Computer Won't Boot Into Windows - It Just Keeps Restarting!

Question

Greetings: I am trying to figure out why an 8200 Dimension Desktop (P4 2.2 / 512 MB RAM / 80 GB HD / XP SP-2) that was working fine last evening, will not boot into Windows now. It’s possible to get into Safe Mode and the BIOS using F8 or F2, but if you don’t go into one of those two locations, the computer reaches a point where it shows a blue screen with white writing for about a ½ second and then restarts. Then it does the same cycle again and again unless interrupted by F2, F8, or the main power button.

In Safe Mode, System Restore was tried back to about 1 day ago, but to no avail. Also, no new hardware or programs or updates have been added since it was working. And the anti-virus definitions were also up-to-date. Oh, and XP's SP-2 was added over a month ago and has not caused any problems thus far. Anyone have any ideas how I might resolve this? Also, does this sound more like a software or a hardware problem?

Thank you!! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

--David

David Koetzle · Answer

I'll give it a shot. Thanks!!

boj · Answer

try to boot to safe mode, then try msconfig (start>run>msconfig) ... disable suspicious startup items...

David Koetzle · Answer

I wish I could, but the blue error screen is up for less than a 1/2 second. If you blink, you will miss it. I will try though. Thanks!!

boj · Answer

you mentioned a blue screen right? can you pls tell us what the error msg was?

There is an Other or unlisted STOP error.

There is a 0x000000D1 (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL) error.

There is a 0x00000050 (PAGE_FAULT_IN_NON-PAGED_AREA) error.

There is a 0x0000008E (KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED) error.

There is a 0x000000ED (UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME) error.

There is a 0x000000EA (THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER) error.

Message Edited by boj on 02-09-200505:13 PM

Message Edited by boj on 02-09-2005 05:13 PM

umalohokan · Answer

it would really help you a lot if you can take down the stop error code on the blue screen. try this out, see if you can make the blue screen last longer.   boot to safe mode. open control panel, system properties. click on the advance tab, click on settings under startup and recovery. for the option 'time to display recovery options,' move it to the maximum aloowed time. click on OK for all open windows.   restart the computer and then when the blue screen comes up again, if it stays on the screen this time, jot down the blue screen stop error code (usually starts out with 0x0). do a search on that on google for possible solutions or post it here again.   hope this helps.

F4 · Answer

I have the same problem and it keeps on restaing, if it put it on safemode i see the blue screen for like 0.1 seconds and it just restarts again over and over ? could it be the harddrive   please help

David Koetzle · Answer

Yes, it was the HD. After giving up on fixing this computer myself, I had its owner call Dell Tech Support. Then, after about 2 hours on the phone with them, they decided the only fix would be, at minimum, a reinstallation of XP, and might also require a new HD. So rather than wondering, I picked up a new HD and the computer has been running like new ever since.

--David

F4 · Answer

ok, but the thing is that the harddrive is new, it came with a seagate 160GB 7200rpm, and when it broke down i wasnt to sure what was broken, so i bought a seagte 40GB 7200rpm and now this happens!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??! :smileymad:

thanks for the help/ more would be apprecited

David Koetzle · Answer

It's VERY hard to believe it would be your HD then. Since you can't get into Safe Mode, have you tried formatting and reinstalling Windows?

Finally, if it's still possible for you to call Dell Tech Support about this problem, I'd do so. It could be something as simple as a corrupt driver, but the source of the corruption could also be the Motherboard itself. If you still at least have phone support for your computer from Dell, perhaps they can get this problem figured out for you.

--David

p.s. - considering the new HD, this is probably not necessary, but it can't hurt, before you reinstall XP (I'm assuming that to be your OS), download and run the Dell Debug script. This way you can make absolutely sure there's nothing left on your HD before reinstalling Windows. You'll need a floppy disk to copy the file to after downloading it, and you'll need to print and follow Dell's directions exactly. Here's the place to get both the file and the instructions: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?c=us&DN=TT1011054&l=en&opt=true&s=gen&~mode=popup

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Computer Won't Boot Into Windows - It Just Keeps Restarting!

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