Computer problem: reset on boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob
  • Start date Start date
R

Rob

Hey all,

A friend came to me with a computer problem: her computer would
restart on boot. It's a windows XP machine, AMD, fairly good speed.
But now, just before the Windows XP should appear, the computer
reboots--its an infinite cycle!

So what have I done so far. I first checked the powersupply. This
wasn't the problem.

I then tried switching out the hard drive...and it worked. I was able
to boot (and in fact install windows) on to another hard drive. So
the computer worked fine with no obvious glitches whatsoever--the
problem is in the hard drive.

Next, I set the old hard drive up as a slave, and connected both the
old and the new to the computer (with new as master). It detects both
at boot, but as soon as the old hard drive is connected, the computer
reboots before reaching the Windows XP logo. Again, goes through the
bios setup just fine, but resets as soon as it tries to read the hard
drive.

Is this hard drive dead?? Is there ANYTHING that can be done to get
it to work? Can anything be done to get the data off the drive?

Question: what if I hook the old hard drive into a USB enclosure and
connect it to the computer after its booted? Could that work?

Thanks!

Rob
 
Rob said:
Hey all,

A friend came to me with a computer problem: her computer would
restart on boot. It's a windows XP machine, AMD, fairly good speed.
But now, just before the Windows XP should appear, the computer
reboots--its an infinite cycle!

So what have I done so far. I first checked the powersupply. This
wasn't the problem.

I then tried switching out the hard drive...and it worked. I was able
to boot (and in fact install windows) on to another hard drive. So
the computer worked fine with no obvious glitches whatsoever--the
problem is in the hard drive.

Next, I set the old hard drive up as a slave, and connected both the
old and the new to the computer (with new as master). It detects both
at boot, but as soon as the old hard drive is connected, the computer
reboots before reaching the Windows XP logo. Again, goes through the
bios setup just fine, but resets as soon as it tries to read the hard
drive.

Is this hard drive dead?? Is there ANYTHING that can be done to get
it to work? Can anything be done to get the data off the drive?

Question: what if I hook the old hard drive into a USB enclosure and
connect it to the computer after its booted? Could that work?
Click to expand...

This can happen if you have a corrupt user profile - it's a secutiry
feature :)
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151
 
Since you can boot to the newly installed Windows XP on the new HDD as
Master and the old problematic hdd as slave, try to access the old HDD
through the "My Computer" of the new system and see if you can save the
personal data from it onto the new HDD or removable media (CD/DVD/Flash
drive ) . Next using RIGHT-click My Computerr>Manage > Disk Management see
if you can repartition and reforamt that old HDD. If you could do that you
might be able to reinstall ( image current working partition and clone it
back on the old HDD. ) the System. Otherwise leave the current system in
place and remove and discard the dead HDD.
CM
 
Rob said:
Hey all,
A friend came to me with a computer problem: her computer would
restart on boot. It's a windows XP machine, AMD, fairly good speed.
But now, just before the Windows XP should appear, the computer
reboots--its an infinite cycle!
So what have I done so far. I first checked the powersupply. This
wasn't the problem.
I then tried switching out the hard drive...and it worked. I was able
to boot (and in fact install windows) on to another hard drive. So
the computer worked fine with no obvious glitches whatsoever--the
problem is in the hard drive.
Click to expand...
<snip>

Most hard drive manufacturers have diagnostic software available
for download.

Maxtor and Seagate http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/
Western Digital http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=999&swid

Ben
 
CM said:
Since you can boot to the newly installed Windows XP on the new HDD as
Master and the old problematic hdd as slave, try to access the old HDD
through the "My Computer" of the new system and see if you can save the
personal data from it onto the new HDD or removable media (CD/DVD/Flash
drive ) . Next using RIGHT-click My Computerr>Manage > Disk Management see
if you can repartition and reforamt that old HDD. If you could do that you
might be able to reinstall ( image current working partition and clone it
back on the old HDD. ) the System. Otherwise leave the current system in
place and remove and discard the dead HDD.
CM
Click to expand...


May I respectfully suggest you reread the OP, particulary this paragraph:

"Next, I set the old hard drive up as a slave, and connected both the
old and the new to the computer (with new as master). It detects both
at boot, but as soon as the old hard drive is connected, the computer
reboots before reaching the Windows XP logo."

P.
 
Try connecting old hd via usb enclosure
It *may* enable you to recover data providing its not totally shot

Also there are some bootable utilities on www.bootdisk.com that may assist
in recovering data

Of course you can tell your friend that the best way to recover data is from
a backup :(
 
Rob said:
Hey all,

A friend came to me with a computer problem: her computer would
restart on boot. It's a windows XP machine, AMD, fairly good speed.
But now, just before the Windows XP should appear, the computer
reboots--its an infinite cycle!
Click to expand...


SNIP

I had this problem shortly after downloading and installing free software,
it asked to reboot to complete install, which i did, and had same problem.
Pressing f5 or f8 I got into safe mode, and uninstalled the software, also
ran adaware se personal edition. Spybot S&D, and ccleaner.
rebooted back into normal mode all was well.
Not saying this is same fault but worth a try before stripping HD out,
 
Didn't think of pressing F8 before...but no-go. No matter which
option I pick, it still reboots. Safe mode, safe mode w/ command
prompt, safe mode w/ networking, last known good config, and others.
Every one of them leads to a reboot right after pressing enter.

Any other ideas?

Rob
 
Didn't think of pressing F8 before...but no-go. No matter which
option I pick, it still reboots. Safe mode, safe mode w/ command
prompt, safe mode w/ networking, last known good config, and others.
Every one of them leads to a reboot right after pressing enter.

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...
When you have two disks installed what is the boot priority list?
Is it trying to bood from the "bad" one.

Sounds like a corrupt registry:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

A way to examine your disc is to create a CD as described at:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
There are various recovery utilites.
 
Update: Putting it into a USB enclosure, another computer detects it
as a hard drive, partitioned, but unformatted.

How can I get at the file system that I know is on there?

Rob
 
It probably beyond home recovery

Rob said:
Update: Putting it into a USB enclosure, another computer detects it
as a hard drive, partitioned, but unformatted.

How can I get at the file system that I know is on there?

Rob
Click to expand...
 
Rob said:
So no other ideas?
Click to expand...

I don't know if it's been mentioned but try F8 and select no reboot on
error.

Then:
1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2. Click the Advanced tab.

3. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and
Recovery dialog box.

4. Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the
necessary number of times.

5. Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.
 
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