Peculiar Windows XP problem

[Timken]

So I have a weird problem with a xp machine. A friend asked me to have a look at someone's pc since the guy cant use it.

He said the computer goes into windows and switches off. At first I thought he was getting a blue screen, or a power cut.

Upon switching the computer on, the thing loads xp, and as soon as everything is loaded, it automatically shuts down...the total logging off and shutting down story.

I have no chance to start any programs, even regedt, as xp tells me rundll error because windows is shutting down. Safe mode just reboots over and over again without going into windows.

Other than reformatting the computer, can anyone suggest something I could try to get this fixed?

 

[killadoob]

Reload it dude, sounds like a virus.

You could take the hdd and put it in another pc and run a virus scan but majority of the time a format plus reload is what you will need to do.

 

[PostmanPot]

Can you get in in safe mode?

 

[Timken]

Reload it dude, sounds like a virus.

You could take the hdd and put it in another pc and run a virus scan but majority of the time a format plus reload is what you will need to do.

Hmm, I thought so too.

I have a program that does offline registry editing, and the userinit is pointing to x:\i386\system32\userinit.exe, should be rather pointing to a root directory, but for some other reason, the registry doesnt take, and upon rebooting the pc, reverts back to its old setting.

Thanks for the answers.

PostmanPot, pc just reboots when trying to go into safemode, doesn't go into user interface at all.

 

[Grouter]

Had a pc doing just this just yesterday. Turned out the cpu cooler plastic bracket on the mobo had broken, and the heatsink was sitting cockeyed on the cpu. It stayed cool enough just long enough to boot into windows, then the cpu overheated and the pc shut down. Weird one. But I doubt that's your problem as you say it logs off properly first. I agree with Killa - 'reload it'.

 

[Cadavre777]

Have you tried repairing from XP's installation disk? Proceed as you would if you were installing XP (obviously dont remove or format partitions), just select "R" when it finds a previous installation.

 

[geezer]

If you have a few seconds before the computer shuts down, try the following: Press the windows logo on the keyboard, and then press "r". Now type "shutdown -a" (excluding quote marks) and press enter. This should stop the shutdown process.

 

[wizdumb]

i had a similar problem last week, my pc would shut down after 30s...

...it turned out to be that be that cpu was overheating. in that 30s i could go into the bios, and the pc health section showed that start up temps were 70.

i used some thermal paste, and clicked in the 1 pin that was not securely clicked in, and now my idle is 33'...so maybe check if all the pins are 100% securely clicked in

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Check CPU temperature first.

If all is fine, run memtest86+

If it passes, then it might be a virus. Standard rules apply in this case. I can recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (antivirus) - but you need a legal windows copy in order to use it.

 

[wizdumb]

is MSE free if you have a legal winXP copy?

 

[Grouter]

is MSE free if you have a legal winXP copy?

yes.

 

[Slootvreter]

Does it shut down after you log in, or does it not even ask you to log in?

 

[Timken]

I am going to try the "shutdown - a" thingy today, maybe I can find out something that is causing the problem.

The computer is win xp home, doesnt ask to log in.

The computer logs on automatically, then logs off and shuts down automatically.

It is like being on a swing where u get to a high point and then u go back down...

 

[phoneJunky]

I remember when I was on varsity I got a virus that shut down the computer 30 seconds after I logged on. The varsity then gave us all a patch for it. Can't remember what it was though

 

[Oculate]

Timken, create a looping .bat file and run that, it won't solve your problem though If it does, it'll be a virus

I've had the same problem as your original post - Randomly when I was playing a game/watching a movie on my pc, it would log off and shut down like someone clicked start -> shut down. After trying the .bat script I created, when Windows began shutting down it closed the .bat like it was a normal application

In my case it was my CPU overheating and the shutting down was caused by the BIOS CPU Safety settings.

 

[Timken]

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciate it.

The thing is that the pc doesnt shut down cause of temperature. It is an Athlon and is running at a steady 60-65 degrees. I think that is normal and within spec, will follow it up thou.

The pc boots, goes into windows, loads all the programs, and as soon as it loads everything, it logs off and shuts itself down.

 

[gregs82]

Your best bet is to repair via XP installation disk. If that does not work then remove Hard drive and put it into another pc and run a virus check and registy check. Should do the trick.

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Have you tried repairing from XP's installation disk? Proceed as you would if you were installing XP (obviously dont remove or format partitions), just select "R" when it finds a previous installation.

Your best bet is to repair via XP installation disk. If that does not work then remove Hard drive and put it into another pc and run a virus check and registy check. Should do the trick.

Try this, I also think it is your best option.

 

[wizdumb]

Your best bet is to repair via XP installation disk. If that does not work then remove Hard drive and put it into another pc and run a virus check and registy check. Should do the trick.

this would be my 2nd choice as well, or use your hdd on his machine

 

[Timken]

Just a quick heads up. didnt need to format.

Used the "shutdown -a" command, pc didnt shut down, looked at the userinit.exe entry in the registry, it had 2 other locations following it, deleted the locations, rebooted, all ok.

Ran Spyware, AntiVirus and Easy Clean, removed all junk, pc is running like a bomb now.

Thanks all for the help.