Lousy, random startup problem

[hitchface]

Hey Mechers,

A pal's computer was not booting up, and restarting every time it got into the Windows XP loading screen. I went in there on safe mode and turned off the automatic restart option to see if it would solve the problem. I get a BSOD with a stop code of 0x0000007F (0x00000000 repeating 4 times after that) meaning a hardware issue. No new hardware was added prior to the problem. I tried each stick of RAM (there are 2) and they both run fine in safe mode. I checked with my own RAM (which I know to work) and the same thing happened. Safe mode always works, but normal starts always end in the same BSOD with the same stop code.

I flashed the BIOS and updated it to the most recent...same story. No change whatsoever.

I'm all out of solutions. I can't figure out what to do next. New mobo maybe? Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: System specs are as follows:

Asus M2A-VM motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (AM2)
250 gig Seagate Barracuda HDD
Fortron Source 350W PSU
Video adapter is an integrated Radeon Xpress 1250

[shadowpr]

Not sure if this would apply, but you can look: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822789/en-us

If it's not happening in safe mode, I'm thinking more of a software problem. Were there any new drivers installed recently?

[hitchface]

I was thinking that too, but they claim they haven't done anything out of the ordinary. They don't know a whack about computers, and are the type that don't do...anything...in the way of updates or anything.

[shadowpr]

Could it have been an automatic windows update that changed the drivers?

Maybe a virus?

[hitchface]

Neither are likely. A full scan was done. I'll probably do it again with some different A/V programs, just to make sure.

Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll have to get a new motherboard. They can't just go without their computer

[shadowpr]

I think I would try a reinstall of windows first before I spent money on a new motherboard.

[Cricket]

Can you list everything you've tried already so we can suggest new possible solutions.

If the computer runs okay in Safe Mode but not in Normal Mode that would suggest a software problem to me...possibly corrupt drivers or system files.

I would also try a different power supply just to rule out that possibility.

Cricket

[hitchface]

Cricket,

Everything I've tried is listed in the opening post. I would have thought software problem too, but every time I look up the stop code, I get hardware fixes.