Windows XP Pro Won't Start

When this occurs...go to your Event Viewer...under Administrative Tools...once in event viewer look in the Systems portion for any errors that occurred at that time...if nothing there , then check the Applications area...for errors at the time of the BSOD.

Try holding down F8 just after post to access the option for safe mode. If you can get into safe mode and everything is good with no restarting then its a driver that is loaded during start up. if however it also crashes in safe mode, you need to start doing some troubleshoting on the hardware side.

I would start by running a hardware diagnostic cd. It's difficult to know what is causing the problem unless you can see the error on the bsod screen and write it down, then do a google search on it.

I would suggest downloading and trying out this: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Run a memory test, and the other hardware tests available on that cd. If everything tests out fine, perhaps try out a live boot cd for linux, like ubuntu or something similiar. If that is fine and its unique to windows still.

I would suggest the following.

1. check to make sure no heatsinks have come lose, mainly the processor and north bridge.
2. Make sure all the expansion cards, agp and pci are firmly in place. Double check sata and pata cables as well.


Also don't forget about the hard drive, that could very well be the problem so make sure you run a scan to verify that is good as well.

Hope this helps.

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