Intel and XP SP3 Also Having Reboot Problems

[ryanh126]

Hi all,

I read the a couple other threads in this section regarding the issues with SP3, but I am having them with an Intel processor.

I CANNOT get into Windows at all, neither through Safe Mode nor regular startup. As an aside, tried removing a couple of suspect memory modules I had that I thought may have been bad, but they weren't or at least they weren't the problem. So basically I'm stuck in a continuous loop of rebooting. It goes through the Windows boot process until it tries to open up the login window, but then it restarts.

Quite frustrating indeed. If anyone has any advice or suggestions, they'd be much appreciated. Below are my computer specs. Is there anyway to get things back without losing all my files? I should be able to find my XP Pro disk, but it's been a while since I built the computer.

Stock settings (more or less--no overclocking):

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Asus P5B
FSP 450W
4x512mb Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-667

While I'm not sure if it's related to the problem, I feel it's important to also note that I HAVE had rare rebooting occurences, but they never happened during start-up; they were always while I was in Windows (and these were very rare occurrences that I never got to the bottom of).

[glc]

If you can find your XP CD, do a repair install.

Repair Reinstallation of Windows XP (using XP CD)

You can test your memory modules and your hard drives with free downloadable diagnostics, they run off their own boot disk or CD.

[ryanh126]

Appreciate the response. I found the disk and am doing a repair install now. Just wondering: It's going through the installation steps after it copied some files to my Windows installation folders. Is this right? It looks like it's installing XP again; I hope it's just "patching" it. Is it safe to assume my files/music/documents are safe?

Thanks again.

[ryanh126]

I found the answer to my above question, but the PC is now restarting itself while I'm trying to repair XP. I have no idea what's going on. One stick of memory being used. A power supply that I believe to be reliable with voltages well within reasonable limits.

Now I'm beginning to believe that it wasn't the XP SP3 causing this, despite the restarts beginning after I upgraded.

*** UPDATE ***

I made it through the repair install, and now all is well. Thank you GLC for the link and help. I don't know the exact source of the problem. I did re-seat the memory modules along with a few other small things, but what help that did I do not know.

[glc]

I would run memory and hard drive diagnostics just to make sure. What are you using for a video card? FSP's are very good PSU's but your card may need more oomph than 450 watts.

[ryanh126]

It's a 7600 GT (EVGA). I did consider running memtest86+ but never actually did it (partly because I wasn't sure how--are there any tutorials on this forum?). What type of hard drive diagnostic tools are available? I have a Western Digital hard drive. Thanks.

[glc]

450 is enough for a 7600GT.

Download the Memtest86+ iso and burn it to a CD as an image. Boot with the CD and it runs itself. Let it do a couple of passes, it keeps running till you tell it to stop.

Go to WD's website and download Data Lifeguard Diagnostics. Same deal, burn the iso to a CD and boot with it.