computer looping on startup

[evenifigoalone]

Right now my desktop computer won't boot because it keeps looping. It shows the startup screen, then the screen with the Windows logo, then there's a blue screen with an error message. I don't know what it says because it only shows for a second before it goes back to the startup screen.

We know someone who's good with computers and has fixed our's a lot in the past, but he was busy and said to try puting a different keyboard in.
Did that, didn't help. Also tried loading on safety mode. Didn't help.

I don't want to mess with the computer because I don't know what I'm doing, and we'll probably end up getting some outside help anyway. But any ideas?

The OS is Windows XP professional.

(Gah, screw Windows. Seems like there has to be some problem like this once a year or so. :gah)

P.S. There's another bootable harddrive in that computer. Should we try loading that drive?

 

[Nick]

I don't know what's on your second bootable drive, but it might be worth trying to boot off that.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Pretty sure it's the same OS.

In any case, I do hope the main drive can be fixed. For one thing, it's faster. Not as old, newer model I think, and there's less on it. Settings work better with the video card and stuff, too, if I remember correctly. Plus I have Photoshop on there, and that's also where the product key for that software is stored. I'd have to buy Photoshop all over again if I lost that harddrive. (My current copy of photoshop came with my art tablet, which was bought used. And I was stupid and forgot to write the product key down on paper when the former owner emailed it to me.)

 

[Claudya]

I'm not an expert in that kind of stuff, but I know there's a Unix OS that can be booted from a CD (or DVD or flash USB drive, or whatever boot-able drive you have). It's called Knoppix. It's free and you can download it from the internet and put it on a CD if you have another working computer (but since you are posting here I assume you have).
With that CD you can run your Computer on a different OS without any need for installation. So you can't break anything unless you really make an effort to break something. ;) Everything it needs for running your computer (OS kernel, hardware drivers and stuff) is on the CD, so it won't make changes to your computer and it doesn't depend on your hard drives to operate.
You could use a Knoppix OS from a CD for running diagnostics on your computer and for accessing data you might need from your broken computer (if the possible hard drive damage allows you to). So you would see whether you need new hardware or just a windows reinstallation. Sometimes a blue screen of death can have causes as harmless as a broken driver file. So I'd really suggest to get some portable OS (like said Knoppix) and try if you can figure out where the problem is.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I'm not an expert in that kind of stuff, but I know there's a Unix OS that can be booted from a CD (or DVD or flash USB drive, or whatever boot-able drive you have). It's called Knoppix. It's free and you can download it from the internet and put it on a CD if you have another working computer (but since you are posting here I assume you have).
With that CD you can run your Computer on a different OS without any need for installation. So you can't break anything unless you really make an effort to break something. ;) Everything it needs for running your computer (OS kernel, hardware drivers and stuff) is on the CD, so it won't make changes to your computer and it doesn't depend on your hard drives to operate.
You could use a Knoppix OS from a CD for running diagnostics on your computer and for accessing data you might need from your broken computer (if the possible hard drive damage allows you to). So you would see whether you need new hardware or just a windows reinstallation. Sometimes a blue screen of death can have causes as harmless as a broken driver file. So I'd really suggest to get some portable OS (like said Knoppix) and try if you can figure out where the problem is.

Good advice. I'm known here as the Linux man myself, and I was going to suggest a bootable CD, and if there is any hardware failure, it still won't load right. Even though Knoppix does not use the HD per se, I do notice that the HD does flash with it, so it's being used perhaps as a temporary cache of sorts, the way a HD is used when there is not enough RAM. At least I'm assuming that's why the HD is "used" when the OS only needs RAM and a CD drive. Nevertheless, my point is that if ANY hardware is bad, one should get an error with Knoppix as well. If it works, then the problem (as most likely is the case) lies with the Microsoft Operating System.

I know that I'm looked upon as a Linux pest, and one who bashes Microsoft constantly, and then I get retorts, "Well that can happen to Linux as well" and I suppose that is a rationalization to keep the Microsoft with the myriads of problems. But then when the retorts are done and reality sets in, we then see thread after thread of these types of silly problems, and not once is it Linux treating its user like dirt--- always the Microsoft.

 

[tim-from-pa]

Let me state one other thing regarding the OP. If the HD is determined NOT to be bad, but the problem is corruption or one of the many viruses Microsoft gets, you can still use a live CD to save your files. Linux can read and transfer Microsoft files (e.g. picture, videos, documents, etc) to some other storage device to save them in the event you need to reload and/or format something, which sad to say, Microsoft does not reciprocate in it's one-up-man-ship stance. One time I loaned a Knoppix CD to a fellow coworker to save files from an infected Microsoft computer, and to help restore the computer back to normal. He was amazed.

Now.... let's hear from the Microsofters out there more about my Linux inadequacies and more excuses why NOT to use the OS. :toofunny

 

[Nick]

Do you have a Windows XP installation disk?

 

[evenifigoalone]

I think so. But it might be misplaced. When we've needed it in the past we've never been able to find it. But I think my dad did order a new installation disk a year or two back.

 

[Nick]

I think so. But it might be misplaced. When we've needed it in the past we've never been able to find it. But I think my dad did order a new installation disk a year or two back.

