PC boot issue

[s0ad]

My pc keeps restarting when it gets to the windows scrolling screen. I reformated to fix this problem the first time, but I don't want to have to keep reformatting to fix this problem

The voltages coming from my PSU are good, because I checked them with a multimeter.
My motherboard has a LED status light. Right now it's green, which means there is nothing wrong with the motherboard itself.
I can boot into safe mode, but to do so I have to cancel loading a file named "vax347b.sys" which loads the emulated cd/dvd rom i have configured through Alcohol 120%.
I can't run sfc in safe mode I guess. I've run both memory and cpu stress tests off of a cd and both items didnt have any errors.
I ran the factory hdd diagnostic software on all of my hdds, and they all passed. My BIOS is up-to-date, and I have the newest graphics drivers.
My pc has no spyware or viruses.

system specs:
ASUS p4p800 SE
Intel P4 2.4c Northwood
Crucial XMS 1 GB (512 x 2) ddr400 dual channel
ATI radeon 9600XT 128MB 128 bit
Fortron 500W

 

[montag451]

Hi,
Very welcome to the forums -
Well done for testing what you have tested.

Just to ask, when did the problems start, and, do you remember (the obvious question) if any settings were changed, software loaded etc etc just before?

 

[s0ad]

the problem started about 3 or 4 days ago. I had a problem where my
PSU threw a spark. I don't know from what. That's why I tested my PSU voltages in the first place. No major windows settings had been changed. I had installed the newest video drivers, and I think another piece of software. I can't remember what, but it was some major-named software, nothing shareware or freeware.

 

[meltdown75]

hi s0ad.. (& hi montag )

can you boot into a repair console using an XP CD and access the system file checker from there?

 

[s0ad]

I'll try doing that meltdown75

 

[montag451]

Aha - melty. Glad to see you are still around and glowing........

Do as meltdown suggests, can't see anything else to do - apart from start from scratch.
Just to add, that if you can get into safe mode, then delete the vid driver you installed, or at least disable it, and try to find an older or an updated version.

If you can't get into safe mode, then, if sfc doesn't fix it, then try disabling ATI services in recovery console.

 

[s0ad]

Well, the sfc command isn't valid in recovery console. I will uninstall the video drivers to see if that will do anything.

 

[montag451]

Disable services as well

 

[s0ad]

I uninstalled the video drivers, and it didn't help.

 

[montag451]

Try a repair installation of xp from the cd.

 

[imported_nocturne]

There's a lot of things you can do from the recovery console. The easiest thing to do is typle HELP, or "command name" -?. You can disable and enable certain system drivers and services, relatively easilly.

First of all, since it sounds like you can get into safe mode, so in My Computer find and uncheck the option "Automatically restart" under the BSOD settings. Then, perhaps the next time it crashes you can get a little more info.

 

[BadThad]

Before using the recovcon, I'd try a reinstall of XP SP2.

 

[s0ad]

montag51: I tried a repair installation before, didn't help
nocturne: i turned off the option to restart the computer after a system error has occured, and i got this message on a restart: ***STOP: 0x0000007E (0xc0000005, 0x00000400, 0xF7C86BE4, 0xF7C868E0)

 

[saturnpappaa]

look for bad capacitors in the power supply or motherboard. I would try taking out or replacing the ram even though your stress test passes

 

[s0ad]

what will the capacitors look like? will they have the ooze coming out of them?

 

[s0ad]

another question. If I take off my heatsink (I have to to get out my PSU), do I necessarily need to re-apply thermal paste when I put the heatsink back on?

 

[amdskip]

I had a problem where my
PSU threw a spark. I don't know from what.

I can't believe all of you are missing that point right now. Why on earth would you continue to use a power supply that had thrown sparks? Yes you should reapply thermal paste when reattaching the heatsink. Clean the old stuff off first.