Computer keeps on rebooting - please help

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jakalas

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Hi all

I have a computer running XP Pro. Lately, the compputer reboots itself as soon as I can see my desktop. I had this problem earlier, and somehow managed to create a new user profile to login with, which fixed the problem for a month or so, but I can't remember how I did it!

I suspect its a virus thats loaded under the current profile/user name, but can't create a new profile name as the computer restarts before I can do it.

I tried booting in safe mode, but the computer restarts itself as well. I also ran the XP CD to fix my Windows installation, but the problem still exist.

Is there a way that I can make a Antivirus boot CD from another computer and run it on the infected one, or a way to make a boot CD that will boot in safe mode ?

Please help!
 
Have you tried booting into safe mode while holding Ctrl+Alt+Shift? That should stop any extra programs from running in the registry and start up.

If it still keeps rebooting there are antivirus out there that let you make boot disks that can scan. Unfortunately I can't search for them now though but google should be helpful.

You can also try taking the drive out and putting it into another machine to scan if you are comfortable with that
 
You could perhaps try removing the hard disk(s) from the Infected system, connect them to another Windows system (with a decent anti-virus package installed) and scan the "infected drives"

It's a long shot, but has worked for me in the past! There are probably easier ways to do it, but I don't use Windows any more so can't really offer you a more "solid" method to do this...
 
Hi jakalas welcome to the forum.


Sounds to me like it is most likely a hardware issue. My first guess would be Motherboard. This is a common symptom with a faulty MB. I had the exact same issue with mine a few months back, kept rebooting randomly, even in safe mode. My best advice would be to make sure all your other components are fine but putting them into another PC, this way you can safely confirm which component is to blame. I am betting its MB. Good luck ;)
 
gdiza said:
I'm guessing memory is faulty.
Click to expand...

Could be.....Thats why I suggest he trys all components in another machine and see that way, it is a real pain but somehow need to isolate the faulty part. :rolleyes:
 
Plz help my uncle bought a pc that came with windows vista home basic preinstalled nd downgrade it to xp pro.It had no sound but worked fine for about 2 weeks or so(without sound) then i installed some sound drivers (the MB disc said "vista drivers inside") but now it doesn't want 2 boot in to windows, the case turns on fine but the monitor remains on standby. What could have caused this problem
 
Last edited:
Mokautu said:
Plz help my uncle bought i pc that came with windows vista preinstalled nd downgrade it to xp pro. It work fine for about 2 weeks or so but now it doesn't want 2 boot in to windows, the case turns on fine but the monitor remains on standby.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like your uncle needs to take it back to where he bought it from
 
Hey welcome to the forums
My vote is also that it is some kind of hardware fault. i doubt that it is a virus since u said u could create a new windows user and u had no prob with that user until now.
maybe overheating??? have u looked in the bios at your pc temps anytime lately??
If it is software i think it might be your drivers,have u tried uninstalling your drivers in safe mode and booting your pc up without them?
 
To answer the OP and not the thread hijacker...

How dirty is your PC inside?
I was having a problem with 2 pcs two weeks ago. One kept locking up, the other kept rebooting.

I dismantled the CPU heatsink / fan combo on each machine, and vacuumed the thick layer of dust off the heatsinks. Reassembled them, and both machines have been fine ever since.
 
i would agree it's most probably a hardware issue, not a virus.
Or something is currupted on your hdd - run a chkdsk in rescue mode console. (boot from OS cd)

.
 
jakalas said:
Hi all

I have a computer running XP Pro. Lately, the compputer reboots itself as soon as I can see my desktop. I had this problem earlier, and somehow managed to create a new user profile to login with, which fixed the problem for a month or so, but I can't remember how I did it!

I suspect its a virus thats loaded under the current profile/user name, but can't create a new profile name as the computer restarts before I can do it.

I tried booting in safe mode, but the computer restarts itself as well. I also ran the XP CD to fix my Windows installation, but the problem still exist.

Is there a way that I can make a Antivirus boot CD from another computer and run it on the infected one, or a way to make a boot CD that will boot in safe mode ?

Please help!
Click to expand...

Does it reset itself? i.e. no shutdown involved, just a reset?
If you suspect a virus, take the drive out and connect it to another machine and run antivirus from that machine.
 
thisgeek said:
To answer the OP and not the thread hijacker...

How dirty is your PC inside?
I was having a problem with 2 pcs two weeks ago. One kept locking up, the other kept rebooting.

I dismantled the CPU heatsink / fan combo on each machine, and vacuumed the thick layer of dust off the heatsinks. Reassembled them, and both machines have been fine ever since.
Click to expand...

I think he would be pretty lucky if that was the only problem....I wouldnt rule it out, after all dust is the enemy! :p
 
I had a machine that would reboot, at quicker intervals every time I restarted. Turned out that the CPU heatsink wasn't seated properly. Pulled it out, stuck it again, worked 100%
 
Does it reboot completely or does it just log off?

I had that issue a week ago where windows boots and the you log in and it just logs off again the whole time, nothing worked, no safe mode nothing. Turns out the pc did a virus scan and removed some stuff that corrupted some of the start up registry keys.

I googled it and just put the drive in another xp pc and and loadede that registry hive and fixed the keys and after that the pc booted normal.

So i transferred my data and did a clean install.

So if your pc cannot log in to xp maybe try that.
 
Does it restart in the exact same place every time or randomly? - My bet is the power supply...

Boot into the bios and leave it, see if it does it in there. Try do a hard drive test from within the bios if you have the option, that will get the heads spinning.
 
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