Argh. I had typed a reply but it got lost

Given you have specialist Windows programs, eg Photoshop, whether or not you choose to eventually dual-boot a Linux distro, you still need Windows. And as long as it's not Windows 8, that's ok. LOL

But you may find if you want to keep your files you'll need Linux to help solve your problem. If you could get hold of a Linux Live CD (perhaps go with Ubuntu), you might be able to access your HD from there and copy your files onto a portable device. Then use your Windows installation disc to wipe your HD and re-install Windows, giving you a clean slate but with your files intact.

 

[Nick]

Let me state one other thing regarding the OP. If the HD is determined NOT to be bad, but the problem is corruption or one of the many viruses Microsoft gets, you can still use a live CD to save your files. Linux can read and transfer Microsoft files (e.g. picture, videos, documents, etc) to some other storage device to save them in the event you need to reload and/or format something, which sad to say, Microsoft does not reciprocate in it's one-up-man-ship stance. One time I loaned a Knoppix CD to a fellow coworker to save files from an infected Microsoft computer, and to help restore the computer back to normal. He was amazed.

Now.... let's hear from the Microsofters out there more about my Linux inadequacies and more excuses why NOT to use the OS. :toofunny

lol, I just realised this is like the same advice I just gave.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Apparently while I was asleep last night my mom tried booting the computer from the Windows XP disk so she could try the repair option...wouldn't work.

Does that mean it was definitely a hardware failure?
I'm...just going to go mourn the loss of my photoshop now...as well as that artwork meme I was filling out....I spent days on that thing....





Also, before this, the computer had been freezing up on YouTube videos. Could that be at all related, or was it a separate issue? I was wondering if maybe the video card needed to be replaced or something.

 

[tim-from-pa]

lol, I just realised this is like the same advice I just gave.

Contagious, isn't it? :toofunny

 

[Nick]

Apparently while I was asleep last night my mom tried booting the computer from the Windows XP disk so she could try the repair option...wouldn't work.

Does that mean it was definitely a hardware failure?
I'm...just going to go mourn the loss of my photoshop now...as well as that artwork meme I was filling out....I spent days on that thing....

Not sure if it's a hardware failure.

Was this XP disc an installation disc? If it is, you might want to try re-installing Windows, but you might want to load an Ubuntu Live CD first to get your files out, because you could (after getting your files off) use Parted Magic (Google it) to wipe your hard drive, then use the XP disc to install Windows again. But make sure you have an installation disc for XP before you do this.

Also, before this, the computer had been freezing up on YouTube videos. Could that be at all related, or was it a separate issue? I was wondering if maybe the video card needed to be replaced or something.

It might be related, but my guess is no. Maybe your video card is out of date. Youtube is gettimg more and more intense. I know this because I have a netbook with 1.6 GHz processor. Was your flash player up to date? Because recently I've been getting a lof of flash crashes on my netbook, and I know Adobe are trying to fix up the flash plugin so it's not as resource hungry.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Not sure if it's a hardware failure.

Was this XP disc an installation disc? If it is, you might want to try re-installing Windows, but you might want to load an Ubuntu Live CD first to get your files out, because you could (after getting your files off) use Parted Magic (Google it) to wipe your hard drive, then use the XP disc to install Windows again. But make sure you have an installation disc for XP before you do this.


It might be related, but my guess is no. Maybe your video card is out of date. Youtube is gettimg more and more intense. I know this because I have a netbook with 1.6 GHz processor. Was your flash player up to date? Because recently I've been getting a lof of flash crashes on my netbook, and I know Adobe are trying to fix up the flash plugin so it's not as resource hungry.

I believe we do have a Ubuntu CD, so I could try that.
Maybe I ought to talk to my dad first, though. My mom told him about the problem, and she says he was like "Oh, I think I know what's wrong. If I was home I could fix it."


When my dad bought the video card, he bought one that could handle gaming graphics. So normally it should be able to handle YouTube, I'd think. But then, that was two or three years ago.

 

[Nick]

I believe we do have a Ubuntu CD, so I could try that.
Maybe I ought to talk to my dad first, though. My mom told him about the problem, and she says he was like "Oh, I think I know what's wrong. If I was home I could fix it."


When my dad bought the video card, he bought one that could handle gaming graphics. So normally it should be able to handle YouTube, I'd think. But then, that was two or three years ago.

Perhaps you should wait for your dad to look at it.

 

[reba]

Don't get windows 8

 

[EJJ]

It could be a software program is conflicting your start up operating system, like two different programs drawing upon one codex simultaneously, and this could be shorting out your normal step by step starting up system. Or it could be a virus in the operating system which has corrupted your system files or registry keys. You could use Recovery Discs to reset your PC back to the factory settings as at the time the PC was purchased.

 

[stovebolts]

Sure wish I had seen this last month when you posted.

It sounds like hardware.

First, disconnect all of your external devices like printers, usb drives etc and try booting.

If that doesn't work, which I don't think it will because you've already tried booting in safe mode, then I'd try and re-seat the memory.

It's really easy. Crack the case open and push the two levers that pop the ram out. Don't touch the chips when you pull them out. Make sure that you only handle the sides. Now, once you have them out, try to put one back in and boot. If it blue screens and reboots, then put the memory in a different slot and try again. If it reboots, then try a different memory module and repeat.

Good luck and let me know.

 

[Sparkey]

Just before the Windows Splash Screen comes up you can press [F8] to go into "Advanced Boot Options"

This gives you the option to disable automatic restart on system failure. That way you can see the Stop Code that the Blue Screen gives you.

It may or may not be helpful but it's a free and easy thing to do.