[Fixed] Old desktop reboots during Windows XP repair installation

[t3h l337 n3wb]

EDIT: Problem resolved 🙂

I'm trying to repair an XP Home installation on an old P4 Celeron Dell, but I'm running into a bunch of issues. At first, after it rebooted to configure/copy files, it said "could not copy ____." (a bunch of files). I looked it up, and resolved the issue with this info: http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/forum/281316/upgrading_w_xp. Apparently it was because of a corrupted securities database. After that was resolved, the files copied fine, but the computer rebooted before the TCP/IP networking window popped up (I'm pretty sure there should be one, right?). I tried it again today, and it rebooted before even asking for the CD key.

Now, whenever I try to boot Windows, it gets to the login screen, but if I just let it idle there, I get a BSOD. This leads me to believe it's probably a hardware problem. She upgraded her RAM to a new 2x1GB set, which I memtested, and it was good. The hard drive is pretty old, but I don't think it would be causing restarting, right? I can't really think of any other reasons why. I can try a full reformat instead of repair tomorrow, but this is really frustrating me. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[KGB]

Try clearing your CMOS and try a known-good power supply.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Mm problem with another PSU is that it's a Dell, so I'm pretty sure they have a proprietary ATX connector...I

 

[tweakboy]

Ouch. I smell a clean format coming along. Backup your stuff and do that. Nice clean shower your rig will get. gl

 

[mpilchfamily]

Sounds like you may need a new HDD. There may be allot of bad sectors on the drive taht are currupting the data as its being stored to those sectors. Considering the age of the system your about due for a new drive anyway.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Hmm, so I reformatted the drive today and reinstalled XP, and it worked! I guess I just needed to use that instead of trying to repair the existing installation.