Resolved Win XP reboot loop

I am working on a friends XP machine and am having a continuos reboot problem. I have searched the threads and found some similar posts but not sure it applies here. When I start it it gets to the XP splash screen, sits there a few seconds, the screen goes dark and then it reboots. I'm really not sure if it is hardware or software related. I checked the ram, seems ok. I'm not sure if it is a power supply problem or a CPU problem. It could even be corrupted system files.

The computer is a Sony PCV-RZ49 (Sony's website is no help; it does not give specs) It has 512 memory and I'm not sure what size the hard drive is although it is partitioned.

I have used the XP CD Repair console to repair the MBR. I have taken the drive out and attached it as a slave to my system to see if it was failing. I did notice the data was on drive E while the operating system was on drive F - strange.

Please let me know if more information is needed.

 

Can you get into safe mode?
If so follow these instructions:

If you cannot get into safe mode or the above does not produce any improvements then you should use the manufacturers dignostics to test the hard drive. You will need to find the make and model number of the drive and then search for the manufacturers site and download "diagnostics for dos ". You then have to burn this image file to a CD (must be burned as a .ISO image file)and boot the PC with it to run the tests.

What tests did you run on the hard drive and how did you assess the memory to be OK?

 

I cannot access safe-mode. I tried the memory in another computer.

I used chkdsk /r and /p to check the disk from Recovery Console. Disk seems ok but I'm worried about the kernel file.

 

OK, I would now suggest you go to the Malware and Virus forum, follow the instructions and post the requested logs.

Although, I would still suggest you test the hard drive with the manufacturers diagnostics and although your memory works in another PC it would do no harm to run a full test on that using the diagnostics from this link. As with the hard drive test you need to burn this to a CD as an image file and boot from it.

http://www.memtest.org/

Being sure that your hard drive and memory are both healthy (in most cases) leaves only one other possible cause, malware or a virus.

 

Right now I have the power supply and cpu out of it. I will run the tests when I replace the parts.

I also scanned the drive outside the box and removed the trojans, etc.

 

When did you do that might have been worth telling me so I knew that had been done. Chances are that these infections have damaged the file system and would most probably have been the route cause of the problem.

After you run the tests and have given the memory and the hard drive the all clear I would do a full format on the whole drive (not a quick format) just to make sure there can be no remaining infections and then do a clean install of Windows. It will automatically go on as drive C, you can then create other partitions if required.

Why have you taken these parts out, what are you looking for?

I have dealt with several "boot loops" and I would be amazed if you find any problem with the PSU, unless there is another issue you have not mentioned.

 

Like i said earlier, I do not know if it is software or hardware based and I was covering both ends.

 

OK, I have given you advise based on past experience but will just add some final comments. You can do no harm checking the PSU out of the case but it is only when it is under load that you can accurately determine if it has any intermittent faults, if any of the rails had failed you would have had a permanent fault on the PC and not just a reboot loop. As for removing the CPU I can't see what that is going to achieve, testing it in another PC is meaningless unless it has an identical motherboard, same software, same OS, etc.

I would say it is a fairly safe bet that the problem was a direct result of Virus infection, I have seen this cause a reboot loop before on more than one occasion. I only suggested the hard drive and then later the memory tests just to eliminate the possibility of other causes.

I am fairly confident that after you have completed the tests I suggested and got the all clear, that when you re-install the OS it will all work as good as new. I think you will be wasting your time exploring any other avenues.

Don't forget to run a full format before re-installing the OS. There could be other viruses still on the drive which a quick format will not erase and that will allow the problem to persist.

Let us know how you get on.

 

Right now the computer is not functional. I am supposed to get my new cpu tomorrow and hopefully it will allow me to boot up from the CD so I can get on with the new install. All I get right now is a black screen.

 

OK Mojo, look forward to hearing from you with the outcome.

 

The HDD test and memory tests passed.

Is there anyway to fix the OS if they can't come up with the restore disks?

 

Follow this guide, I would try chkdsc first and if no joy then run the repair installation.

Does the drive have a Recovery partition, if so this guide will help to use that.

http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Reco...e_the_Recovery_Console_and_Chkdsk_utility.htm

You will probably find that some drivers need to be replaced if you have to use Repair.

 

I have an XP pro disk but this system uses Windows Media Center. Would it be a different kernel?

 

I don't know about the Kernel

I have seen one guide that says you can run the XP pro disc to do a repair install on WMC but it warns that the outcome is not guaranteed. I would only try that on my own PC. I would advise that you try to get the original disc of WMC to use or Recovery discs that the owner should have made.

Now that you have fitted the new CPU what happens when you try to boot the PC? do you still have a blank screen or is the OS loading? You should at the very least be seeing the first couple of screens appearing before the OS starts to load.

 

I found the user guide from here;

http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/SONY/PCVRZ49

This extract is the only mention of hard drive recovery.

 

It boots up to the windows splash screen and then loops back to reboot

They have put the restore disks in the mail

 

OK, those discs should do the trick.

Meanwhile, you could try running the chkdsc utility from the recovery console on the XP disc as per the link I gave you. That might get it running again.

 

I ran chkdsk with both /p and /r and it made no difference

 

OK, all you can do know is waite for the restore discs.

 

Computer is restored an all is running great