Windows XP reboot several times on power up

[WSW]

When I power up my PC, Windows XP will start. AFter I entered my user password, Windows XP will try to finish the start up process but it will reboot several times before it becomes stable and finish the start up. When it becomes stable, all software applications runs fine.

My PC is running Windows XP, Intel P4 1.6A CPU, 512MB Spectek DDR, 60GB WD HD. The CPU is overclocked from FSB 100MHz to 133MHz, running at 2.1GHz. The CPU runs cool at 95 degree C.

What might be the cause of this reboot problem?

[DrZaius]

The CPU runs cool at 95 degree C.

I hope you mean 95F, otherwise that is extremely hot and would explain why your system is shutting down.

[WSW]

Yes, my typo.
I meant 95 degree F or 35 degree C.

[Markoman01027]

How many sticks of RAM are you running? If 2, try 1 stick at a time to see if the problem is corrected.

[WSW]

I got one stick of 512MB PC2100 DDR.

The last time the system reboot, I captured the error message. The BCCode is as follows:

BCCode: a BCP1:00000016 BCP2:00000002 BCP3:00000000 BCP4:804FB1DD OSVer:5_1_2600 SP:1_0, Product: 256_1

Microsoft Online Crash Analysis said the error is caused by a device driver but cannot determine the precise cause.

I have since set the CPU back to the normal 1.6GHz but the problem remains.

After the system restart a few times, the PC always works. As a matter of fact, I am using this trouble PC to type this reply.

[DrZaius]

I did a quick Google search for the problem and it seems like most people fixed it by using a different stick of RAM.

[WSW]

Unfortunately I do not have another stick of DDR RAM.

Is there a memory test program that I can check out the RAM?

[DrZaius]

Is there a memory test program that I can check out the RAM?

Memtest86

[WSW]

Thanks for pointing me to the memory test software.

I ran memtest86 for one hour at 133MHz bus speed. The software detected no error.

I am starting to de-install the hardware and software I recently installed. A new CD-RW drive was installed last week together with the Nero In-CD software. I also installed the Kodak Easyshare software. These hardware and software have been de-installed.

I'll try without these hardware and software for a couple of days to see if the problem remains.

[WSW]

Removing the new CD-RW drive and some applications installed last week did not help. Windows XP still re-starts several times on power up this morning.

I'll continue to deinstall some applications installed within the last month. If the problem is caused by a driver incompatible with XP, I don't know any other way to locate the problem.

In the mean time, I'll try to find or borrow a memory stick.

[WSW]

My motherboard can support either SDRAM or DDR RAM.

I removed the DDR ram and installed old SDRAM (256MB).

The PC still have the same restart problem during power up.

[Deathchant]

I did the same things als WSW, but I use the P4C800Deluxe MOBO, does WSW use this one also? Than I can figure out if it is just the windows version or P4C800Deluxe problems.

for the people who are still interested look on my topic: motherboards, page 2, topic name: asus p4c800deluxe + problems

[WSW]

I use an ASUS P4XP-X motherboard. I installed and used the PC for about 6 months without problems.

The restart on power up problem started about 2 to 3 weeks ago. I am trying to trace back the hardware and software I installed within the last four weeks. I'll de-install them one by one.

My PC configuration is:

Asus P4XP-X motherboard
Intel P4 1.6A CPU (sometimes overclocked to 2.1GHz at 133MHz FSB)
Metrox 550 Graphics card
Spectek 512MB PC2100 DDR
WD 120GB 7200RPM 8MB CACHE

[jsama]

I had the same problem with my new build. Check your motherboard for what type of ram it needs and try to fill two slots at the same time. Worked for me =)

[WSW]

I just received the Microsoft Online Crash Analysis saying this error was likely caused by Scanner Driver.

I did installed my old UMAX 1220P scanner onto this PC last month. So I disconnected the scanner and de-install all the UMAX software and devices.

I reboot the PC about 5 to 6 times and XP does not restart anymore.

I'll try to test the PC for a couple more days to see if the problem is indeed caused by the scanner driver.

For driver problems, anyone know who to completely remove a driver from the system so that there will be no chance of it ever corrupting the PC again?

[Deathchant]

Listen everybody, I have 2x512 MB Kinston non ecc PC3200 CL2 RAM on dualchannel, so I am using 2 memory slots........Asus P4C800Deluxe is compatible with ECC and NON ECC RAM. Kingston is memory that will be accepted by most motherboards, defenitely the P4C800.......

[WSW]

Looks like my problem is solved. The scanner driver seems to be the cause of my auto restart problem. Thanks for all your suggestions.

My PC used to restart several everytimes when I power up and then generated an error message with PCBCode described above.

After I removed the scanner and its drivers, the PC does not restart on power up. I tested it many times today and it does not restart automatically.

I re-installed some of the hardware, i.e. the 512MB DDR and the CD-RW drive. I also overclocked the CPU from 1.6GHz to 2.2GHz. The PC still runs very stable and does not restart automatically.