Member Avatar for Mr Programmers

When I start my computer, the Start up Screen (Loading Screen) comes up and loads normally. Before showing up the Log in Screen, the computer automatically restarts. I started the Windows again but the error is not gone.

I have:

Windows XP Home Professional
Service Pack 3
Pentium 4
494 MB RAM
Company: LG (Pakistan)

What I did:

I read several articles and they said press F2 or F8 on start up and you should see an option "disable automatic restart on failure", but that didn't even work and a blue screen came showing up that Windows is already shut down.

I ran Windows XP Home Professional in Safe Mode, but the same error is occurring.

Please help me! As I have all my files and very important documents and pictures and I can not reboot my Windows XP Home Professional.

Thanks!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by benmar

Dani AI

Generated

Immediate priority is to recover user data before attempting any repair that might write to the disk. The thread already points toward getting the drive out or attached to another PC (, , ); if you prefer not to open the case, boot a rescue USB (a Linux live image or a Windows PE rescue disk) and mount the Windows partition explicitly read-only, then copy important folders to an external drive. Key locations to salvage on Windows XP include:

  • C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents and Desktop
  • C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Favorites
  • Mail stores: Outlook .pst files (commonly under C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook) and Outlook Express .dbx files (under C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities{GUID}\Microsoft\Outlook Express)

After a verified backup, triage hardware versus software. To expand on ’s hardware check: run a bootable memory tester (MemTest86) for multiple passes, check drive SMART attributes (look for Reallocated_Sector_Ct, Current_Pending_Sector and Offline_Uncorrectable) from the rescue environment, and test with single RAM sticks if possible. If the drive is noisy or SMART shows problems, stop regular access and create a sector-level image using a tool that tolerates bad sectors (for example, GNU ddrescue) — work from the image, not the failing disk.

If hardware appears healthy and data is safe, proceed with non-destructive diagnostics: enable boot logging to collect ntbtlog.txt to identify drivers that fail to load, and always copy current registry hives from C:\Windows\System32\Config to a safe place before attempting any hive restore (C:\Windows\Repair contains installer copies but may not match the installed service pack). A repair install can fix system files but only after a complete backup; if anything points to physical disk failure, prioritize imaging and professional recovery over repeated repair attempts.

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for Rik_

Do you have windows XP Professional or windows XP Home? They are 2 slightly different installations!

Have you tried booting into safe mode?

Lastly, if your data is that important then why don't you have a backup of it?

Member Avatar for Mr Programmers

I'm sorry for the confusion, I am using Windows XP Professional. I have tried the safe mode, the VGA mode and others, but no luck.

I can't even access the login screen! How can I backup my files?

Member Avatar for Rik_

Exactly what happens when you try to boot into safemode? I need to know what it says on screen and at what point it stops.

What I meant about backing up your data is that you say it's important. If it's that important, you should always keep a backup when your system is working correctly for situations like this. I have all my importand data on an external hard drive and on several dvd's as well as some of it on usb flash drives as an example.

I take it you have a second computer? If so, it might be worth taking the hard drive out of your failing computer, putting it in your second computer, and running scandisk on it!

Member Avatar for khakilang

Have you try opening up your computer and check whether there is some burn capacitor or some burning smell just in case and at the same time try other power supply unit. It may be hardware problem.

Member Avatar for jovypinoy

Try to connect your hard disk to another computer and make it as a slave then back up your important files.

Member Avatar for e-papa

Try to Load the last Known Good Configuration that worked, else I think you better back up your data, and reinstall XP from the startup.

Member Avatar for striker_1

Have you recently changed your Anti-Virus, Or Runned a Virus Scan?

Member Avatar for Ritesh_4

First thing, if possible, try to unplug the harddisk and connect to another pc, if it boots ok then may be a component on your motherboard is the issue here, else if still restarting, then either try repair the installation with a windows cd, or format and clean install windows

Member Avatar for benmar

try to used chkdsk.....

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