Computer Keeps Restarting

[popejohn2]

When I turn on my computer, the systems loads and I go into the desktop. I have XP Pro OS.

After a few seconds, I get the error box "Windows has recovered from a serious error" and asks if I want to report it to Microsoft. Before I can do anything, the systems restarts. This happens over and over and over in a viscious loop.

Other things I see on desktop before it restarts:
1. There is a command box which comes up which is titled Java SATARAID. In the box there is a bunch of text which I cannot read, but the word "debug" is at the end of it.
2. My Norton virus protection states a notice that it has detected and blocked a worm. I cant get the details before the system reboots.

I had just installed Java the night before. The computer was working fine after the Java install until I started it up this morning.

I tried booting in Safe mode to uninstall Java but I kept hitting F8 and it would not go into safe mode.

Can anyone help???

Thanks.

 

[Markbnj]

When you hit F8 to get into Safe Mode is kind of tricky. On my system I have to start hitting it right at the end of the SATA channel detection, which is the last thing prior to loading the operating system. Microsoft basically says "Restart the computer and start pressing the F8 key." See here.

One you are in safe mode, assuming it doesn't fail, you can go to Control Panel | System | Advanced | Startup and Recovery | Settings, and under "System Failure" make sure that the "Automatically restart" checkbox is cleared. That should prevent the system from automatically restarting and allow you to see the blue screen error display. This will often give some indication of the driver involved, as well as "stop code" that can be searched for.

 

[kylef]

If you can boot into safe mode, go to "My Computer -> Properties -> Advanced -> Startup and Recovery Settings" and uncheck "Automatically Restart" on system failure.

That should be able to tell you whether you're seeing a "blue screen crash" (which would indicate a driver problem or spyware problem) or a truly random reboot (which would indicate a hardware or power-supply problem).