Hardware Analysis - Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

john albrich — 2008-05-14T07:43:54-05:00

DublinGunner said:

If you can download memtest onto a bootable floppy disk, and run it from there, it will give your ram a good work out, and should bring an problems with the ram to the surface....

You can get a more thorough system test suite in UBCD (Ultimate Bood CD). One of the programs included is memtest. The self-booting CD tests more system components: memory, CPU, hard drives, peripherals, etc. It does a very thorough job and is extremely easy to use.

Although it's reported version ver4.1.2 is available, the latest version I could obtain was 4.1.1
http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/
http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/download.html
You can download a .iso, .exe self-extracting, or .zip file depending on what connection speed you have. (download filesizes range from 87mb to 115mb) The .iso file is easiest as you just download it and then burn the .iso image to a CD using Nero, or CDburnerXP, or burnatonce, etc.

MD5/SHA-1 Hash Verification
I do recommend performing a hash verification to make sure your downloads aren't corrupted. Long downloads tend to be somewhat vulnerable. Use a program like freeware Fingerprint to calculate the MD5 hash and compare to the value provided by the download site.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/FingerPrint_d4388.html
http://www.2brightsparks.com/

edit-include version 4.1.2 vs. version 4.1.1 available info
edit to add-download data verification using Fingerprint or similar

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

john albrich — 2008-05-14T07:35:32-05:00

With regard to the high temp reading, any temp reporting program can display extremely unusual temps for a given sensor reading. This is a problem with having non-standardized sensor data reporting setups on motherboards and different BIOS...although standardization is getting better.

In some cases, you may even see a given sensor reading vary from -100C to +100C in the space of a few seconds. You may find a reporting program that happens to read and report a particular sensor correctly.

With Speedfan, because the program attempts to handle so many different motherboards and sensors, you do have to be careful to be sure the program has assigned the right sensors to the right devices. The program is very flexible and for that reason the user may have to re-assign or invalidate specific readings because Speedfan tries to find and report even non-standardized sensors. You need to read the detailed technical info on Speedfan to understand the issues and make the right adaptations.

If all you want is to report temperatures and fan speeds, a different program may make reporting these on certain motherboards easier for the non-technical user, at the cost of reduced flexibility and functionality. You may not need the added functionality and flexibility provided by a program like Speedfan.

Alternative Programs
(most of these can be found at download sites like majorgeeks.com or softpedia.com)
You can try some other monitoring/control programs like Everest, MBM5, CoreTemp, AMD64Assistant, AMD Dashboard, HWmonitor, PCalert4, ITE-SmartGuardian, and so on to find one that works "best" with your motherboard. Some are specialized for Intel platforms, others are specialized for AMD, while others like HWmonitor are specialized to specific sensor chipsets like the IT87 series.

Some people find Everest works well for them, while others find a much simpler program like CoreTemp meets all their needs. Some programs (like Speedfan) are freeware, some (like Everest*) are not.

*Everest Freeware version became unsupported in 2005, but a very downlevel version 2.20 is still available at: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Gerritt — 2008-05-14T06:50:22-05:00

Are you using a disk burning software package?
I recently accidently installed Roxio v6 when I had 9, and I had the same problems on Vista.
Upon removing the offending SW my system came back.

Gerritt

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

kevin M — 2008-05-14T06:42:15-05:00

Yes the computer has always booted in safe mode, even before i reinstalled the OS. There are 2 RAM sticks. I tried booting with each one, one at a time. both times the computer restarted at login screen. Safe mode still works, but not regular mode. I installed the display driver for the monitor but that's the only new driver I updated since the re-installation of vista. I finally got SpeedFan to work, if this info might be helpful. There are 5 temperature readings. #1, 2, 3, 4, and HD. #1, 3, 4, and the HD temps are all normal, however the sensor #2 is reading at 125-130ish C (260ish F). Any ideas, let me know please.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Kieran Blenkarne — 2008-05-14T00:54:02-05:00

Kevin, while your computer is in DOS mode and booting up, press F8 until a screen appears.

Choose 'Safe Mode'

This will load Windows with only the basics.

If the boot is successful, it means that Windows is trying to load a driver that is corrupt and causing your system to crash

So, try and think of any drivers you have recently installed ( any new hardware? Or any driver updates? ) If you can't think of anything, when you reboot, press F8 again, and this time choose "Last Known Configuration That Worked" and see if ti will boot.

If it doesn't, let us know and we can try and help you some more.

Good luck.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

kevin M — 2008-05-13T18:36:03-05:00

I had the same problem. I reinstalled windows and about 4 days later the same problem came back.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Jake Houpt — 2006-03-01T16:24:38-05:00

I have the "reinstallation" disc for Windows XP SP2. It came with the computer, along with alot more discs.

