Solved: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reboots

stickynote427 · 10-23-2009

About a week and a half or two weeks ago, my computer began to refuse to start up. Whenever I turn it on, it does what it normally does when starting up, but once it gets past the Windows XP loading screen, it reboots itself.

I have tried holding F8 while the computer starts, but it brings up a menu that I don't think would be helpful. I have also tried holding the Del key, but I can't seem to find anything in the menu that appears then, either.

Any ideas as to why this may be happening? I'm not sure what other information might be helpful, so please do ask if you have a question about the computer.

Thanks!

Wolfeymole · 10-23-2009

Reboot again tapping F8 and choose Last Known Good Configuration.

Tell us if that alters anything.

stickynote427 · 10-23-2009

Okay, if I hold F8 while the computer is starting, I get a black screen titled "AMIBIOS System Configuration" with a blue menu on top of it titled "Select First Boot Device." The options are:

Floppy : 1.44 MB 3 1/2
USB LS120 : HP psc 2410
IDE-0 : ST340810A
CDROM : COMBO COB-2K5216
NETWORK

Here is what I'm looking at:

I'm not sure which of these I should be selecting, so I just press Esc to exit.

I then get another black screen, with the following options:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

I select Last Known Good Configuration, wait a few seconds for the screen to change, and then the Windows XP loading screen appears.

I wait several seconds, and then a blue screen appears for a fraction of a second, and then the monitor goes black and the computer restarts.

I don't have time to read what the blue screen says, so after using my webcam to record my computer starting up and slowly playing the video back, I can see that the blue screen reads:

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut do to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Run a system diagnostic utility supplied by your hardware manufacturer, in particular, run a memory check, and check for faulty or mismatched memory. Try changing video adapters.

Disable or remove any newly installed hardware and drivers. Disable or rem

and that's all I can see on the screen in the video. Here is what I am looking at:

Again, after that, the monitor goes black and the computer restarts.

Xeno1 · 10-23-2009

Originally Posted by stickynote427

I have tried holding F8 while the computer starts, but it brings up a menu that I don't think would be helpful.

To add to wolfeys post, some motherboards have what is called a boot option menu that comes up if you press f8 too soon. This menu lists all your drives, your floppy, hard drive and cd rom drives and allows you to choose which one to boot from. If that's the case, you have to wait until just after the bios post screen (the screen that shows how much ram you have, and lists all of your drives, etc.) turns black and then press f8. If you see the words safe mode, safe mode with networking and safe mode with command prompt near the top of the screen your on the right screen.

Edit: sorry, should have refreshed my page, I see you have that figured out already.

Wolfeymole · 10-24-2009

Ok this could be a number of things Sticky.

First shut down and remove all peripherals such as Printers, Scanners, External hard drives etc.

Reboot and if you still have a problem shut down and remove 1 stick of memory then reboot.

If you still have a problem try the above again on all the sticks present.

Alternatively if you have access to another pc then you can download and burn Memtest from here.

Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic

If all still appears to be ok then temporarily disconnect the hard drive, obviously you will get a "hard disk not found" error but ignore that for the time being.

Try these things and get back to us.

Wolfeymole · 11-07-2009

Hello stickynote

Has the assistance provided at PC Help Forum assisted you in remedying your issue yet?

An update would be most appreciated.

Thank you.

Marked as Pending

midasman · 12-27-2009

Hey fellas,

I'm having the same issue, or at least I think.

I had the same troubles only I got this msg:

RTL8139(x)/8130/810X Boot Agent

Please help. I have a lot of work to get done because this PC has been down for days. I'm at a relatives house now using the PC, so if possible please respond today.

Thanks for your time and attention to this!

10-23-2009	#1
stickynote427 Bronze Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 43 PC Experience: Experienced	Windows XP won't start up; constantly reboots About a week and a half or two weeks ago, my computer began to refuse to start up. Whenever I turn it on, it does what it normally does when starting up, but once it gets past the Windows XP loading screen, it reboots itself. I have tried holding F8 while the computer starts, but it brings up a menu that I don't think would be helpful. I have also tried holding the Del key, but I can't seem to find anything in the menu that appears then, either. Any ideas as to why this may be happening? I'm not sure what other information might be helpful, so please do ask if you have a question about the computer. Thanks!

