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Windows 2000 keeps restarting forever! HELP or my girlfriend's dad will hate me!!

D

duuuma

Senior member
just upgrade my gf's dad's HP computer from Win ME to 2000 w/ SP3...

I was uninstalling a program from his cheapo webcam when the uninstallation froze. I tried to end the process but it was to no avail, so I had to power down the computer manually. I saw an error msg pop up before the computer turned off, and in the title bar said something about 'ikernel,' so I thought that was probably bad. When I started up the computer again, Windows would get to the log-in screen (where your wallpaper is already visible), but before the log in prompt comes up, it would restart the computer. It keeps doing this forever if I leave it.

I tried booting to the windows 2000 CD for an emergency repair, but it's not working still. Anyone with any suggestions? I know it's pretty vague and strange problem, but any help would be much appreciated!!

The system is a Celery 733 on some unknown HP Pavilion mobo, Quantum 30gb hd, 2x 128mb kingston valueram (one of which I had just installed). Thanks for any hints and help!! 🙂
 
The first thing I would do is a full format and reinstall windows. Usually the easiest way to solve a problem like that..
 
Thanks! I will reformat and reinstall windows 2000 as a last resort...just trying to see if there's a way to save the current config.
 
I would say format and ghost it. Then try installing things one by one. Any other information you could give that you did not think of before?
 
i've never ghosted before and was hoping someone can explain to me what that is? I'm trying to avoid formatting his drive for now. Thanks! 🙂
 
Ghosting involves taking an image of the drive in its current state (usually onto cd). So you can revert windows back to its current state at a later time with that image without reformatting/reinstalling windows. Usually when I build a system and install all the drivers and software I ghost, so instead of starting from scratch on a reformat I can just go back to clean and fully installed system.
 
Thanks for the explanation luden! that's what i always suspected the process to be, but i've never actually tried it out.

So ghosting is best done right after I finish set up of a computer for the first time right? That way, i have an image of a clean and fully functional OS to restore to if I ever need to reformat? I remember some of the CD's bundled with motherboard had ghosting programs, but i never tried it.

I'm slightly confused about how the ghosting program is able to fully save the image of the OS with all the proper drivers on just a CD. Isn't that just a bit too much data to store on a 700mb disc? Is the ghost image a single file that's created by the program that is writeable onto CD (kind of like on WinXP, where you can create a backup file for restoration)?
 
I am going to have to agree with the others. You need a fresh install. When you upgrade a flaky os to a stable os you still have the flaky os problems present. You will save yourself a tremendous amount of time with a fresh 2000 install.

Thats my 2 cents worth. Probobly worth half that. 😉
 
thanks for your penny 🙂

I guess I'm forced to do a fresh install. I felt the best thing to do was reformat too, but he wanted to try the upgrade first (to avoid losing some prepackaged HP software, like EZ CD Creator...etc). Thanks everyone.
 
Go into safe mode--when the desktop is up---right click on my computer, go to properties, advanced tab, startup and recovery tab...and make sure that the automatically reboot box is unchecked. I'd also run the uninstall for your program again...then reboot.
 
can't get into safe mode either....win2000 just reboots right as it passes the Windows2000 screen...same as usual 🙁
 
Upgrades from Win9x/ME to Win2k/XP are known to be a real guessing game as to whether the computer will make it through allright. I'm with all the others....do a format and clean install of Win2k. It will save you many headaches in the future. 😉
 
Originally posted by: duuuma
can't get into safe mode either....win2000 just reboots right as it passes the Windows2000 screen...same as usual 🙁
Click to expand...

You get into safe mode by hitting F8 before your system gets to the windows screen...hit F8 right after you pass the initial post screen...
 
