RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

Turn PC on, get the screen saying "Windows failed to start properly" and gives options which you can highlight with arrow keys, none of which can be selected because arrow keys dont work, so PC tries to boot up.
Then it just hangs, and re-starts. Does this in a loop until you turn it off.

Any ideas?

Cheers!

ChefDude

whatever happened, did you also lose legacy usb support? tried a ps2 keyboard so you can get into safe mode?

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

Its a wireless keyboard, so yes USB might not be working. I have a wired one somewhere so can plug that in to try and get it into safe mode? Though thats a USB connection too so might not work? DOnt have a PS2 keyboard.

ryn004

Does the PC have proper ventialtion at the back? Maybe its heating up and as a failsafe just restarting.

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

Ventilation looks ok - but it does it from cold after being left overnight - so I would have thought not enough time to get too hot ?

ChefDude

does your mobo have status digits? my abit one does.

when i built my pc, i couldn't get into the bios, initally at least, until i used a ps2 keyboard.

if you can't get into safe mode, IDE boot into your Windows CD - is there a repair option ?

ryn004

Well from experience if the CPU fan is not placed exactly on the CPU, it can heat up within a few seconds. You can always check the temperature from the bios page.
If its not a heating issue, did you try to go on safemode and use system restore t oan earlier date when the pc was working ok?

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

I can't get into safe mode, PC wont let me, just keeps restarting - I think they keyboard is disabled as I cannot use it to select safe mode and also F8 isn't doing anything.....

andys

PS/2 keyboard or usb to ps/2 converter is required to get into safe mode

ChefDude

a usb KB has to be mapped properly to make use of a USB-PS2 adapter, so make sure it really is PS2/compatible.

scoobz72

Are you running XP?
I have seen this on a few occasions when a Service pack is incompatible with your hardware.

take out all peripherals from the motherboard, PCI cards etc, then boot with just a keyboard and mouse.
Also if you have 2 sticks of memory, then remove one at a time.
While case is open, check the CPU fans are spinning freely and not fouled by cables etc.
A compressor could be used to blow out any dust as this will also generate heat and loop the system.

Hope this helps you

RoShamBo

iTrader: (1)

I can try - but XP Home (SP2) has been running on my PC for years - just recently I re-installed it to "start fresh" as my PC had viruses.
It was booting up fine, then restarting at odd times (usually in the middle of something !) but now its got worse and just wont fully boot up at all, just restarts.

Bloody PC's !

jpor

iTrader: (1)

Could be a dodgy sector on your Hard Disk. From personal experience it can be either:

- Dodgy RAM which has caused a corrupt system file
- Hard Disk has developed a bad cluster/sector which houses an important system file

Either of the 2 will stop windows from starting and rebooting like you described. What I would do is try to boot off the Windows XP Home disk and see if you can run a repair action. Or go into command prompt mode and run a chkdsk c: to see if any errors come back.