WIndows xp on laptop stuck in startup loop 4

[straybullet]

Cannot get into bios, cannot boot from cd... F2 gives me "please wait..." then it just reboots again. F10 shows me the memory check progress, the mouse and keyboard is recognized, etc - then it reboots. If I press F2 while on this screen, the message is "entering setup..." then it reboots. It did this once before, but I was able to get into safe mode, disable the "restart on fail" and do some corrections, then it ran fine for months (that's why I dont quite remember the corrections made).
Any ideas?

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

if you never get to the windows screens, then no option in windows will help you.
My top 3 suspects where I've seen this happen:
1. bad power supply
2. Bad stick of RAM
3. bad video card (yes, I've seen this cause this problem too)


-Brandon Wilson
MCSE:Security00/03
MCSA:Messaging00
MCSA:Security03
A+

 

[vacunita]

If your comfortable with it, you can try to take the drive out. Then try starting the laptop without the drive, if it at least lets you into the BIOS then you pretty much got your culprit.

It that doesn't do it, then yes maybe a bad power supply which actually resets itself after a period of time.



----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[BadBigBen]

I am with the PSU on this one, aswell, last couple of weeks I was fiddling with a dual xeon system, that had similar symptoms but only when CPU2 was installed...

with one CPU it ran fine and dandy, but not with the second one...

as it turned out it was a flaky PSU (13.2 v on the 12v rail)...




Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Cannot enter bios.

http://www.google.com/search?q=cannot+enter+bios+setup&rls=com.microsoft:

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

are you familiar with the use of ohmmeters and things of the like to test electrical equipment? if so, then test your power supply. if not, the power supply is the cheapest and easiest thing to replace to begin the process of elimination with (assuming this isnt a laptop anyways).

-Brandon Wilson
MCSE:Security00/03
MCSA:Messaging00
MCSA:Security03
A+

 

[straybullet]

Thank you all - yes, it's a laptop - approximately 2 years old, heavy daily usage. Hubby says there have been no display issues and the memory check doesn't show any problems. What would I need to be able to hook the laptop's hdd to a desktop - is that even possible?

I guess this weekend will be spent testing the power supply (and hopefully keeping hubby off my computer so he can't go to the dell site, credit card in hand!)

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[ITPangaeaArchitect]

if a video card is going, it wont necessarily give you display issues. likewise, the POST memory count doesn't count as a "memory test" its merely counting the RAM installed it knows of.
You would have to do an actual diagnostic against the RAM that does an I/O test against all address blocks.

As far as hooking the laptop HDD up to the computer...I beleive there are 3rd party devices for this, or you could make one with enough knowledge

-Brandon Wilson
MCSE:Security00/03
MCSA:Messaging00
MCSA:Security03
A+

 

[linney]

These talk about Laptop Adapters which connect the drive to a Desktop.

Mount an unbootable NTFS drive? !!HELP!! Tough one.
thread779-738178

ReImage laptop hard drive
thread779-1261355

 

[vacunita]

Any number of adapters can connect a drive to a desktop. They can be USB, or direct to IDE. Just Google "laptop to IDE" or "Laptop to USB" adapter and yo should have enough results to keep you buys for a while.

Here

http://insidecomputer.stores.yahoo.net/la2tode3hadr.html

This is one if the first few the pop up. And I have that very model and works very well.



----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[straybullet]

Thanks guys! I was about to give up hope. I've got an adapter on order. Hubby has decided to get that tablet he's been wanting. If I get this one running, I'll probably keep it for playing on.

cross your fingers!

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius