Windows looping at startup

[alohaking]

Last night, I shut down my computer normally. I went to sleep and when I woke up, I went back to startup my machine and I was given these options....

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration
Start Windows Normally

It doesn't matter which option I choose, the same result happens. The screen goes black, and just when you think the Windows loading/progress screen would show up...the computer restarts itself. This never ends.

I have tried booting up with the Windows CD, and I am successful in that respect. I choose to "Repair" but I am asked for the Administrator Password. I never set a password for my machine and when I simply hit Enter without typing anything, I am told that it is an invalid password.

I am torn as what to do. I do regular house cleaning on my machine, ie...run cc registry cleaner, spybot search & destroy, adaware, norton's AV and bi-monthly defragging. That being said, I am almost 100% confident that this is not virus related....almost.

I have done some research online, and have noticed that this has happend to others before, but I have found no resolution.

Please help!

King

 

[alohaking]

Sorry, here are the specs of my machine....

AMD 64, 3400+
ASUS SK8V, K8T800
Leadtek Nvidia FX5950
3, 512 Corsair sticks of DDR
160GB Samsung HD SATA
Turtle Beach, Santa Cruz
Legit Windows Home OS

I have been using this setup for over 2 years now and I have never had the issues listed in the above post.

 

[RebateMonger]

Run the hard disk drive diagnostics routine from the drive manufacturer. The last time I saw this, it was a failing Maxtor hard drive. In fact, at ths moment, I've got another client's PC in my office exhibiting these exact symptoms.

 

[alohaking]

I found the disk drive diagnostic from Samsung's site. It listed my HD, so that was good news. I made a floppy on my laptop, that I'm using now, and ran my bootdisk on my troubled desktop. Got the utility running just fine in DOS and ran the program. I chose to do the SELF DIAGNOSTIC task and recieved this message...

[ NOTICE ] Your Samsung HDD has no error !!!

If your computer still have some problem, please check the virus, operating system or connection cable to your system.
Please refer to user's manual for more detail.


With that, hopefully, being ruled out... is there anyway that I can hopefully do a repair of windows without knowing the Administrator password? As stated above, I never set a password and it won't accept a blank entry. After 3 times, it restarts the machine.

 

[alohaking]

UPDATE!!!!

I cracked open my machine and started doing some spark chasing. I do regular cleaning/dusting of my case, so all looks nice and neat just like I left it. Well, I unseated the HD along with disconnecting the power and sata cable. All looked fine. I started up the machine with the case still open with the intent to listen to the HD and see if it sounded unusual. Next thing you know, with my head under the desk, I hear the Window's start up jingle. I didn't do any sore of adjustments, just ran the diagnostic from Samsung. Hopefully, this isn't just a temporary fix and will stay gone.

I have no clue what this was, or what fixed it. I thank you for your help RM!

King

 

[RebateMonger]

Slightly lose data or power cables to a hard drive can cause no end of problems, which will look like hard drive failure, but can be intermittent.