Boot Problems

[Cyrcle]

Can't seem to get anyone to help me elsewhere, so I'm going to try here. I'm just going to do a simple copy and paste of my posts since I have several updates.

Today my computer has been acting odd. It's been off for about two days and when I turned it on earlier in the day, it booted, and after about 5 to 10 minutes Windows froze while playing a game. I hard booted and now it will not pass the mobo's splash screen.

After some frustration, I went out for the day, left everything unplugged for several hours (maybe about 6 hours). It booted fine then after about 5 to 10 minutes it froze again. It is now not passing the mobo's splash screen yet again.

I cannot access the BIOS, boot menu, nothing. Even putting in a Windows CD isn't working. What could be the problem? I was thinking the processor is overheating somehow, but the computer is clean inside and out, and it's only 4 months old, custom built computer.

Update: Just got in after letting it sit since the original post. Let it sit in BIOS for 5 min and It's only running 30 degrees.

Update 2: Started up Windows and let it sit, nothing wrong. Started up a game, walked away for less than a minute, it looks like it rebooted itself. Let it restart, didn't even get to load windows and rebooted again. Now stuck at the mobo splash screen yet again.

I should have mentioned before, her computer currently has two hard drives, one which has Windows XP Pro 32-bit and another that has 64-bit. It allows her to select which she wants to boot from. I'm unsure if this is causing the problem, but I've tried having one hard drive plugged in and it still won't pass the splash screen so I don't think it's the problem, since it's been like it has (with both versions of Windows) for about two weeks.

Update 3: Got it working. Reset BIOS to factory defaults. Windows (using 32-bit atm) started up. Let it sit and nothing happened. Checked to see if there were any unusual programs running. Nada. Tried putting a load on the CPU to see what would happen. Unsure of how much it boosted too, but the computer made a beep, went to a BSOD and restarted. It's booting fine currently (32-bit), but still getting the BSOD, which I am unable to read.

Update 4: Windows 64 is no longer booting, automatic BSOD. Backing up important files. Complete. Attempted running games for a test, all games thus far crash before starting. Highest CPU usage spike: ~65%. Computer froze after testing a third game. Rebooted, no boot problems yet.

[law99]

I'm sure some good help will be given. Does it act the same in safe mode? Did you try Last Known Good Config? Some system specs might help PSU (brand & watts), MB, CPU. What antimalware programs are used? Was anything downloaded or changed just before this started?

[Cyrcle]

PSU - PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W
Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX
CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6750
GPU - EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB
RAM - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800

Nothing has been overclocked. Nothing was changed/downloaded to our knowledge between the time it was working fine and now (besides the factory reset of the BIOS).

Haven't tried safe mode. As of now, it hasn't froze up in over 15 minutes. Computer games are the only thing right now causing it to freeze up. In need of some other program(s) to stress test the CPU.

[glc]

Control panel, system, advanced, startup and recovery. Uncheck restart on error, then you can read the bluescreen.

[Cyrcle]

Restarted on 64-bit and it is now working. Unsure if it will stay that way. Running a game to push the CPU. Working fine, has been for about 5 minutes now.

I'm not sure what's up. I didn't change anything and now it's randomly working fine now.

[law99]

Some cable has a erratic connection??

You should do as glc instructed for if or when there is a problem.

[Cyrcle]

Originally Posted by law99 Some cable has a erratic connection?? You should do as glc instructed for if or when there is a problem.

I did. It's now working for whatever reason.

[law99]

I'm glad it is working, but I hate when there is no cause & answer. (when may it be back???)
Not just your PC, but when ever that happens to me.

[Cyrcle]

Started up again today. Lovely.