Windows bootup problem

[Tech Guy]

My friend is having some more problems with his computer, last night his computer was working fine, no problems. When he went to turn it on this morning it gets as far as the WindowsXP starting up screen, and then restarts. I don't think this is a power issue because he has a brand new Thermaltake 450 watt PSU, but the possibility is there. Could be overheating becuase he only has the one stock heatsink and fan over his proc. Any help would be very appreciated.

[rjfvillarosa]

Is he able to boot into safe mode?

[Statica]

Originally Posted by Tech Guy My friend is having some more problems with his computer, last night his computer was working fine, no problems.

Unfortunately it counts for very little in today's world. Impossible for us to verify if he went to a website and got a virus, or got an email that he decided to view without an antivirus etc etc etc...

Originally Posted by Tech Guy When he went to turn it on this morning it gets as far as the WindowsXP starting up screen, and then restarts.

Can he boot to safe mode? Try a system restore if it works in safe mode.

Originally Posted by Tech Guy I don't think this is a power issue because he has a brand new Thermaltake 450 watt PSU, but the possibility is there. Could be overheating becuase he only has the one stock heatsink and fan over his proc. Any help would be very appreciated.

Go to the BIOS, and if it is a newish computer, the BIOS should have a setting for monitoring the "PC health" check the temps and voltages there.

Personally, I would address it as a software issue first; provided your friend did absolutely nothing last nite. (Just booted the computer and left it on.) That of course would be a sureshot indicator of a hardware issue.

If safe mode does not work, try a windows repair installation.

I am not discounting that it could be a h/w issue. But it's a tad easier to diagnose hardware problems if we can ensure that there is no software issue here.