Hmm...stuck in a continuous reboot loop

[Mrvile]

Ok, my computer has been working fine for the past two or three days (before then I was waiting for my vid card). But I was just playing CS, when the comp reoboted itself. Got to Windows fine, and I just waited. When nothing happened I loaded up FF to access the forums, but it rebooted again right as I loaded up FF. I go through that another two times, but after that the comp just automatically reboots itself after a few seconds in Windows. So far I've tried resetting CMOS, which didn't help. Next thing I'll try is to boot into safe mode, then I might try a repair install of Windows. But that will take a while so I'm hoping I might get some suggestions or tips in the meantime.

I'm using Windows XP Pro SP2.

 

[SlitheryDee]

This started after you installed a graphics card? Maybe the vc heatsink isn't properly attached.
I think an overheating GPU can cause reboots.

Edit: Did you make sure that you cleaned out all the driver files/registry entries from the previous card?

 

[Trizik]

What power supply are you using?

 

[beefey]

any overclock at all... mine does that all the time when i overclock too high, try running fail safes...

 

[sniperruff]

i say the CPU is overheating and the thermal protection is restarting the computer

 

[Trizik]

I just had the same problem and found my power supply to be bad.

Could be:

1) Bad power supply
2) Corrupt Windows files (repair will take care of that)
3) Overheating (most likely CPU or GPU)
4) Bad hardware

I should also mention that if you turn off auto restart, you'll be better able to diagnose the problem. To do this, Start > right click My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings > uncheck "Automatically restart" under System failure

This will bring up the blue screen rather than automatically rebooting.

 

[Mrvile]

I'm using an Enermax 460w PSU. Should work fine with the video card.

Anyway I first tried booting into Safe Mode, and it stayed on fine for like 15 minutes so I booted into normal mode, and it's working fine now (I'm using it now). I did remove my Sims 2 CD from the CD drive (I don't know if this was the problem but I've heard things about having a CD in the CD drive during bootup can cause reboots but I highly doubt that this was it).

I didn't have any video drivers when I installed my video card (I removed them before I sent my card in to be RMA'd), and I went straight to the 77.72 Forceware after installing the card. Is it true that a bad video card heatsink can cause these reboots? The card is still on the stock heatsink as of now, and it idles at 65 (I don't know how high it goes under load), however I don't think it can get hot enough to cause reboots...but maybe I'm wrong. Actually, I waited like 10 minutes before booting up into Safe Mode again so maybe the card cooled down in the meantime...although I still don't think it is the video card.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: beefey
any overclock at all... mine does that all the time when i overclock too high, try running fail safes...

I said I had already reset the CMOS...and no, I didn't have anything OC'd to begin with.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
i say the CPU is overheating and the thermal protection is restarting the computer

I'm using watercooling for the CPU, I don't think that could be it...

 

[Mrvile]

I need to hit the sack for now guys, I'll turn on Prime to see if it has anything to do with the CPU.

 

[Mrvile]

Nevermind, I'm still awake.

Anyways, Prime has been running fine so far so I doubt it's the CPU. I know it's not the ram cuz I recently memtested it for over 30 passes and it did fine.

Actually, if it ended up being the video card, I wouldn't be surprised. If you guys have read into my earlier threads a few days ago, I mentioned that although BFG sent me a card that looked like a 6800GT (single-slot 6800GT cooler, and only one Molex), it was in fact an Ultra (as stated by nVidia Settings, 3DMark, and ExperTool) by nature. I can imagine that an Ultra trying to run on a 6800GT cooler can get quite hot, so if it was the heat that was causing the reboots, I wouldn't be surprised. I just didn't know that an overheating video card could cause a reboot loop, since the video card should begin to cool down after leaving the game...

 

[Mrvile]

Bump... I'm hoping it's the video card...gives me more reason to get watercooling for it

So far comp runs fine (no video load).

 

[Mrvile]

Bump?

 

[sniperruff]

must be something wrong with your cooling setup then. check them.