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Same Win XP boot issue on 2 Different Comps

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Hexnan

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2004
Last night i got 2 phone calls from different people saying thier computer wont boot, and both are doing the same thing.


The computer POST's but will not go into windows it just reboots.

I tried running fixmbr from the recovry console on the one computer but it didnt work so i just ended up reformatting his computer because he didnt have anything important on his disk.

The other lady is a different story she would like to keep the pictures she has saved on her computer ( well over 3 gigs) and with the repair utility not working for her what should i do.

Is this a new virus out there messing up MBR's??

any input would help alot.


Hex
 
It could be any number of things causing the reboots. What are their system specs in detail?
The computer POST's but will not go into windows it just reboots.
At what point does the PC reboot?...immediately after POST, or sometime during the loading of the OS? Can they access Safe Mode?. If not, does the PC still reboot, and if so...at what point?
 
ok hey if she wants to save her stuff try looking up bart pe or pm me it makes a bootable xp **** or use a bootable linux and either copy the fiels to other computer or cd's
 
ok sorry for such a vague description.

Her computer is a P4 2.2, 512 pc3200 kingston value ram thermaltake 400w psu seagate 40g HDD.

both of these computers make it into a windows loading screen before they restart leading me to believe they are not having a hardware issue.

She said when she tried to log off one user and switch to another her computer would restart automatically. then it just wouldnt come back up, running a POST getting to a windows load screen then restarting again. i asked her to run the fix mbr like i did on the first rig i formatted and it came up with the same problem ** MBR may be corrupt do not continue unless you do not wish to save any data**


the first rig was a dell p4 1.1 with 256 pc133 and an 80g HDD


Niether computer would go into safe mode either but both will boot from an xp cd but the repair is not working.
 
i said niether one can get into safe mode

its an ASUS P4P800SE 865PE/ICH5 RET


not real sure about the dell comp

could both of these problems be sp2?


she has been slowly downloading the update from MS site

as far as the dell he just got 1mb cable modem and im not sure if he had it downloaded or not
 
If the reboot problem started immediately after installing SP2, and she's not getting anywhere by trying to repair the install...then I would suggest removing SP2, which can be done from the Recovery Console.

How to use the Automatic Recovery feature to recover your computer if the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup program is not completed successfully
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875355

Your computer repeatedly restarts after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=878474

Your computer repeatedly restarts, or it generates error messages when you roll back two
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870892&Product=windowsxpsp2

After you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, your computer restarts continuously
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873161&Product=windowsxpsp2

Windows desktop does not appear correctly, and you receive a "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000005)" error message after you enable the Norton CleanSweep Smart Sweep feature in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873155&Product=windowsxpsp2
 
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i tried to get her computer running over the phone but finally just went and picked up the computer.

when i first tried to boot it said "unable to find vgaoem.fon"

i ran recovery console and tried to expand that file to the \windows\system folder to no avail...it said access denied

i then tried to run a dir on c: and it said c: is unable to produce a valid enumerator

could this hdd be going bad, i really dont think it could be the drives only 2 months old

and this would be the 3rd drive i have installed for her after a WD drive failed on her after a year

any ideas??? im totally stumped


Hex
 
i tried to delete service pack 2 with no luck, ive tried to expand the file missing and it said i dont have access to this drive


i only found one article in a google search but it required a payment to view the solution ( go figure)


still not getting whats going on.....could this be an activation problem?

will windows lock up if its not activated?


Hex
 
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