Windows XP keeps restarting on bootup!

[Felix Saddler]

Every time i turn on my computer it initially goes to a black screen telling me it wasn't shutdown properly and gives me the following options;

1) Start in safe mode

2) Start normally

3) Use last configured settings

The problem is whenever i click either 1,2 or 3 the machine restarts itself and takes me back to that screen so it wont start windows!!

Has anybody got any idea as to what is going on?

Thanks,

FS.

[Shunter]

If nothing else has changed recently, I'd initially suggest a possible filesystem problem. If you have an XP disc, boot off it, then use the recovery console and run chkdsk.

Could be a number of things, to be honest, but let's start at the beginning.

[Felix Saddler]

Yes that is the problem although i don't have my original XP disk!

[rich_g85]

Just to add to what Shunter suggested, if diong a chkdsk from the Recovery Console doesn't help - it is possible to boot from the Windows XP CD and perform a repair of an existing XP installation. This process effectively re-installs Windows without losing any of your settings or registry entries.

Post back if you need any more help with doing that.

Rich

[rich_g85]

D'oh - just seen Felix's second post.

Is there anyone that you could borrow a CD from? I don't think there's any licensing implications with borrowing a CD for this purpose as you're not installing a new copy of Windows, just repairing your existing (licensed) instance of Windows.

Rich

[spannersatcx]

Turn the power off at the wall socket, leave it a few hours then try it again.

This normally happens on mine when the mains trips for whatever reason, pc gets stuck in a loop, turning the power off completely sorts it, no idea why though.:eek:

[stickyb]

Does XP have the F8 option on booting? (I am still on Win2K)

If so, would be worth trying that and attempting to boot to DOS and running chkdsk

[rich_g85]

Stickyb - XP does have the F8 option at bootup. As Shunter suggested in his post, it is possible from that menu to boot to the Recovery Console and run chkdsk from there.

[west lakes]

I had this with mine for a long period last year. Finally realised it would start doing it after, if I recall, a indows update. Finally ditched Norton whichj I was using and started using another virus protection programme (McAfee) when I went from dial up to broadband.

It was only when I was installing it and reading the instructions that I realised that I had been using both the Norton firewall & the Windows firewall at the same time.
So I think there was a conflict between the two firewalls.