Computer Trouble

[Edge Tech NY]

What sup guys, I just took my friends computer home to fix, he has a emachines (haha) and it reboots itself every time it gets passed post, the loading XP screen.. I've decided to run ubcd4win but what exactly would i look for in the files? should i just do spy ware and virus removal (guaranteed to have tons) and see if that alone worked? If that doesn't work my next guess would be to scan/restore the registry. What you guys think? thanks!

 

[iptech]

1. Run chkdsk
2. Restore the registry using UBCDwin
3. Defrag

HTH

 

[Edge Tech NY]

im new to ubcd4win, can i run chkdsk from there? how do i get to a cmd line from boot to run it otherwise?

 

[iptech]

im new to ubcd4win, can i run chkdsk from there? how do i get to a cmd line from boot to run it otherwise?

IIRC chkdsk is under disk tools menu, this will force a dismount and run checkdisk with the /f option selected from radio buttons.

Use registry Restore Wizard from Resistry Tools menu option to restore registry.

 

[abe]

insert any xp cd and goto recovry console to run chkdsk

or try doing a repair intsll with the xp cd

 

[iptech]

UBCDwin will allow you you enter the standard Recovery Console, but I find it's easier to do it all from the GUI.

I would caution against a repair install until you've tried a registry restore, it'll probably be all you need.

 

[Edge Tech NY]

his boot cd only gives me the option of formating and reinstalling.. so i guess it thinks its not fixable? ill show it otherwise! lol

 

[Edge Tech NY]

nvm i foudn it in ubcd4win

 

[WareDat]

Have you tried safe mode? I just had one that was doing the same thing, after the xp screen it would reboot, but it would start in safe mode. Found suspicious file in start up (brastk.exe) pulled the drive and scanned with Kaspersky, deleted undesirables. Put the drive back started normal windows and finished the cleanup.

 

[Edge Tech NY]

I ran check disk from ubcd4win, found ton of errors, fixed them all, and did a spyware scan and and fixed those.. still reboots after xp screen.. any ideas

*there were only 3 reg recovery dates i could choose from, 8-??-08, 8-??-8 and 02-??-08.. i chose a 08 one, should i do the 02?

*Im now running disk defrag. tons of fragmented files obv.. any ideas on why else its rebooting liek this?

 

[bagellad]

With an emachine i always find its the motherboard they are pretty faulty to say the least. I had a similar problem with another computer because the ram speed was to fast, maybe check out bios and see if it gives you any info?

 

[Edge Tech NY]

I ended up saving a few projects for him (which ubcd4win sent to my usb in gibberish for some of them for some reason.. is there a specific way to save files with the boot disk?) and formating.. nothing seemed to work.

 

[bagellad]

TRy swapping the hard with a working computer and see what works, I guess thats the best way of figuring it out..

 

[iptech]

I ran check disk from ubcd4win, found ton of errors, fixed them all, and did a spyware scan and and fixed those.. still reboots after xp screen.. any ideas

*there were only 3 reg recovery dates i could choose from, 8-??-08, 8-??-8 and 02-??-08.. i chose a 08 one, should i do the 02?

*Im now running disk defrag. tons of fragmented files obv.. any ideas on why else its rebooting liek this?

The hard disk errors would probably have been caused by the system constantly crashing which was probably caused by a Malware attack. Did you identify what the spyware was before you opted for a reformat & reinstall?

Recovery disks and spyware scanners should only be considered tools and none )that I know of) can fix all problems in today's world of constantly mutating virus attacks - you will need to do your own forensics based upon what those tools are telling you is awry. I still advocate that fixing the problem is a far better solution than attempting to erase it with a format & reinstall, many malware attacks now hide components within the user data which you carefully backed-up and will happily restore onto his nice shiny reformatted system only for the attack to be triggered once again when he next accesses those files.

 

[Bullfighter]

Have you tried safe mode?

I didn't see you answer WareDat... Did you try safemode? Once your in safemode, click Start, Run enter EventVwr and hit Ok - check for any errors in the system log.

I would also go into the properties of My Compuer, Advanced tab, Startup and Recovery Settings. Uncheck Automatically restart under system failure. You could be getting a blue screen and not know it if this is set.

EP

 

[jamesejr7]

I apologize I did not read everyone else's posts so I hope I dont mention something already posted here, but have u tried striking the F8 key where Safe mode is? Instead, in that same screen select the option about "Disable Restart on System Faliure" or something like that. once it reboots, instead of restarting you should get a blue screen with technical information. Typically it will be a bad volume, so like many others suggest, CHKDSK will work. if you are unable to get to CHKDSK bcuz it still restarts, check the BIOS, there might be another feature on there that restarts the computer dat u can disable. I belive its in the screen where the LAN/BOOT options are.

Otherwise, just google the technical error code u get from the computer upon restarting. Hope this helps, if not, sorry and goodluck!

 

[jamesejr7]

I apologize I did not read everyone else's posts so I hope I dont mention something already posted here, but have u tried striking the F8 key where Safe mode is? Instead, in that same screen select the option about "Disable Restart on System Faliure" or something like that. once it reboots, instead of restarting you should get a blue screen with technical information. Typically it will be a bad volume, so like many others suggest, CHKDSK will work. if you are unable to get to CHKDSK bcuz it still restarts, check the BIOS, there might be another feature on there that restarts the computer dat u can disable. I belive its in the screen where the LAN/BOOT options are.

Otherwise, just google the technical error code u get from the computer upon restarting. Hope this helps, if not, sorry and goodluck!

haha I JUST READ THE POST ABOVE MINE! DISREGUARD THIS ONE lol

 

[Jory]

I'd try safe mode as the above poster said. If you're able to boot into safe mode, and boot into UBCD4Win it's mostly like just some type of driver issue, or something in your startup items is causing problems.