My computer's sitting here continuously rebooting itself.
6 replies, posted
I don't know a hell of a lot about this, so have some patience with me.
I was using it earlier today, and everything seemed to be in perfect working order... Later on, I came into the room and it was rebooting itself. I figured maybe it downloaded an automatic update and restarted itself, but I don't know. What's weird is that it was stuck at the screen where you choose safe mode, start windows normally, etc.
After that screen, I heard it making sounds like I'd just hit the button to do a hard reset, and sure enough, it started the whole process over again. It repeatedly does this. It gets to that one screen, and regardless of which option I choose, it just reboots itself. It doesn't even get to the Windows XP startup screen.
I tried turning it off for several hours, but the same thing happened again once I turned it back on. Currently it's sitting there unplugged with the power supply switched off and everything, but I'm not too optimistic about it working.
Can't remember the exact specs, but my best estimate:
Windows XP
2.4 GHz Core 2 Quad Intel processor
2 GB RAM
Nvidia GTS 250 (1 GB I think?)
I don't know how much that actually matters, but someone always asks. I would figure that the specs don't have a big impact on this problem, more likely that some kinda piece of hardware went faulty.
I've done some googling, and the first problem they're telling me to check for is overheating. I have one case fan that has never run properly, but it's never caused me problems in the 2-3 years that I've owned it. The other fans, including those of the processor and video card, are running just fine, so I'm pretty sure it isn't an overheating problem.
Other than that, sites are telling me I'll either need to do a repair install of Windows XP using the install disc, or that I have a problem with my power supply or processor. I REALLY hope it isn't a hardware problem... Those things are pretty expensive to replace. Plus I bought a pretty nice new processor just a few years ago and I'd hate for it to be crapping out on me already.
Could be a bad mobo cable
Sounds like your ol' XP shit the bed. Your best bet is to try and repair it with the install disc. If that doesn't work, reinstalling should work.
Try reinstalling your OS, but it does sound like an overheating problem.
Maybe some components have come loose, check inside the case, make sure everything is plugged in correctly, clear out any dust with an air duster.
My computer had the same symptoms as yours before, it turned out my CPU fan had bent slightly, and was just touching the CPU, which caused it to fry.
I'm pretty sure I ruled out any hardware problems. I did end up doing that repair-install of XP, booting to the disc. It's working now. I've even rebooted it a couple of times and it didn't get stuck anywhere. Hopefully this is going to last.
I'd run Memtest for at least 8 hours (do it when you aren't using the computer) and use HD Tune to check the S.M.A.R.T. data on the hard drive. Either of those two things can cause Windows to become corrupt.
I would also unplug the PSU and take the cover off (assuming it's not under warranty anymore) to check for bulging/leaking capacitors, as power problems can cause a wide variety of bad symptoms. Capacitors only have a rated life between 3000-5000 hours at their rated temperature (between 85-105C), so if there was a point in time when they overheated, it can reduce their life significantly.
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