed from the factory is the ram was increased from 1gb to 2gb and I replaced the battery because it wouldn't hold a charge but that was about a year ago when I did those things.

 

The drive is an IDE so that shouldn't be a problem. I am going to try to run the diagnostic disk that I have at home through it then and see what pops up. I was wondering though if the HDD was bad should I not be able to access it or see it while using ubuntu?

 

If it happens at the stage Windows is about to load (...logon normally or the last stages of running a Repair Reinstall), I would suspect the registry.

Off the top of my head, reformatting or deleting/remaking partitions is the next stage after you are offered the option to "repair the current installation of Windows ".

If I think there are problems in the registry, I don't try to troubleshoot them for long, they are often hard to overcome and your system might still be "sick" if it can recover. It might just not work efficiently.

I know it would be nice to save the installed programs, but if the system is not working correctly I always think that a fresh installation would be like it running like new again. I could just install the programs I wanted and leave any of the others out. [Watch out that you don't just get into the same situation and stuff your registry by installing dodgy programs.]

I said I might suspect a hardware fault, I would test what hardware I could, but without confirmation I wouldn't go changing out the hardware before I replaced the software (reformatted Windows).

Matt

 

Is that diagnostic disk a general purpose one? I would suggest you use the one from the manufacturer as this will give more reliable results.

Your hard drive can have many faults and still be visible when using Ubuntu.

If no faults are found I would format the drive and then try a reinstall.