Xp Pro Caught In A Loop

[frankrey1]

I have a frriends used computer that he recently bought. He brought it home and hooked it up and all was fine. Then it started having problems. The computer boots up fine up to the point where Windows starts. I then get a blue screen message that I cant read because it only flashes for a split second. Then the whole process starts over again, computer starts fine, Wiindows tries to start ,blue screen flashes then back to the start. I also tried to start in safe mode, last good configuration but the same thing happens. I have swapped out all hardware to eliminate hardware problems except for the HD. It is a custom built computer running a Duron 700, it has 128mb ram. I also tried to do a repair on the OS with the disc but the disc wont autorun. I used a startup disk to get to the C drive but when I try to change to the C drive it says invalid drive. Is this a bad hard drive?

[mrmister1]

Do you know any of the other specs of the computer? Who makes the RAM? Do you ever get into Windows, or does it restart before it boots all the way?

It may be a memory problem that is causing the restarting.

[Hobbes80]

There is some good information in this thread:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=114927

Your HD is not showing up because it is an NTFS partitioned drive, which is a format that Dos does not recognize. You do not have a Bad HD, it just doesn't show up. You can download a DOS based NTFS reader, or you can put that HD into a different computer as a secondary drive to read the information.

[frankrey1]

Thanks for the replies. I dont know the specs right off hand but I have changed out every piece of hardware in the computer except for the HD and the power supply (which I will try next). So I believe the memory to be good. I would like to try a repair with the XP cd but I cannot get it to run. The computer only boots to the Windows XP logo before it goes to the blue screen. I was confused by the thread that Hobbes80 referred to. Can I get the computer to stop on this blue screen or not? Going to try the power supply. Thanks again.

[glc]

TEST the memory with Memtest86+.

TEST the hard drive with diagnostics from the hard drive manufacturer.

If they both pass, WIPE the hard drive with the zero fill utility on the diagnostics disk (note that this will wipe ALL data) and attempt to boot to the XP CD and do a fresh install.

[frankrey1]

I have swapped out the memory with known working memory so I know that's not the problem. I have downloaded a diagnostics program but I am not sure how to use it without the computer able to boot up. Do I put it on a floppy or CD-R?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by frankrey1 I have swapped out the memory with known working memory so I know that's not the problem. I have downloaded a diagnostics program but I am not sure how to use it without the computer able to boot up. Do I put it on a floppy or CD-R?

You don't need to get into windows to use either program.
Copy them to floppies and then set the floppy drive as first in the boot order in the bios. The section of the bios where you'll find the boot order is Advanced Bios Features.
You usually press Delete to get into the bios which happens before windows loads (If you can give us some info about the computer we'll be able to tell you how to do this for that particular computer.).
The programs, boot from the floppy each time you run the programs don't just try to switch them without rebooting, will check over the hard drive and the memory and tell you if they're are any errors.
The hard drive diagnostic will also have a zero out program for you to use if it's necessary.

[glc]

All diagnostics I mentioned actually make boot floppies to run them from, so you can download them and run them on another computer to make the floppies.