10-23-2009	#2
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 6,828 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Reboot again tapping F8 and choose Last Known Good Configuration. Tell us if that alters anything. __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

10-23-2009	#3
stickynote427 Bronze Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 43 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Okay, if I hold F8 while the computer is starting, I get a black screen titled "AMIBIOS System Configuration" with a blue menu on top of it titled "Select First Boot Device." The options are: Floppy : 1.44 MB 3 1/2 USB LS120 : HP psc 2410 IDE-0 : ST340810A CDROM : COMBO COB-2K5216 NETWORK Here is what I'm looking at: I'm not sure which of these I should be selecting, so I just press Esc to exit. I then get another black screen, with the following options: Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking Safe Mode with Command Prompt Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked) Start Windows Normally I select Last Known Good Configuration, wait a few seconds for the screen to change, and then the Windows XP loading screen appears. I wait several seconds, and then a blue screen appears for a fraction of a second, and then the monitor goes black and the computer restarts. I don't have time to read what the blue screen says, so after using my webcam to record my computer starting up and slowly playing the video back, I can see that the blue screen reads: A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut do to prevent damage to your computer. If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps: Run a system diagnostic utility supplied by your hardware manufacturer, in particular, run a memory check, and check for faulty or mismatched memory. Try changing video adapters. Disable or remove any newly installed hardware and drivers. Disable or rem and that's all I can see on the screen in the video. Here is what I am looking at: Again, after that, the monitor goes black and the computer restarts.

10-23-2009	#4
Xeno1 Tech Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In the middle of a corn field somewhere Posts: 1,220 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Originally Posted by stickynote427 I have tried holding F8 while the computer starts, but it brings up a menu that I don't think would be helpful. To add to wolfeys post, some motherboards have what is called a boot option menu that comes up if you press f8 too soon. This menu lists all your drives, your floppy, hard drive and cd rom drives and allows you to choose which one to boot from. If that's the case, you have to wait until just after the bios post screen (the screen that shows how much ram you have, and lists all of your drives, etc.) turns black and then press f8. If you see the words safe mode, safe mode with networking and safe mode with command prompt near the top of the screen your on the right screen. Edit: sorry, should have refreshed my page, I see you have that figured out already.

10-24-2009	#5
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 6,828 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Ok this could be a number of things Sticky. First shut down and remove all peripherals such as Printers, Scanners, External hard drives etc. Reboot and if you still have a problem shut down and remove 1 stick of memory then reboot. If you still have a problem try the above again on all the sticks present. Alternatively if you have access to another pc then you can download and burn Memtest from here. Memtest86.com - Memory Diagnostic If all still appears to be ok then temporarily disconnect the hard drive, obviously you will get a "hard disk not found" error but ignore that for the time being. Try these things and get back to us. __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

11-07-2009	#6
Wolfeymole Tech Support Team Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the Slaughtered Lamb having a pint. Posts: 6,828 PC Experience: Smarter than the average Bear	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Hello stickynote Has the assistance provided at PC Help Forum assisted you in remedying your issue yet? An update would be most appreciated. Thank you. Marked as Pending __________________ If PCHF has helped you please consider a donation by clicking this link Donate

12-27-2009	#7
midasman Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 5 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Windows XP won't start up; constantly reb Hey fellas, I'm having the same issue, or at least I think. I had the same troubles only I got this msg: RTL8139(x)/8130/810X Boot Agent Please help. I have a lot of work to get done because this PC has been down for days. I'm at a relatives house now using the PC, so if possible please respond today. Thanks for your time and attention to this!

Similar discussions...
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Spasmodic Reboots - Windows XP	longbow007	[Fixed] Hijackthis! Logs	24	11-28-2009 12:41 AM
computer reboots constantly	azakem	Windows XP/2000	7	09-22-2009 09:08 PM
Solved: PC cycles start up constantly	SESNW	Windows XP/2000	5	04-22-2009 06:23 PM
Pending: windows won't start/cannot start PC	pjplus2	Windows XP/2000	3	01-20-2009 02:53 PM
Pending: Vista reboots constantly for days on end	spock6502	Windows Vista & 7	2	10-30-2008 11:14 PM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode