Comp keeps rebooting at random?

Spikey_2

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After you install a new hardware device or new software, Windows XP may continuously restart, or you may receive an error message on a blue screen

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function loadTOCNode()!!}Article ID:322205Last Review:May 7, 2007Revision:5.1
This article was previously published under Q322205
This article is intended for a beginning to intermediate computer user.You may find it easier to follow the steps if you print this article first.
Symptoms of the problem

loadTOCNode(1, 'symptoms');After you install a new hardware device or new software on a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer, you may experience one of the following symptoms: •The computer continuously restarts.•You receive an error messages on a blue screen.
Steps to resolve the problem

loadTOCNode(1, 'resolution');Step 1: Disconnect any new hardware

If you recently installed a new hardware device, disconnect the device, and then try to start Windows XP again. If you can start Windows XP after you disconnect the device, contact the device manufacturer to obtain updated drivers for the device or to learn about any other known issues.

Step 2: Start Windows XP in safe mode a. Restart the computer. Press the F8 key repeatedly when the screen becomes blank.b. Click Safe Mode, and then press ENTER.c. If you are prompted to select a version of Windows, select the correct version, and then press ENTER.Step 3: Use the Rollback Driver feature a. Start Device Manager. To do this, click Start, click Run, type devmgmt.msc, and then click OKb. Double-click the device for which you want to restore the driver.c. Click the Driver tab, and then click the Roll Back Driver button. Step 4: Determine whether a third-party program is causing the issue

Note If you disable all Microsoft services and then restart the computer, the System Restore utility is disabled, and you lose all system restore points. Therefore, we do not recommend that you disable all Microsoft services when you use the Msconfig utility to troubleshoot connection issues. a. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK. b. Click the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear all check boxes except the Load System Services check box. c. Click the Services tab, and then click Hide all Microsoft Services. d. Click Disable all. e. Click OK, and then restart the computer.If the Windows XP starts, go to step 5. If Windows XP does not start, go to step 6.

Step 5: Determine the conflicting program or the conflicting utility a. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK. b. Click the Startup tab.

Because of the number of entries that may be listed, we recommend that you determine the conflicting program by using the following process of elimination: 1.Select approximately half of the listed items, and then click OK. 2.Restart the computer.

Note If Windows XP does not start, restart Windows XP in safe mode.3.Continue this process of elimination until you have identified the conflicting program.c. We recommend that you remove the program if you are not using it. Or, configure the program so that it does not start when the computer starts.

Note You may have to contact the software vendor for information about how to perform this configuration.Step 6: Determine whether a third-party service is causing the issue a. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK. b. Click the Services tab, disable all the services, and then click OK. c. Restart the computer.If Windows XP starts, go to step 7. If Windows XP does not start, go to step 8.
Step 7: Determine the conflicting service a. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig, and then click OK. b. Click the Services tab. c. Enable half the services on the list, and then click OK. d. Restart the computer in normal mode.

Note If Windows XP does not start, restart the computer in safe mode.e. Continue this process until you determine the service that is causing the issue. We recommend that you remove or disable the service.

Note You may have to contact the developer of the program for information about how to do this.Step 8: Start the computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature a. Start the computer.b. When you see the "Please select the operating system to start" message, press the F8 key.c. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER. d. If you are running other operating systems on the computer, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, and then press ENTER. Notes •By using the Last Known Good Configuration feature, you can recover from configuration problems such as newly installed drivers that may be incorrect for the computer's hardware. This feature does not correct problems that are caused by missing drivers, by missing files, by corrupted drivers, or by corrupted files.•The Last Known Good Configuration feature uses information that is saved from the last time that you shut down the computer. This information is used to restore registry settings and drivers. Therefore, you can use this feature only if you are able to start the computer successfully before you restore the computer by using the last known good configuration.•After you start the computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature, changes that were made since the last successful startup are lost.Step 9: Repair Windows XP a. Turn off any antivirus program and BIOS-level antivirus protection. For help, see the appropriate software manual or online Help.b. Make sure that the CD drive or DVD drive is the first priority startup device in the computer's BIOS settings. See the computer's documentation for information about how to do this.c. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart the computer.d. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" prompt appears, press a key so that the computer starts from the Windows XP CD-ROM.e. When the computer starts from the CD-ROM, your hardware is checked, and then you are prompted to select an option. Press ENTER.f. Press F8 to accept the Licensing Agreement.g. Your current Windows XP installation is listed, and then you are prompted to select an option. Press R to start the automatic repair process. After Windows XP is repaired, you may have to reactivate Windows XP if you changed some hardware.Step 10: Use the System Restore feature

Method 1: If Windows XP does not start a. Restart the computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start the computer in safe mode by using a command prompt.

For more information about safe mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 315222 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/) A description of the safe mode boot options in Windows XP
b. Log on to the computer by using an administrator account or by using an account that has administrator credentials.c. Type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
d. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore the computer to an earlier state.Method 2: If Windows XP starts a. Log on to Windows by using an administrator account.b. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts. c. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time if this option is not already selected. Then, click Next. d. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. You may receive a message that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK. e. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration and then restarts the computer. f. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears. g. Click OK.






THE ABOVE IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO>>>>>>!!!!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>> HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

baxgttdi

First thing to ask is for details ofthe computers itsself and as the article states have you recently updated any hardware components?

Spikey_2

baxgttdi wrote: »

First thing to ask is for details ofthe computers itsself and as the article states have you recently updated any hardware components?

only thinks i've added is the belkin 54g wireless adapter so that I can use the wireless router that is downstairs?

baxgttdi

is it an internal one or an exteral one? either way if this has started happening since you installed it that would be the first place to look. Are you able t oboot into safe mode?

Spikey_2

baxgttdi wrote: »

is it an internal one or an exteral one? either way if this has started happening since you installed it that would be the first place to look. Are you able t oboot into safe mode?

Yes.......... have also tried to uninstall and re-install...no effect

baxgttdi

what abotu simply an uninstall without the reinstall does that make a difference? If not there are many (as you can see from the article) ways of trrying to diagnose what caused this but if you know when it first started to occur, the system restore might be the quickest solution aslong as you make sureyou back up any files created after that date first

johnmc

Still don't know what the PC is. As you are fitting a wireless card is it a laptop?

Don't delete the software. Leave the card in. Start in Safe mode and then take a look at the Device Manager.

If the new hardware is listed, whether marked as "error" (a yellow exclamation mark) or not, delete it.

Shut down completely and then restart.

It should find the hardware and load it correctly.