computer keeps rebooting - Tech Support Forums

asdfasdf000 · June 23rd, 2005, 08:46 PM

My computer keeps rebooting, it reboots when it is about to load the user list, it is Windows Xp, safe mode dosent work either, right now im using a linux booting disk..

I was coping things from a file to another file, and it froze, so i turned it off, then when i turned it back on it keeps rebooting, it was left on for a really long time.

How would I fix this?
Should I just leave it off for a while?

Thanks

**GroundZero3** · June 23rd, 2005, 08:48 PM

what are your system specs? How are your temps looking?

asdfasdf000 · June 23rd, 2005, 08:55 PM

How do i check temps?

1ghz intel celeron
128mb SyncDRAM

Why is linux working but not windows?

FatalException · June 23rd, 2005, 09:06 PM

Perhaps the lsass component of Windows is corrupt. Booting off of a Linux disc was a good idea. If the lsass library is corrupt in windows, it won't affect Linux's operation, so Linux will run fine (especially if it is run from a CD). That's likely why Linux works and Windows doesn't. LSASS is a critical component of windows that controls security and user logins. If it can't load, windows tends to like rebooting - WITHOUT producing an error message.

Try booting from a Windows XP installation CD instead, going into the Recovery Console in setup, and running "chkdsk" on your C drive. Type "chkdsk /?" at the prompt in the recovery console to figure out how to do it. It will scan the hard drive and try to repair any errors it finds.

asdfasdf000 · June 23rd, 2005, 09:12 PM

It did a chkdsk thing when it restarted...It did not fix it.

FatalException · June 23rd, 2005, 09:50 PM

Then check out your hard drive with the drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility using a read-only scan. Perhaps the disk is going bad. If the software on the drive (ie. Windows) has become corrupted, though, I do not know how you could go about diagnosing that. Eliminate possibilities that you CAN test yourself (hard drive, memory test, etc). If none seem to illuminate what the problem is, it is likely just that the data on the drive is corrupt and Windows needs a reinstall.

Chkdsk is not perfect, but it does work a lot of the time. Sorry it didn't work for you. The problem may also be entirely unrelated to the drive, though, so keep that in mind as you work to diagnose it. Good luck, and come back to keep us updated as you proceed.

asdfasdf000 · June 23rd, 2005, 09:59 PM

Would there be a difference between running chkdsk with or with out the installation cd?

And where would I get the utility to check the hard drive?

I think it is something to do with over heating.

FatalException · June 23rd, 2005, 10:16 PM

Running chkdsk from the hard drive and remotely on CD shouldn't be any different from one another.

As for the hard drive check utility, you need to figure out who manufactured your hard drive (Western Digital? Seagate? Maxtor? Hitachi?) Then go to their website and download the program.

If you think it's overheating, check your temps in the system's BIOS setup screen to see if they are high or not. You could also remove the side panel of your PC and place a fan blowing cool air into it to see if then it boots up properly. Usually overheating causes reboots at different points during the operation of the PC - it rarely happens at exactly the same time as it is in this situation.

asdfasdf000 · June 23rd, 2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatalException

If you think it's overheating, check your temps in the system's BIOS setup screen to see if they are high or not.

How do I do that?

It seemed to load all the files fine when it was loading into safe mode, but then it rebooted when it was trying to load the login screen, also, I think there is nothing wrong with my hard drive because I can read files on it.

If it is overheating, could I just leave it off for a while? How long?

Thanks

FatalException · June 23rd, 2005, 10:30 PM

When you first turn on your system, it will say something like "press F2 to enter setup." Press whatever button it tells you to and it will take you into the BIOS. You have to be quick because that sentence shows up on the screen right after you turn your PC on, usually.

As for leaving it off to avoid overheating - that won't work unless the overheating is not very serious (which it sounds like it is). CPU's without heatsinks, for instance, put off enough heat that they usually begin melting within 2 or 3 seconds of being powered on. They put off a LOT of heat - by the time Windows finishes loading, it will be as hot as it will get.

As for your drive being bad - it's a possibility. Don't discount it simply because you can read some of your files from the drive. Just 3 or 4 bad sectors out of the thousands available could cause a major failure in Windows while allowing most other data on the drive to be read without difficulty.