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
    2012-10-07T00:42:52+00:00

    Hi Elizabeth;

    1) Reinstalling the OS on this computer requires using the Product Recovery Program, which is located on a separate partition on the HD. It will also install the factory-installed software.

    This recovery process will likely delete all information that is currently stored on the hard drive, including data files, applications software, system configurations & options, etc.

    It seems to me that it should be considered as the last resort after trying all other diagnostic and troubleshooting tools.

    Or more realistically, it is the second-last resort, the last would be to discard the PC altogether!

    I hope you concur, at least for now:)

    2) You may recall I’d tried and reported earlier the results from PC-Doctor for Windows:

    Diagnostics –>Extended Self Test.

    It performed 30 tests including: System Memory, CMOS, HDD, CPU.

    ALL tests PASSED, except:

    “CMOS Test, Patterns Test” ... **FAILED**

    .... CMOS failed patterns test:

    ........ _EVENT: 335_2

    ...................Write/Read failed at address 10H: wrote FFH, read 00H

    ...................Write/Read failed at address 11H: wrote FFH, read 00H

    ....................................................................................................................

    ...................Write/Read failed at address 19H: wrote FFH, read 00H

    The CMOS Data Integrity Test PASSED.

    3) The current BIOS (extracted from System Information):

    .... System BIOS Date: 05/10/05

    .... System BIOS Version: PTLTD – 60400d0

    .... Video BIOS Date: 04/10/02

    .... Video BIOS Version: 4.17.00.44.20

    4) I accessed IBM website and searched for “Bios update”, but couldn’t find anything even remotely close to Bios Update for IBM Net Vista PC.

    You did the same and came to the same conclusion.

    5) In addition to PC-Doctor*****Diagnostics* (Item 2 above), I ran earlier today the IBM Advanced Diagnostics Utility.

    It works independently of Windows and runs advanced tests directly on the hardware.

    {Start -> Enter -> F11 -> System Utilities -> Run Diagnostics (enter)}

    Fixed-Disk Advanced Test V1.1.8:

    ... All HDD 11 Tests PASSED, and confirmed in the Test Log.

    System Board Test:

    ... 14 tests, incl. BIOS, RAM, CMOS RAM, etc..

    ... All PASSED, and confirmed in the Test Log

    ... External Cache, PCMCIA, and IEEE1394 Port: “N/A”

    ... PCMCIA External Loop Test: Not performed. I didn’t insert PC-Card Wrap Plug.

    ... (Don’t know what it is!)

    Memory Test – Full Test – All Sockets*: PASSED*

    Full Memory – Cache Enabled: PASSED

    6) Accessing the link “How to remove MSE 4”:

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

    there’re couple more procedures to try for removing MSE version 4 when Add/Remove and FixIt fail.

    The first step of the procedure described under “Alternate Solution #1” reads:

    ... 1. Download the MSE installer for your Operating System from the Home Page.

    Does anyone know what this MSE installer is? and where exactly is located for Win XP SP 3, 32-bit OS?

    I couldn’t find it on the MS MSE page. I heard about Windows installer, but not MSE installer!

    Edit 1: This 3rd party link appears to provide the answer:

    http://www.mydigitallife.info/microsoft-security-essentials-mse-setup-installer-direct-download-links/

    Will check in the morning.

    Thank you.

    Monir

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T03:33:04+00:00

    yes, I read that link, it will take you direct to the MSE download.

    I hope this works, if not the next solution is to open a support case.

    Will check back to see your results.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T16:15:47+00:00

    Hi;

    A) Will shortly download the MSE installer and re-try to uninstall the MSE 4. Will report back.

    B) I’m intrigued by your suggestion to submit (next) a support request!

    My understanding is that since MSE is a free product, MS doesn’t provide support even for a fee!

    MS would likely direct me to this MS Windows Forum or to the MS MSE Forum!

    C) And if the problem is a Windows issue, MS does no longer provide support for Win XP.

    Am I correct on both counts B & C above ??

    D) I don’t mind, though reluctantly I might add, paying a MS Win XP/MSE specialist, provided s/he can safely solve the problem.

    Regards.

    Monir

    Added Later to the Post:

    E) As related to A) above, I’ve just accessed:

    http://www.mydigitallife.info/microsoft-security-essentials-mse-setup-installer-direct-download-links/

    and under:

    Direct Download Links for Microsoft Security Essentials Setup Installer

    I clicked:**** MSE for Windows XP: mssefullinstall-x86fre-en-us-xp.exe

    I got the message:

    “Server Error

    404 – File or directory not found.

    The resource you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporary unavailable.”

    F) The only alternate solution I haven’t tried so far is using mseremoval.bat, suggested by Stephen Boots at:

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

    Will give it a try!

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