Win XP: System Suddenly Keeps Restarting Indefinitely ??

Anonymous
2012-10-03T00:48:00+00:00

Original Title: Win XP: System Suddenly Keeps Restarting Indefinitely ??

Hello;

I’ve browsed through relevant posts with similar titles, but couldn’t find a direct answer to the problem.

Most likely I missed the answer somewhere, and I hope you don’t mind.

Here’s a summary including my unsuccessful attempts.

1) Following 2 automatic updates earlier today:

... a. Microsoft Security Essentials Update (sounds different than the regular Definition Update!)

... b. Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

the computer keeps restarting indefinitely!

I can’t even delete those latest updates, assuming I can specifically identify them and assuming they’re the culprit!

2) Pressing the power button, Windows starts, and I log on with my user name.

The system continues with the desktop icons and the status bar is partially displayed.

Then the error message:

“Microsoft Security Client

An error has occurred in the program during initialization .... ”

OK

After few seconds whether I press OK or not, the system automatically restarts, and restarts, and restarts, ....

3) I shut down the computer and pressed the power button.

Then F8:: Windows Advanced Options Menu

and I selected Last Known Good Configuration

Didn’t solve the continuing automatic restart problem.

4) I tried F8 and selected Disable Automatic Restart on System Failure

I got the a blue screen with lot of stuff, including:

“A problem has been detected and Windows has shut down to prevent damage to your computer”

“Restart your computer. If this screen appears again, run a system diagnostic utility. In particular, run a memory check and check for faulty or mismatched memory.”

“Contact technical support group for further assistance.”

"Technical information:

*** STOP: 0X0000007F (0X00000000, 0X00000000, 0X00000000, 0X00000000)

Tried my best. No solution.

5) I tried F8, and selected Safe Mode.

First: I selected YES to proceed to work in Safe Mode.

........ No automatic re-starting, but Windows is running in Safe Mode.

........ I turned off the computer.

6) I repeated 5 above in a Safe Mode, but selected NO to use System Restore to restore to a previous date.

I selected Sep 30, 2012 as the Restore Point.

The system progressed, shut down, restarted, I logged on, etc., then the automatic restarting started!

7) I tried F8, and selected the option Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)

(I was encouraged by the word Restore in the option!)

I got the message:

... Windows XP Home Edition

... The Volume is Clean.

... Windows is running in Safe Mode.

I selected YES, and there was NO automatic restarting, but Windows is running in Safe Mode.

I selected NO, and specified the Restore Point Set 30, 2012. The automatic restarting began within few seconds!

Your advice and help would be greatly appreciated.

Monir

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2012-10-21T16:19:19+00:00

Hi;

Thank you Robear for your help and suggestions.

I’m fully satisfied with MS solution to the problem (my post 10/19/2012 9:20 am):

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-system/win-xp-sp3-safe-mode-windows-updates-server-checks/99b2d552-4c72-40a5-a889-6cdac25cc462?page=2#LastReply

As I reported earlier, I don’t know precisely what MS did or didn’t do upon their remote access to the PC, whether the problem/conflict was apparent to them, how much the MSE latest update package KB2754926 contributed to the problem or it was the problem, whether re-establishing access to Windows Updates corrected the problem, whether there was a malicious and hidden malware only MS in-house special tools could detect and remove while my 3 advanced scanners and MSE couldn’t, or perhaps there was an out-of-sequence or missing KB, ...

I’m hopeful MS will provide some details at some point.

In conclusion, thank you ALL for your generous time and thoughtful replies.

Regards.

Monir

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-10-03T20:57:15+00:00

    Nope.

    Uninstall MSE first.  That is what other people reporting your problem did and your Item 2 is what they report (or similar).

    You need to get back to stability and then you can reinstall MSE when things are running smoothly again.

    The MSRT does not "install" anything (I did try it).  It runs when you launch it, does whatever you tell it to do and then it is supposed to disappear and cleanup after itself. 

    I would also refrain from using the power button to restart your computer since if XP is running when you do that, you can corrupt your NT File System (NTFS) and then you won't be booting in any kind of mode (until you fix it).  Always try to do a graceful shutdown from the Turn Off Computer menu when you can.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-03T20:33:47+00:00

    Hi ElderL & Vijin;

    Thank you kindly for your prompt and thoughtful replies.

    I’ll soon follow your sensible advice and suggestions, and let you know.

    In the meantime, since I can boot to “Safe Mode”, and specifically to “Safe Mode with Command Prompt”:

    Are there any DOS commands that are related to diagnosis and/or fixing the problem that I may enter at the prompt ??

    This may be easier to try first before “Clean Boot”, “Configure Windows XP”, removing MSE, removing MRT, etc.  Does it make sense??

    Also, does the error message of Item 2 (OP) mean anything??

    I’m not sure what “Microsoft Security Client program” is!

    Regards.

    Monir

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-10-03T19:06:12+00:00

    If things were working until you installed those two updates and if you can boot in Safe Mode, why don't you start by uninstalling MSE (from Add/Remove Programs) and see what happens next.  This idea comes from a Google search of your issue. 

    That makes sense, doesn't it?  ou can always reinstall it again later, right?

    If that doesn't work, uninstall MRT.  Since I have no intention of installing MRT I don't know if it shows up in Add/Remove Programs or not, but you can uninstall it another way.

    Well, the daredevil that I am, I will install MRT and see what happens...

    Oh yeah - now I remember why I never install MRT (it doesn't always clean up after itself):

    The Malicious Software Removal Tool does not use an installer. Typically, when you run the Malicious Software Removal Tool, it creates a randomly named temporary directory on the root drive of the computer. This directory contains several files, and it includes the Mrtstub.exe file. Most of the time, this folder is automatically deleted after the tool finishes running or after the next time that you start the computer. However, this folder may not always be automatically deleted. In these cases, you can manually delete this folder, and this has no adverse effect on the computer.

    I like the "in some cases" part...   They don't tell you about those other cases.

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