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

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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
    2012-10-04T15:55:41+00:00

    Hi Elizabeth;

    1) I’ve reviewed KB 243560 “How to manually uninstall MSE”.

    It clearly states:

    “It is for MSE version 1.0.1963 or earlier.

    For MSE versions that begin with the number 2, see KB 2483120”

    2) I’m running MSE version 4.0.1526.0.

    3) Since I have nothing to loose at this point, I followed the steps for Windows XP anyway as listed in the above How to ....

    a) I booted to Safe Mode, logged on using my user name, and answered YES to work in safe mode

    b) Then: Start –> Search –> Appwiz.cpl –> Right-click MSE

    c) But there was no Uninstall option! No surprise there since the KB applies to earlier versions of MSE

    d) Tried again Add/Remove and selected MSE –> Remove

    Got the same Runtime Error reported earlier:

    “Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library

    Runtime Error!

    Program: ..~1\Temp\ {E9D3D...} \ Setup.exe

    This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way.

    Please contact the application’s support team for more information.”

    e) Notice that the above folder name { E9D3D... } is different from that I reported earlier {F043B...}.

    It appears that all { ... } folders in this \Temp\ that begin with a non-alphabet letter (e.g.; 1, or 6, or 7, or ...) have a sub-folder \UpdateCache\ which contains 4 specific files (Item g below) but with earlier dates.

    f) The computer has not been connected to the internet (intentionally) since the problem started, to avoid additional aggravation from downloading further automatic updates!

    g) Only the folder ..~1*Temp*\ {E9D3D...} \ as we speak has the today 4 specific files (Oct 4, 2012):

    ... Setup.exe................ [Description: Microsoft Security Client Setup]

    ... EppManifest.dll.... [MSE Resource Module]

    ... SetupRes.dll........... [Microsoft Security Client Setup Resources]

    ... sqmapi.dll............... [SQM Client]

    i) By the way, the full path for this specific Runtime Error (Item d above) turned out to be:

    ... C:\Documents and Settings\Monir\Local Settings\Temp{E9D3D70B-8EC6-404B-AA27-B39493873105} \Setup.exe

    4) I thought of disabling MSE since I haven’t been able (so far) to uninstall it.

    I tried to open MSE, but I got the Error:

    “Microsoft Security Client

    An error has occurred in the program during initialization. Error code: 0X80070715"

    Maybe MSE doesn’t work when Windows is running in Safe Mode, so move on!

    5) I searched the system again for the folder\subfolder Temp, and located the same 11 reported earlier.

    Some of those Temp folders are 500 MB or larger, and each contains all types of subfolders and files: *.exe, *.dll, *.ini, *.msi, etc.

    And that is why I’m a bit hesitant as we speak to go ahead and delete ALL the contents of those 11 Temp folders.

    Are you sure of no unintended consequences resulting from such unrecoverable action??

    I know you advised earlier: “All Temp can be deleted.”

    Just to make sure there was no typo!!

    And do I delete the folders Temp or only their contents, just in case some applications might look for Temp when launching/rebooting??

    Thank you.

    Monir

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-04T21:46:06+00:00

    open temp folder, under edit choose Select All, under common tasks on left, choose delete selected items.

    Temp means just that, it is in temp till you delete it, most programs download to the temp file until their .exe sets them up in Program files.

    My temp folder is emptied every day.

    I will look into Version 4 removal.

    EDIT:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_start/uninstalling-mse/a63b8c4b-58ed-437e-8086-fa08d80725a4

    This thread is for removing MSE version 4.

    EDIT 2:

    link to download MSE

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5201

    link to download definitions for MSE

    http://www.microsoft.com/Security/portal/Definitions/HowToMSE.aspx

    You can load them to a flash drive and then to your computer so that you will be able to go online and be protected.

    Note this is for after you have finished uninstalling.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-10-04T22:25:58+00:00

    Hi;

    Thank you very much for confirming.

    Will delete ALL folders/Files (including hidden files) from the 11 \Temp folders.

    After that, will try normal Windows boot.

    After that, will boot to Safe Mode and try to uninstall MSE version 4. following the latest link you kindly provided.

    Will report back.

    Regards.

    Monir

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