So, yea. Thanks for all the help. I'll be back if this doesn't work.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

leastcmplicated — 2006-03-01T14:56:51-05:00

DublinGunners suggestion is to reinstall windows. When you get to the install page you can delete the partitions you already have, just follow the instructions. I think it says something like Press D to delete partition. The only reason DG told you to DL your drivers is so you dont have to redownload them when you install windows, but if you have them on disk, like the CD that came with your vid card, and mobo then you are fine. If its a driver issue, then downloading them onto a disk may not be the best way, you may be saving a corrupt driver, so I would suggest just redownloading them if you dont have them on CD already. good luck and I install windows at least 5 or 6 times a month, so if you can get on another PC while you're doing it, I'll be happy to talk you through it when I can.

EDIT - you cant just DL windows XP, well, not legally anyway.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Jake Houpt — 2006-03-01T14:31:32-05:00

It will then ask you where you want to install it, you may have to delete the partition thats already there, and "then format it using NTFS, Windows will then start to install.

Its a good idea to download your drivers and put them onto a CD prior to doing this, it will make life a little easier"

Ok, question... How do I delete the partition thats already there, and format it using "NTFS?"

And if I were to NOT download my drivers and put them onto a CD prior to doing this... What would happen?

Is there anyway I can just clear everything off my computer, and then maybe just re-download Windows XP and start over from there?

Thanks.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

DublinGunner — 2006-02-28T18:46:03-05:00

To be honest, a good fresh start from a format is always a good thing anyway. Providing you have nothig on the HD that you cant lose.

You basically have to change in the BIOS to boot from the CD drive.

Put in the windows CD and bot up. When asked, chose 'install fresh copy of Windows' or whatever it says.

It will then ask you where you want to install it, you may have to delete the partition thats already there, and then format it using NTFS, Windows will then start to install.

Its a good idea to download your drivers and put them onto a CD prior to doing this, it will make life a little easier

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Jake Houpt — 2006-02-28T17:48:03-05:00

Also, if this would be any help... Instead of restarting last night, it went to the Blue Screen, and the last line said "Beginning dump of physical memory: 0.. 1.. 2.. etc"

Like, it started to count down.

But I think it could be a memory problem, or too much RAM. Any clue as to how I can just totally whipe my system, and then just Re-download Windows Xp and whatever else I may need on my computer?

Gah, I'm totally lost.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Jake Houpt — 2006-02-28T17:42:10-05:00

Actually, on reviewing your first post, I see you can gain access to Windows via safe mode. This would suggest a driver or Windows error of some description.

Try uninstalling your GFX, Mobo (IDE, Lan etc) and sound drivers, and reinstalling them.

Failing that, I actaly would suggest a repair install by booting with the Windows disk, go to install a fresh copy of windows, but choosing 'repair' on the second time of asking.

How would I go about uninstalling my GFX, Mobo (IDE, Lan etc) and sound drivers, and reinstalling them?

I'm kind of computer illiterate.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

DublinGunner — 2006-02-28T16:58:06-05:00

You could of course try a WIndows repair install, in case some of the WIndows components have become corrupt, or indeed deleted in error

**EDIT**

Actually, on reviewing your first post, I see you can gain access to Windows via safe mode. This would suggest a driver or Windows error of some description.

Try uninstalling your GFX, Mobo (IDE, Lan etc) and sound drivers, and reinstalling them.

Failing that, I actaly would suggest a repair install by booting with the Windows disk, go to install a fresh copy of windows, but choosing 'repair' on the second time of asking.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

DublinGunner — 2006-02-28T16:26:46-05:00

If you can download memtest onto a bootable floppy disk, and run it from there, it will give your ram a good work out, and should bring an problems with the ram to the surface.

PSU issiues are a little more tricky to diagnose. The best way is to try boot up with minimal parts installed i.e. 1 stick ram, CPU, vid card and in this instance the HD.

How old is the PC?

Blue screens generally indicate a memory error or a driver error. It could also be a bad HD / bad sectors etc. If you could get a bootable copy of chkdsk or scandisk to run from a floppy, they can also check your HD for bad sectors etc and repair them.

Re: Computer restarts as soon as I get to the Windows log on page.

Jake Houpt — 2006-02-28T16:01:02-05:00

I did recently install Nero, but I'm not sure that could be the problem.

I had the blue screen with a {Fatal System Error} but I somehow got rid of that, so now it just gets to the Windows logon page, and it restarts. And it just keeps repeating.

Can't be overheating.
How can I check the other problems you suggested?