Computer keeps rebooting after a powerfailure, dont know how to fix.

Jared-lachmann

hello i have a computer that keeps rebooting as soon as it reaches the login menu. this started when my power outlet was accidentally pulled and now is rebooting in a continous loop. i dont know if i should get it taken in to get it looked at, at a computer shop or if this can be fixed at home please reply.

MAGIC

Try to boot into safe mode.

Thrax

You will need three CDs prepared with the following utilities:

HitachGST's <a href="http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm#DFT&quot; target="_blank">Drive Fitness Test</a> (DFT) CD image
Seagate's <a href="http://download.seagate.com/seatools/registration.nsf/eula/desktop&quot; target="_blank">SeaTools for DOS</a> CD image
<a href="http://www.memtest86.com/memtest86-3.5.iso.zip&quot; target="_blank">Memtest86</a> CD image

To freely burn these utilities to CD, Icrontic has <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/burn_iso_disc_image_free&quot; target="_blank">prepared a guide</a> to accomplish the task. Once all three CDs are ready, proceed with each of the following steps in sequence.

If you uncover a problem at any step, it is imperative that you remedy the issue before moving on.
<ol>
<li>Evaluate the condition of your PC's memory by <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86">testing it</a> with Memtest86. If this fails, you need to replace your system memory and continue.</li>
<li>Evaluate the condition of your hard drive by testing it with <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/hard_drive_diagnostics">Drive Fitness Test</a>. Should DFT fail to correctly function on your system, <a href="http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=201271&quot; target="_blank">perform a long scan</a> with SeaTools. If this fails, you need to replace your hard drive after <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/easy_data_recovery&quot; target="_blank">archiving your information</a>. If simple archival fails, Icrontic has prepared an <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/advanced_data_recovery&quot; target="_blank">emergency data recovery</a> guide to account for this issue. Replacing your hard drive will require that you <a href="http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_install_windows_xp&quot; target="_blank">reinstall Windows</a>.</li>
<li>Evaluate the output of your power supply by <a href="http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-1056686.html">testing it</a> with a digital multimeter (DMM). If the power supply is producing insufficient voltages, it must be replaced.</li>
<li>If all prior components have been replaced or given a clean bill of health, we have narrowed down the roster of possible culprits to three: A bunged up operating system, a faulty motherboard, or a faulty processor.
</ol>

From this point, you will definitely need a copy of Windows or a recovery CD of some sort to restore the PC back to its default configuration.

MAGIC

If he makes it all the way to the login screen ever time, it makes me think that it is a bad driver loading in the background.

Jared-lachmann

MAGIC wrote:

Try to boot into safe mode.

yeah im able to boot it to safe mode and once i exit it to the main login it flashes for a second and then goes black and then restarts.

possible os problem because the one i have is conterfeit. will getting a new windows program such as a new windows xp cd work?

MAGIC

I dont think it would be due to a unlegit copy of Windows; I think its a bad driver. Try uninstalling your video driver from safe mode. (and buy Windows 7)

Draike

Have you tried loading last known good configuration? And does safe mode work - is it stable? Or does it also reboot.