Require Assistance: PC does not restart properly

[Bijo]

When the machine is activated via the on/off button it takes a while to load. Then after I have selected the user to log in as usually the loading stops very soon after. It then automatically and abruptly reboots. It then either shows me the menu to select a mode to start in or it simply proceeds to normally go into Windows after which the same occurrence takes place again and again.

I also heard suspicious sounds from the machine. First the constant middle sound which appears normal, then suddenly this stops as a higher sound dominates which is occasionally a bit choppy in nature.

But now I have noticed the screen stayed black for a reasonably long time as the machine started and it made strange hacking or choppy sounds. While this occurred, the reset button did not function nor did the on/off button. Then it abruptly rebooted after which the menu to select an operating mode was displayed. (I am now typing this message in Safe Mode with Networking.)

I vaguely recall a message saying it might be due to changed hardware or software. Hardware has not been changed (unless it is internally changed/malfunctioning without my knowledge) and the only software changes were the deinstallations of Ground Control and its part 2 multiplayer demo which both did not reside long on the disk (it was very very short).

I have scanned the disk with anti-spyware (Spybot Search & Destroy) and AVG anti-virus: Spybot showed few findings and the anti-virus showed no detections of viruses.

I require good advice to uphold this apparatus. What are your recommendations?

[R'as al Ghul]

When the machine is activated via the on/off button it takes a while to load. Then after I have selected the user to log in as usually the loading stops very soon after.
It then automatically and abruptly reboots. It then either shows me the menu to select a mode to start in or it simply proceeds to normally go into Windows after which the same occurrence takes place again and again.
I also heard suspicious sounds from the machine. First the constant middle sound which appears normal, then suddenly this stops as a higher sound dominates which is occasionally a bit choppy in nature.
But now I have noticed the screen stayed black for a reasonably long time as the machine started and it made strange hacking or choppy sounds. While this occurred, the reset button did not function nor did the on/off button. Then it abruptly rebooted after which the menu to select an operating mode was displayed. (I am now typing this message in Safe Mode with Networking.)


[..]
I require good advice to uphold this apparatus. What are your recommendations?
1. The older the installation of your windows system the longer it takes to load.
2. rebooting is bad. The "select mode" menu will appear anytime that Windows hasn't started correctly. The constant rebooting means you have a serious problem.
3. This is interesting. I recommend to open the case and check what parts make what sounds. While you're under your desk clean all fans. The "middle sound" could be your power unit and the "higher" sound could be your graphics card. Your machine would reboot to protect itself from overheating if cooling is not sufficient. This can be caused by clogged fans.
4. The choppy sound could be from your harddisks reading head. Being able to run the machine in safemode indicates that the disk is still usable, though.

Causes for constant rebooting I came across: corrupt power cable (the ones from the PSU to the components can break), dirty fans, damaged RAM, near-dead Harddisk.

Good Luck.

R'as

[Bijo]

Okay, I will check your point 3 and the other possible causes you mentioned. Strangely, though, in Safe Mode I deleted a few directories that were leftovers from deinstallations and now it booted into normal mode. However, the suspicious high sound remains and it is now constant.

[Husar]

Causes for constant rebooting I came across: corrupt power cable (the ones from the PSU to the components can break), dirty fans, damaged RAM, near-dead Harddisk.
Let me add mainboard problems. Maybe even graphics-card related though that is unlikely.

I'd do what R'as said and see whether the fans are clean first.
Problems that occur before Windows is loaded should not have to do with newly installed software unless there was some very evil virus. For a start, I'd make sure all cables are correctly connected, all cards and sticks are sitting correctly in their sockets, all fans are clean and can also turn without problems and that everything looks healthy.(I had a mainboard that bent under the heavy weight of my CPU cooler which could cause crashes).

[R'as al Ghul]

Strangely, though, in Safe Mode I deleted a few directories that were leftovers from deinstallations and now it booted into normal mode. However, the suspicious high sound remains and it is now constant.

Booting into normal is probably due to being in safe mode before and has probably nothing to do with deleting those folders.
Check for the mechanical source of the high sound. If it wasn't there before I suspect that either something is dirty or that something is loose.
Pull the power plug before you open the case and touch anything metal before you touch any components with your dry and clean hands.

R'as

[Bijo]

Okay, excuse my language but now things have really gotten ****** up. But before I explain, the reason I thought the previous clean booting occurred due to the deletion of redundant data was because before when I was in Safe Mode I changed nothing and the errors still happened. The particular time when I deleted stuff in Safe Mode was when it suddenly booted normally and that was its last occurrence.

After that the machine has been opened and cleaned. It all looked good. Then the test came; boom: shortcircuit through the whole place and a nasty smell with smoke. Opening of the power unit revealed a burning of one of the little buggers on the plate blackened out. Reparation would take too much to figure out the correct parts required so another power supply had been brought in.

When the test came the light on the motherboard showed itself and power seemed okay. But the machine would not start: it would give smoke and stench near the power unit and power cable. Halted the thing immediately. Probably there is the thing inside it that burnt because everything else in the place remained juiced. The power unit appeared in order because it would still provide power which the motherboard light indicated. And indeed: another direct misfire when attempting to boot.

Then the hard disk was disconnected and replaced by another one. Suddenly the machine booted (though the disk is empty). It was detected as a primary slave however. Changing the jumpers did not result in success. Any setting did not work: suddenly the machine didn't even start at all.

Speculation: new power unit is (partially) ruined; the old disk is somehow faulty (broken, or some virus or the like has it); motherboard is faulty; graphics card is faulty.

[Husar]

If you're unlucky, your whole PC could be fried. Trying out new parts may be dangerous for those new parts. If you cannot locate the damage, you may want to consult an expert(that means take it to a local PC shop and hope that the guy is not as greedy as the dutchmen in your jokes.:beam: ).

[R'as al Ghul]

Sorry for replying so late, Bijo. I had a problem myself.

It seems your Motherboard is broken and/or your old disk.
You seem to have two machines, which is very good in this case. You should try to connect your old disk to the other machine and save your data. Set the Harddisk jumpers to "cable select" and connect it to the other machine by either using a spare IDE slot or taking the cables from the CD-drive and connecting the disk instead. Your old disk should be recognised on the new machine and you can save your data.
The empty disk seems to run okay on the troublesome machine. That you can't boot from it is logical because there's no OS and probably no Boot Sector on it. Being recognised as "slave" is because of the position of the disk on the IDE cable or because you set the jumpers wrong. Try to set it to Cable select or try changing the position on the cable (there're most probably two connectors on each cable).

The smoke and stench is a real problem and you may have fried anything on the Motherboard. There's not much I can do for you without coming to your place and having a look. :no:

R'as

[TevashSzat]

I think it may be your motherboard there. I had a something happen to me about a year ago on my old comp like what you described at first. Turned out it was the motherboard

[Bijo]

Yes, it might be the motherboard and the disk indeed. The store from which I purchased the parts does not find it sufficient if I show them my ordering ticket they sent through e-mail -- they want a purchasing ticket so they will check their system and send it to me. Will take some time which is good, for computers are evil apparatuses.