Hi there,

I've got a friend who's computer keeps reseting before booting to the desktop. It will show the Windows XP loading screen fine, then go blank as it normally would before resetting itself before it even begins to load up properly.

The computer was recently moved so I am unsure if any of the components have shifted or been damaged but then surely it wouldn't make it past the POST screen or even show anything like Windows XP?

I've asked him if there is anything important stored on there (which there isn't) and to possibly try a reinstall of Windows just in case that will fix the problem but he hasn't done so yet as the discs are back at his old place.

Have him try to boot into Safe Mode:
Boot into Safe Mode

• Restart your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard.
  
• Select the Safe Mode option when the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, and then press ENTER.

If a symptom does not reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and minimum device drivers as possible causes. If a newly added device or a changed driver is causing problems, you can use safe mode to remove the device or reverse the change.

Using Safe Mode to determine a basic source of a problem:The choices:

• Safe Mode: Loads the minimum set of device drivers (serial or PS/2 mouse devices, standard keyboards, hard disks, CD-ROM drives, and standard VGA devices)and system services required to start Windows XP/2000/2003.(Event Log, Plug and Play, remote procedure calls (RPCs), and Logical Disk Manager.) User specific startup programs do not run. This is helpful in determining whether problems are due to specific programs.
  
  
• Safe Mode with Networking: Includes the services and drivers needed for network connectivity. Safe mode with networking enables logging on to the network, logon scripts, security, and Group Policy settings. Nonessential services and startup programs not related to networking do not run. Helpful if needed but should be used with caution as the security programs don't load in this mode.
  
  
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt: Starts the computer in safe mode, but displays the command prompt rather than the Windows GUI interface.
  
  
• Last Known Good Configuration, which starts your computer using the registry information that was saved at the last shutdown.

So by using the different options of Safe Mode, you can sometimes determine what the area of problem is- and isn't.

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Check your configuration .. You might have done some thing to boot.ini file.

I do not see boot.ini being affected by a physical move.
More information is needed, and (imho)
Bobbye's suggestion about trying to boot to safe mode is a good first step.

Hardware components _may_ have been affected by a physical move...
though hopefully not the obvious bad event of HD damage.
If the user can get to safe mode, then there are tools (like event veiwer) for analyzing what the breakdown is... from hardware, to drivers to...

Going straight to boot.ini is a drastic step. There are so many other options that would cause the system to "restart" than that one file.

It could be a re starting error, to which if the user has error checking disabled the message won't be shown. Drivers also cause restarts and well as software updates.
Hardware could also just make it to this point even with an error.

So going to boot.ini just isn't justified.

Also looking at the posting date of the original users its probable that a reply will be made now.
I'm going to add the CP can and leave it to the original OP for a comeback here.

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Blind Dragon Bobbye Joebeard Rev_olie

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