Restarting Over and Over

  • Thread starter Thread starter maxcavsm
  • Start date Start date
M

maxcavsm

Well, looks like it's time to reformat one of my computers (if it's even
possible). I turned on one of the computers, only to find that it's now
looping through the startup windows, including the "Would you like to start
the computer in safe mode/last known good config, etc". No matter which
option you pick, the computer, restarts, goes to the HP logo (computer
brand), and goes back to choose which start up mode to use. I've tried all of
them to no avail.

I'm presuming the only answer is to toss an XP DVD in the drive and reformat
the HD, but I was hoping there was a way to avoid that. While the computer
certainly could use a wipe, there are some things I'd like to get backed up
before I do it. Thanks!
 
Max

Please post a copy of the Stop Error Report.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. This should help by
allowing time to write down the STOP code properly. Right click on
the My Computer icon on the Desktop and select Properties, Advanced,
Start-Up and Recovery, System Failure and uncheck box before
Automatically Restart.

Do not re-enable automatic restart on system failure until you have
resolved the problem. Check for variants of the Stop Error message.

An alternative is to keep pressing the F8 key during Start-Up and select
option - Disable automatic restart on system failure.

If you are using a wireless keyboard and the F8 key does not work
substitute a wired keyboard and mouse for this exercise only.

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
you might try using
a windows cd and
log into the recovery
console.

once you are logged
onto the disk system
you can run at the
command prompts

bootcfg /rebuid
fixboot

---------------------

for more info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

--

db ·´¯`·.¸. said:
<)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
Click to expand...


..
 
Nope, doesn't help. Need to be logged into Windows according to the article,
and I can't get past the "start in safe mode" question screen prior to even
logging in.
 
maxcavsm said:
Well, looks like it's time to reformat one of my computers (if it's even
possible). I turned on one of the computers, only to find that it's now
looping through the startup windows, including the "Would you like to start
the computer in safe mode/last known good config, etc". No matter which
option you pick, the computer, restarts, goes to the HP logo (computer
brand), and goes back to choose which start up mode to use. I've tried all of
them to no avail.

I'm presuming the only answer is to toss an XP DVD in the drive and reformat
the HD, but I was hoping there was a way to avoid that. While the computer
certainly could use a wipe, there are some things I'd like to get backed up
before I do it. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Overheating is one of the many possible causes.
Physically unplug the power cord from the PC and wall receptacle.
Open the case to check the heatsink, fans, power supply, drives, etc. for dust
bunnies. The best way is to use a source of compressed air to blow the dust out of
every nook and cranny. Make sure you're grounded by using a grounding wrist strap or
by keeping in contact with the case to prevent any electrostatic discharge which
could potentially damage the components.

Check that all of the cables, power cords, RAM modules, add-on cards/adapters, etc.
are firmly and securely seated and connected.

If that fails to bring joy, test the RAM modules for integrity with either utility
below. Read the instructions on how to use either one and run the test for a few
hours:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp Click the Download Windows Memory Diagnostic
link.
http://www.memtest86.com/ Click the Free Download link on the left side of the page.

If after testing the memory there is still no joy, check if your HP disk(s) has the
option to restore/recover software/hardware as opposed to restore/recover back to the
state as it was shipped from the factory.

you could also try:
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

If it came down to it, you could remove the drive and connect it in another machine
as a Slave drive to get your data off before reformatting/reinstalling.

--
Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
Okay, here's what I got from the STOP code:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
STOP: 0X000000ED (0x82CBBDD8, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
 
Max

0x000000ED: UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
The kernel mode I/O subsystem attempted to mount the boot volume and it
failed. This error also might occur during an upgrade to Win XP on
systems that use higher throughput ATA disks or controllers with
incorrect cabling. In some cases, your system might appear to work
normally after you restart
Source: http://aumha.org/a/stop.htm

Do you have a Windows XP CD? Is it a Retail or an OEM CD?

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Well, I'll have to give a few of these suggestions a try when I get home.
Thank you for all of your help!
 
Okay, I'm attempting to use the recovery console. It's coming up with two
options:
1: H:\MiniNT
2: H:\I386

I'm not seeing anything about a Windows partition, but it's got to be one of
these two, right?

That being said, when I went to reinstall a clean version, it found a C:
main drive and an H: as a backup recovery partition (lot of good its doing
for me).

Another issue, this is a mini-tower; where your typical parts are more or
less minitures of a regular computer. It's an HP from 2005 that's about a
foot high and long, and a half a foot wide. So I'm not sure how able I'm
going to be able to find a replacement over at Best Buy to slave this one out.

Anyway...
 
So I ran chkdsk /r on both H drives I listed above. The first one, H: NTMini
or whatever, ran for awhile, made some buzzing noises, and actually found an
error it "recovered". THe other one H: I386, made no noises and found no
problems.

However, when I restarted, it was the same problem with the same STOP error.

There was no option to Repair from the XP CD on either drive when I went for
to the clean install screen.
 
maxcavsm said:
Okay, I'm attempting to use the recovery console. It's coming up with two
options:
1: H:\MiniNT
2: H:\I386
Click to expand...

Are you using a Recovery/Restore disk provided with the PC from HP? I suspect that
is the hidden partition HP setup where the Restore/Recovery files are stored.
I'm not seeing anything about a Windows partition, but it's got to be one of
these two, right?

That being said, when I went to reinstall a clean version, it found a C:
main drive and an H: as a backup recovery partition (lot of good its doing
for me).
Click to expand...

Suspicion heightened. What model is the HP?
Another issue, this is a mini-tower; where your typical parts are more or
less minitures of a regular computer. It's an HP from 2005 that's about a
foot high and long, and a half a foot wide. So I'm not sure how able I'm
going to be able to find a replacement over at Best Buy to slave this one out.
Click to expand...

Nope, the tower and the motherboard would be smaller but not the drives and other
components/devices.
A replacement what from Best Buy?
All you need is another XP PC to connect the hard drive into as a slave drive so you
can get your data copied out to another drive.
Anyway...
Click to expand...

--
Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
hi there,
I'm also having this problem, I created xp startup floppy disks to access
recovery but on loading the first disc my computer says:

\biosinfo.inf could not be loaded. Error code 4102. setup cannot continue...

any ideas on what this means and what I can do?
Thanks
 
Back
Top