Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 My PC is in need of major surgery. For some reason, when switched on today, I get the image of windows XP loading, then the screen goes blank and it starts up all over again (image of XP loading). I've tried rebooting it, switching off at the socket then on again, but it does the same. Have had to turn it off at the socket and leave it now. Any more suggestions, or do I have to bite the bullet and reinstall it's major organs? I hate computers I've got better things to do with my time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Bloomin' things. Any loose connections? Of course, as with my computer, there won't be any dust in the workings. A gentle tap with a lump hammer might fettle it. Just kidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I would just format it if you have the disc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I'm no expert but I always try to start in safe mode if that happens. At least you can try to work out what's wrong that way. Here's a link showing you how to do it. See how you get on with that & hopefully Fred will be along by then! http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml Edit: I'm assuming you've got access to a laptop or another PC to read this?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Im here. Have you installed anything recently? I mean anything, automatic updates etc. But DO NOT Insert the recovery disk (yet) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Yes I'm on the laptop! Not me that's inconvenienced (although there is probably stuff on there that I should've backed up elsewhere and haven't ) It whizzes past the screen that says 'press whatever for safe mode' too quickly for me to do that. Nothing has been installed or downloaded on it recently. Not used the recovery disk yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 (edited) when it starts up, keep on press F8, keep on tapping it, then select last known good configuration. Edited August 11, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Will give that a go later, got to go out now Once I've got it running in safe mode what do you suggest I look for? (needle in a haystack springs to mind!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Ah, just reread your post - look for last known good configuration. Thanks Fred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 OK, tried last known good configuration but it went to the windows XP start up screen then screen went black and it went off again and tried to start again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 Just tried to start in safe mode, but again it tried loading then went off again before trying to reload again. Got to go now, but any hints or tips gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuggywoo Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 That happened to my pc in work, called the expert in and basically my pc was um, fit for the skip. It was something to do with the motherboard and it was cheaper to get a new pc (which I did), there didn't seem to be a resaon for it either Not sure about laptops though - would it be the same thing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 There are a number of things it could be, my first guess would be overheating due to hardware failure or clogged air vents. If the cooling fan is shot then the system will shut down to prevent damage. I am not sure if it would reboot though? If it is a laptop it will be harder to find out what the problem is as the fan doesn't necessarily run all the time and I wouldn't recommend taking a laptop apart to have a look unless you know what you are doing. I wouldn't attempt it! I would try a jolly good hoovering around any air vents and then try again with laptop raised to improve air flow. If it fairs any better then it probably is the CPU overheating due to a goosed fan or heatsink which shouldn't be too expensive to have replaced. It could also be a software problem or even a virus. The blaster worm used to cause similar behaviour as did the Sasser worm but if your system is up to date and you have anti-virus then this is unlikely. You could try a system 'repair' by booting from the windows cd, that may sort out any OS software issues but in my experience, probably not. Last resort from a software point of view is format and fresh install It always works but is a major pain reinstalling everything. I reckon it's a hardware fault but I am not an expert and my memory of Windows is a bit rusty thankfully. I don't miss it one little bit Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Im sure its a software fault, but if nothing else works format and do a fresh install, if you have important files on there you can save them but its a bit tricky, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I'm assuming you're using the laptop to get on here and it's the PC that's knackered? I had a problem with overheating in my PC last year. The boys were playing heavy duty games . Bought a new fan and it's all been hunky dorey since (apart from the memory being almost full ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Oh sorry speed read this post and thought you were having probs with a laptop. Desktop case fans and cpu cooling fans are about £2 each and are easy to change. It is also worth taking the side of the case off and hoovering out any dust and you should be able to see if the fans are spinning (obviously be careful!). This may invalidate any warranty if it is a Dell or similar mind. I would risk a couple of quid and 10 mins to see if it fettles it before going down the software route which could more painful and take hours if like me you don't know much about the inner workings of Windows. I always found it quicker to wipe the slate clean and start again when I trouble with it which was far too often. I have a Desktop PC which was a bit of naturist! It would only work properly with the sides of the case off. It was a dicky motherboard that caused the problem. It overheated unless the covers were off. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Thanks all, will give the hoovering a try! No warrenty to invalidate as it was home built by a friend. He'll be getting a phone call when he gets back from wherever he's working at the moment! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I have a Desktop PC which was a bit of naturist! It would only work properly with the sides of the case off. It was a dicky motherboard that caused the problem. It overheated unless the covers were off. I had one like that too, Kev. Hope you get sorted soon Snowy. Our PC went "kaboom" last night. OH will try and save the gazillions of "important stuff" on there on to an external drive and then I think it will go to PC heaven. Technology is great isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Maplins have got some external hard drives on offer at the moment, we just bought a Maxstor 250GB desktop one for £50 and have backed up all of our photos, music and documents on to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Technology is great isn't it? It is! (as long as it doesn't run windows!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 12, 2008 Author Share Posted August 12, 2008 Not had chance to hoover it today. Had to hoover the boys rooms instead. Will give it a go tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 13, 2008 Author Share Posted August 13, 2008 OK, have mucked it out (where does all that fluff and gubbins come from? ) But it still doesn't work Anymore good ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Its dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 This might have been suggested already, but what happens if you put your XP disc in then switch on? Should it not do something then (long time since I've had to muck about with our PC, so can't remember!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 If you put your disc in and reboot it should boot from the cd and then give you a host of options, fresh install, repair etc. If it is a hardware problem the machine will probably still fall over. Did you check to see if the cooling fans were spinning? There should be one on the case and another that sits directly on the Main mother board over the cpu, probably about 3" square. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