The other thing you could do is reinstall Win2k over the existing installation. That should preserve files and settings, for the most part. Just aim it at the partition, tell it sure, go ahead and replace the existing Windows installation, and see what happens. You can always go back and do the full-meal deal if that doesn't help.
 
can't get into safe mode, but thanks anyway. As for installing windows 2000 again...if i boot to the win2k CD, will it allow me to install windows 2000 over the existing installation? I thought that I'd have to reformat that partition to install win2k again (if i boot to the win2k CD that is). I guess that'll be the next thing I try. Thanks! 🙂


Originally posted by: RustyNale
Originally posted by: duuuma
can't get into safe mode either....win2000 just reboots right as it passes the Windows2000 screen...same as usual 🙁
Click to expand...

You get into safe mode by hitting F8 before your system gets to the windows screen...hit F8 right after you pass the initial post screen...
Click to expand...

 
well easy CD creator and direct CD aren't what's causing the problem I don't believe....but I can't really check what versions they are now without access to windows.

it all started after I tried to take out some program he had for his crappy webcam (it froze during the uninstall and when i rebooted, the fun began).
 
Look at the services running through the recovery console and maybe you can disable it? If not then just reinstall over top of the existing and see if that works.

Myself, I hate upgrading an OS. There is always something to messes up. Nice and Clean install is the best.
 
The other thing you could do is reinstall Win2k over the existing installation. That should preserve files and settings, for the most part. Just aim it at the partition, tell it sure, go ahead and replace the existing Windows installation, and see what happens.
Click to expand...

Yes it's possible to do. When you boot from the cd, skip the repair options, and follow the menus for doing an install, telling it use everything as it is. One of the last menus will ask if you want to do a complete fresh install or install onto the what already exists. Be sure to read it carefully and choose the right one. The first time I tried it I made the wrong choice, and ended up with a fresh install🙁

Sorry I can't remember the exact wording of the menus and choices, it's been a while since I've had to do it.

Though an over the top install may get you back into windows, it may not be as stable as a fresh install, as some of the other posts say. You will just have to try it and see.
 
thanks for the suggestions everyone. It'll be another week or so before I can try it out, but at the worst, I'll just do a fresh install of win2k. Thanks again! 😀
 
Originally posted by: duuuma
well easy CD creator and direct CD aren't what's causing the problem I don't believe....but I can't really check what versions they are now without access to windows.

it all started after I tried to take out some program he had for his crappy webcam (it froze during the uninstall and when i rebooted, the fun began).
Click to expand...

If it's EZ CD Creator 4.something, then I have some light to shed on that. I have EZ CD Creator 4/DirectCD. When I installed it on my Win2000 system, it would boot to the point where it was putting the icons on the desktop, and then it would reboot itself and do it over again. In my case, I was able to start in safe mode and apply a patch which fixes the problem. It's a repeatable situation, it happened the next time I reinstalled Windows and EZ CD Creator, too. If you succeed in re-installing Win2000 and it starts doing that, then you'll be the golden boy if you have all the patches on CD and are able to boot in Safe Mode and show that 'puter who's boss 😀
 
Upping to win2k from ME is a nightmare (as you can see) especially on HP/compaq units... Definitely dont waste your time, and just do a brand new fresh install of 2k...
Just make up some lame story about them having a virus and you were forced to do a fresh install... Im sure theyll have no clue... Explain that it'll optimize their system by having the updated OS blah blah blah as well as getting completely rid of the 'virus'...

That should keep you from looking like a dope 😉

 
lol, we think alike 😉....i knew that reformat would be most likely outcome, but i figure i owe him a slight effort to fix what he has.

Originally posted by: VicodiN
Upping to win2k from ME is a nightmare (as you can see) especially on HP/compaq units... Definitely dont waste your time, and just do a brand new fresh install of 2k...
Just make up some lame story about them having a virus and you were forced to do a fresh install... Im sure theyll have no clue... Explain that it'll optimize their system by having the updated OS blah blah blah as well as getting completely rid of the 'virus'...

That should keep you from looking like a dope 😉
Click to expand...

 
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