PC Keeps restarting during XP RE-Installation

U

ultramel1987

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Good Day

I wonder if you could perhaps help me. My desktop pc just restarted itselt while i was installing software from internet (so my guess would be that its a virus)

I instered the xp cd to try and repair, did not help

Then i tried to do a re-install, but It restarts when there are 13 minutes remaining of the installation, then starts installation again, then does the same thing.

What can the problem be? I put a new motherboard in last month?

(PENTIUM4) 2GIG RAM.

Please help! My computer is my life!! :-)

Thank you kindly

Melissa:cry:
 
When it restarts during installation take the CD out. It's booting from CD every time.
 
cerebus said:
When it restarts during installation take the CD out. It's booting from CD every time.
Click to expand...

When booting from the CD, it will ask you 'Press any key to boot from CD/DVD...' don't press any key when it asks for that.

Or just remove the CD as suggested, then insert it when the installer asks for it.
 
I tried that, and then pressed F8 to select it to boot from HDD, but keeps starting with screen - setup is restarting.....
The installation only goes up until just past configuring system, around 13 minutes remaining of installation, then restarts (same point each time)

It keeps asking me for the cd if I take it out?

Thank you so much for your help
Any further advice would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

Melissa
 
Ok it sounds like it's encountering a hardware error. Your PC is really old by now - is it possible you can afford to just buy another one?
 
cerebus said:
When it restarts during installation take the CD out. It's booting from CD every time.
Click to expand...

The_Librarian said:
When booting from the CD, it will ask you 'Press any key to boot from CD/DVD...' don't press any key when it asks for that.

Or just remove the CD as suggested, then insert it when the installer asks for it.
Click to expand...

LoL, I don't think you guys understand what she is trying to say. While busy installing windows, the pc just restarts.

The most common issue for this problem is heat. 9 out of 10 times, when I experience this error, it's because the cpu is running hot... I would check that first.
 
SharkBait said:
LoL, I don't think you guys understand what she is trying to say. While busy installing windows, the pc just restarts.

The most common issue for this problem is heat. 9 out of 10 times, when I experience this error, it's because the cpu is running hot... I would check that first.
Click to expand...

+1 on that... and test the RAM... you said you got a new board...Did you get new RAM also?
get memtest and test the ram... make sure you have the latest BIOS... it the BIOS is a bit old it could affect RAM compatibility. Had that issue before.
 
Thank you to everyone for the replies. I would actually love to buy a new one - it is about 6 or 7 years old already. But finances not looking to good. And I use my pc so often. I design MsAccess Databases, and have recently started building a website for myself - which by my own stupidity is saved on C: under mydocs, so im definately going to lose it!!!

and, yes that is correct it restarts whilst installing Windows, therefore my guess is that the installation is never going to be complete, and will therefore never startup!!! :-(

My pc feels slightly warm, not sure how to tell if overheating? The fan is blowing warm air out the back?

Thank you all once again

looking forward to next posts....
 
Yes, also bought new RAM.....how to I know if I have the latest bios? and what do i do if i dont?
 
nOw that the xp installation was incomplete...is there perhaps a way to copy my files from documetns and settings onto my other hard drive and then format C Drive and start all over again?
 
Sseeshhh...you could have thought about backing your stuff up before you reinstalled Windows hey.
 
I know :-( Is there a chance it may still be there?

Is there any way I can get the pc to stop asking for the Winxp disk, so that I can go into the cmd prompt?

Can I format my C Drive and re-install again?

(Thank you)
 
Perhaps you could take it to Matrix or someone.I'm sure they can extract that file for you on a disk,format the hdd and then re-install windows.
 
Im sure they could help. But unfortunately I cannot afford to take it in anywhere at the moment... :-(
At this point even if I cant recover the files. Where do I start to do a fresh install? - (format and reload) ?
 
There isn't much chance of it still being there. The installation usually writes over previous installs - except now Win7 puts it on a backup folder.
 
oh ok. Thank you.

At this point even if I cant recover the files. Where do I start to do a fresh install? - (format and reload) ?
 
MelissaFleet said:
nOw that the xp installation was incomplete...is there perhaps a way to copy my files from documetns and settings onto my other hard drive and then format C Drive and start all over again?
Click to expand...

Do you have another computer or can you borrow one from a buddy for half a day?
Pretty simple to take the drive out, stick it in another pc and then copy all your stuff over.

You can also try one of the Linux boot cd's (like Ubuntu), Boot off the cd and you can copy your stuff from one drive to the next.

One more thing, check that your cpu's heatsink is seated properly. May have popped out.
 
Check for Hiren's boot CD - download it, burn to a CD. Preferably another, working PC as you don't want to overwrite your documents and other stuff now?

It's 130Mb in size.

Then you can boot from the CD into a mini WindowsXP mode, and see if you can recover any files. Lots of handy recovery utilities on the CD as well.

Worth a try.

Linky : http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download.html

Good luck :)
 
MelissaFleet said:
Yes, also bought new RAM....
Click to expand...

My guess would be either the HDD or the RAM is faulty. We've even received quite a few brand new RAM modules recently that have been faulty out of the box. Take the advice of doing the RAM test and also do a thorough test of the HDD. The Hirens disk as mentioned above is perfect for both of those tasks.
 
Great. I will definately try that. I have a laptop, but obviously cant use that - will have to ask around,,

Can I use that Ubuntu if i have XP and not Linux? (sorry if its a stupid question - ( Im not an "operating system and hardware" kind of person - more into software :-) )
 
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