[JLeinenveber]

Hi everyone, Im new to the forums, and I come with a pretty major problem. Several months ago I turned on my computer and it got to the windows loading screen and then just kept restarting over and over again. Well after reading some forums like this one, I tried putting in the original windows OS disk and tried the repair installation. It worked perfectly, I didn't lose any data, and the PC was up and running again.Well now, about 6 months later, I turned on my computer this morning and its doing it again. Now I've heard it could be one of many things. But this computer is less then a year old. Also, I scanned it for viruses several times and nothing came up. Finally, if it worked for those six months, doesn't that rule there being a problem with the power supply? I am truly stumped, and I hope there is someone who can help :) thank you very much in advance

[rgreen4]

How far into windows does it get. Do you ever see the Black Screen with the windows logo and the bar underneath before it restarts?You might go into the BIOS it could be one of several keys depending on the computer, some use delete, some use F10 (HP) right at the start of the boot process. Somewhere in the BIOS there should be an option for Restart on Error. If you find that, turn it off or disable it, so that when the computer hits the error, it stops with the error message.Then come back with the message.

[JLeinenveber]

I get to the part where there is the windows logo and the loading bar underneath, then it restarts from there. I went into the BIOS but the only thing that was close to what you mentioned was the APM restart, which had the options of Last state, power on, and power off. Do you know which menu the restart function can be changed?

[Arther]

Hello JL einenveberHave you made any recent changes to the pc (i.e. update drivers, windows updates, new hardware..ect..)What are the specs for your pc?

[JLeinenveber]

I haven't put any new drivers in, although I have done windows updates. When the problem first occured 6 moths ago, I did install a wireless USB and the driver that comes along with that, do you think that could be it? The only problem with uninstalling such things is that I cant even boot in safe mode :( heres the specs Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6700APEVIA CONCORD ATX-MR500W ATX12V v2.03 500W Power Supply ASUS P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI x 16 ATX Intel Motherboard HIS Hightech H160XTQ128GDDN-R Radeon X1600XT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 IceQ Dual DL-DVI Video CardCORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 TWO Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

[rgreen4]

In order to tell you which menu, you will have to give us more details about the computer, the manufacturer, the model and what BIOS it has. The latter is available at the top of the BIOS screen. It can be AMI, Phoenix Award or maybe even some other.Then we would have to hope that someone that has a similar machine would be able to answer. I suffer because all of my manufactured PC's lack that feature, when there is an error they stop. I do know that some have this feature, and it makes it difficult to diagnose.The other option as a trial, is to boot into the safe mode. Instead of entering the BIOS, at that same point hit F8 and windows will ask if you want to boot into the safe mode. It will disable a lot of the peripherals such a wireless networking. Try that and come back with the results.

[SpiritWind]

{size:18px}[/size]:D Hi J : I will try and approach your situation from a potential security problem . Nowadays, "viruses" are a MINOR concern, compared to trojans, worms, generic Dialers, rootkits, etc AND it is recommended to have 1 or more antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN programs and a software firewall ; do you have such programs on your computer ? IF yes, let us know their SPECIFIC Name(s) and possibly their VERSION Number(s) . Just as important is to tell us the SPECIFIC Name of your Operating System ? IF it is Windows XP, WHICH "Service Pack" ? Do you regularly "clean" the various "Temporary" files that accumulate when using the computer ?

[JLeinenveber]

well it says its American Megatrends, but I scoured the menus and found nothing on restarting.

[JLeinenveber]

You know Spiritwind, that is probably the root of my problem. Unfortunately I do not have any anti spyware or virus programs. I do have a program called PC Doctor and it scans the computer for anything like the things you mentioned. But I don't do it nearly as often as I should. My OS system is Windows XP SP2 if it were one of the things you mentioned, how do I go about cleaning that up? I can't even get into safe mode. I guess what is really throwing me off is the fact that I seemed to have fixed it 6 months ago and it just did it again, but I havent added anything major onto the computer

[JLeinenveber]

just found something else, every time it restarts, there is one short beep that comes from the PC, I know thats some sort of error code, but I dont know what

[rgreen4]

Did you try to boot into Safe Mode? On my laptop the disable automatic restart is there, along with boot into safe mode.As soon as you see the options on the bottom of the screen, hit F8. That will give you various boot options, including boot into safe mode. Try it first. Let us know the results.

[SpiritWind]

{size:18px}[/size]:D Hi J : I just completed a "Google Search" for "PC Doctor" and found no Listing for that SPECIFIC Name; there was a Listing for "PC-Doctor" ( with the "-" in the Name ), but that seems to be a diagnostic program, NOT an antiSPYWARE program . What is the EXACT Name of that program & IF you have correctly quoted its name, does its Icon show up in your System Tray ? If yes, try RIGHT-clicking on it to see if there is a VERSION Number. IF at all possible, I recommend you try downloading, then installing, then getting the Definition Updates to the FREE Version of SUPERAntiSpyware from www.superantispyware.com ; this is one of the TOP antiSPYWARE programs. If successful, run its "Perform Complete Scan" Option & let us know WHAT it detects !? When it comes to reliable Info on antiSPYWARE programs, the Best Site is antiSPYWARE Expert Eric Howes at : www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm . And for cleaning those "Temporary" Files I mentioned in my previous Post, try downloading, then installing, then using "ATF Cleaner", developed by antiSPYWARE Expert "ATribune", available at www.atribune.org/content/view/19/2/ . This is FREE .

[JLeinenveber]

yeah, thats the one. I guess it is just a diagnostic program. Unfortunately though, I can't even boot my PC in safe mode, so I can't begin installing those things till the PC is up and running

[Arther]

[quote name='JLeinenveber']yeah, thats the one. I guess it is just a diagnostic program. Unfortunately though, I can't even boot my PC in safe mode, so I can't begin installing those things till the PC is up and runningAre you even able to get into BIOS ??

[JLeinenveber]

yes, I can get into bios

[Arther]

What does it say or do when you try to get into safe mode?

[JLeinenveber]

it doesn't say anything, it just keeps restarting

[rgreen4]

I notice that you have three hard drives, two Seagates and on WD. Are the two Seagates configured in a Raid? and where does the system reside?Do you have recent backups, or is there critical or important data that is at risk?

[JLeinenveber]

yeah, there are 3 hardrives, I used the 80Gig western digital as my boot drive and the 2 seagate 320gigs as slaves. There is a ton of important data at risk. But what is bothering me is that I can insert the windows XP disk and do a repair install and the PC will work perfectly for anytime from a day to several months. So I think it can be resolved without having to wipe the system

[rgreen4]

You used the term system and then TWO salve drives. Are the drives IDE or SATA. I agree with using a smaller drive for the system and programs and separate drives(s) for the data. It does make it easier to back up the data.I would remove or at least disconnect the two 500GB, get the system running or restored on the 80GB and then install anti-virus and anti-spyware on the system drive and then re-connect the two 500GB.I do one other thing, I clone the system disc. I have three networked machines with the data on the network, and I have clones of the system disc for each machine. In the two desktops the clone drive is in the case but not connected, the clone for the laptop is in the cabinet, since there is only room for one drive in the case. Then if I have a problem, I use the clone backup as a master and re-clone back on the operating disc. Quick and simple.