Start up control loop

[Xarthos]

My dad recently bought a small mini tower. Pretty decent machine, but has low ram, a small hard drive and a crappy video card. Unfortunately he can't even use it. We have tried using a xp disk, and It now does a control on start up. So basically, you turn it on, it loads and goes to the "welcome" screen and BAM! Like that it resets. We have tried unplugging the ram, and it didn't work. So I need some ideas to fix this. Could replacing the hard disk fix it?

 

[sqrage]

Did you buy the computer used or refurbished or was it brand new?

Can you enter safe mode?

What is the make and model of the computer?

 

[Slapshot136]

"you tried using an xp disk" - did you successfully install windows xp? can you try a re-installation of windows xp?

 

[Xarthos]

Well to answer sqrages question, we found it at a garage sale for like 12 bucks. And to answer your question Slapshot, it did work and now it wont do anything but boot up, shut down and start looping.

 

[Slapshot136]

let me be more specific:

1. does it get past the bios (the black screen with white text)?
2. do you see anything windows-related?
3. can you boot up from a cd?

 

[Xarthos]

let me be more specific:

1. does it get past the bios (the black screen with white text)?
2. do you see anything windows-related?
3. can you boot up from a cd?

It gets to the "welcome" screen.When the xp chime comes in, then it restarts. It can boot from a cd like i can use the windows xp restore cd, my 98 cd, 95 and it all does the same

 

[Slapshot136]

wait, so did you actually do a new installation of windows XP or just a restore?

 

[Xarthos]

I formatted it and installed a copy of xp

 

[UndeadDragon]

Can you boot in safe mode?