Restart loop?!

[hahnmj]

My computer was working fine up until two days ago when it just restarted out of the blue. After it restarted, the computer posted the BIOS, got to the Windows 7 boot screen, then turn off. The computer would stay off for a couple of seconds before starting by itself, getting through half the BIOS post process before turning off again. Any help would be appreciated. If there's a part I have to replace, I don't know where to begin.

Computer specs:
Asus P5Q SE2 motherboard
4GB (2x2GB) OCZ Vista Performance Gold DDR2 800
Antec BP500U 500W Basiq Power PSU
HIS 1GB ATI Radeon HD4650
640GB hard drive

CN: Computer starts in a restart loop, shortening the time it takes between restarts.

 

[airdata]

Can you boot into safe mode?

 

[Harvey]

Continual rebooting could be caused by a virus. You can try scanning your drive as a slave on another known clean, secure machine or from your own machine if it will boot to Safe Mode as airdata suggests.

If you find anything, know that some of them are so nasty that the only sure way to getting rid of them is to do a clean re-installation of Windows.

Good luck.

 

[hahnmj]

I could probably get into the prompt that allows me to boot into safe mode, but the computer will more than likely restart again.

I'll try it, anyways, though. Couldn't hurt, right?

 

[Harvey]

I could probably get into the prompt that allows me to boot into safe mode, but the computer will more than likely restart again.

I'll try it, anyways, though. Couldn't hurt, right?

Nope, it couldn't hurt. If your machine continues to reboot in Safe Mode, I'd guess that either it's infected or you have a power supply problem.

 

[Fardringle]

Yes, try safe mode. If the computer is stable in safe mode, then you know that it is a problem with Windows (a virus or corrupted Windows installation or device drivers). If you can't even get to safe mode before the system reboots, then it is more likely a hardware problem.

 

[Harvey]

Yes, try safe mode. If the computer is stable in safe mode, then you know that it is a problem with Windows (a virus or corrupted Windows installation or device drivers). If you can't even get to safe mode before the system reboots, then it is more likely a hardware problem.

I've seen viruses that cause continual reboots in Safe Mode so either is possible.

 

[Chris A]

A bad power switch can also cause this. The switch on the front of the case can be shorting out causing it to shut down and turn off.

 

[hahnmj]

A bad power switch can also cause this. The switch on the front of the case can be shorting out causing it to shut down and turn off.

If this is the case, how would I go about remedying this? I have a Cooler Master case. It's pretty basic, but I like the way it looks and it gets the job done.

 

[hahnmj]

Just got it to boot into safe mode, but it began the restarting process again at the login screen! AH!!!

 

[Harvey]

I still recommend scanning that sucker slaved up to another well protected machine booted in safe mode.

If you find any malware, copy all of your critical files any that aren't flagged as infected to a flash drive or CD, and rebuild it from the ground up. It may sound like a time eater, but you could waste a lot of time trying to save an infected system that you may not be able to save, and you'll know the new installation is clean.

Once you do it, don't forget to re-scan the saved files from your own new and newly protected setup before copying them to your drive.

 

[hahnmj]

I'm still in the camp that my computer has no virus, but a faulty PSU. I was able to get to about the same point in safe mode as I did in regular boot before the computer decided to restart. Also, the recurring reboots along with the decrease in time between reboots leads me to believe that there may be a capacitor that can't hold its charge?

In any case, I'm pulling the HDD out of the desktop and scanning it from my laptop.

 

[Harvey]

I'm still in the camp that my computer has no virus, but a faulty PSU.

That's easy enough to check by connecting it to another PSU. You don't even have to mount it permanently in the case until you determine that it's the solution.

In any case, I'm pulling the HDD out of the desktop and scanning it from my laptop.

And that's testing the other possiblity. Sounds like you're on your way to resolving it.

 

[hahnmj]

I don't have another PSU to test with

None of my friends have desktops, either. All of them are either Mac-tards or notebook carriers.

 

[jameswhite1979]

Get a free copy of Ubuntu and boot from and run the live CD (does not install or touch Win) try that see if you get a reboot might help test some hardware.

Also get to safe mode if possible and run Microsoft Boot Vis, it will log every step of you system booting so good to help trouble shoot. Also if in safe boot check out the system event logs from Control Panel > Administrative tools > Event Viewer

 

[hahnmj]

^Couldn't get into safe mode, doubt I could get a live CD of Ubuntu to load. I have the live USB from when I installed it on my laptop and from first hand experience, I know it takes at least a minute to load everything up into Ubuntu's desktop.

 

[hahnmj]

Running the virus scan now.

 

[Harvey]

Scanning from another machine won't remove infected registry entries so, if you find anything while scanning from your laptop, I suggest not wasting time trying to remove it. Instead, cut to the chase, and do a fresh installation of Windows.

 

[hahnmj]

Scanned it, found nothing, same thing happens when I plug the hard drive back into the desktop.

 

[ElenaP]

I'd check if something overheats. If you leave the system off for a long time, it would then start and work for a relatively long time, because the whatever the offending part is, it is cold. As the system heats up, the time between repoots becomes progressively shorter.

Did you check all the basic stuff like all the fans clear of obstructions and actually spinning?

If you can get into BIOS setup, there should be a thermal and voltage display. What temperatures are indicated?

 

[hahnmj]

CPU=26.5C
MOBO=16C

Not out of the ordinary.

 

[hahnmj]

Took it to a repair shop to see if they could test out the PC with a new power supply. Presto! The computer works.