Need Computer Help ASAP - Keeps Reseting

Hey,

I was playing Age of Empires over the Internet, and all of a sudden, the computer re-starts. Now when ever i turn it on, it gets to the Windows XP Logo screen, and keeps resetting.

This happens when i select 'restart windows normally' and 'last known configuration'. When i select 'Safe mode' it fills the screen with text that makes no sense to me.

Im at a relatives house, so i dont know the exact specs of the computer, but im pretty sure its custom built.

Does anyone know what could be causing this? and how i could fix it ASAP? Eg, in the Menu screen when it boots up (u know where u can select BIOS etc.

PLEASE HELP ME IMMEDIATLY!!!!!

Your computer could have reset the first time due to overheating,
Do you (or did you) get the BSOD?
I actually have this problem with my computer when i try to install 2 sticks of RAM so maybe one of the sticks has overheated or died

What is the BSOD?

Im pretty sure the RAM is working, cos when it starts, it lists 512 mb of RAM.

BSOD? I thought that sort of thing was gone with XP.
Maybe the reset button is stuck and pressed.

Maybe a hardware problem. The restarting thingy always happens to me when there's a hardware shite.

Yes it would probably be a hardware problem,
The BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) is a blue screen that can appear on bootup that can help you find the problem

The BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) is a blue screen that can appear on bootup that can help you find the problem

Ah, so it's a troubleshooting tool now, instead of a screen that basically says you're fucked up like in the past.

Format your harddrive... that'll fix her right up.

You tell 'em JOWEmac

The BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) is a blue screen that can appear on bootup that can help you find the problem

Ah, so it's a troubleshooting tool now, instead of a screen that basically says you're fucked up like in the past.

Yes the BSOD is very helpful. what you do if it comes up is copy down the code (e.g. 0x0000000A IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL)
Pop it into google and you can seach for things that could be causing the problem.
With the example, this could appear if there is incompatible hardware or an incompatible device driver on your computer.

copy down the code
Pop it into google and you can seach for things that could be causing the problem.

That's it you lost me there. I'm lazy to copy and google a bunch of zeros.

Well i mean you write it down
Thats the easiest way to solve the BSOD

I know from time to time my computer restarts or the monitor shuts off without me doing anything, and I believe it is my piece of shit ATI 9600XT video card. In your case, I think it sounds most like a hardware issue. First of all, I'd shut off all the power and take off the cover to see if anything is obviously messed up inside. Other than that, I don't know what else to tell you besides possibly reformatting.

My laptop used to do that. I would be in the middle of Eve Of Destruction or BF1942 and then BAM the computer would turn off out of nowhere. You couldn't even turn it back on for like 2 minutes. It was really stupid. Eventually I assume it was an overheating problem even though I got one of those overheating pads to lift my laptop up to circulate more air. I just sent it in to Toshiba and they fixed it.

^^ Laptop? You sure it wasn't the battery or power supply?

Well i mean you write it down

Yes, that's why I mean. I'm a bit lazy to write down and google a bunch of zeros
Damn troubleshooting. Screw that.

I actually had the exact same problem a month ago. My computer froze and I was forced to shut down the computer with the reset button on the tower. Once I restarted the computer I got all the same options as you Start windows, normally, last known config etc. No matter what I picked the farthest I could get was the blue scan disk screen where my computer would turn off and restart.

To fix your problem your going to have to get your hands on a Windows Xp disc so you can boot your disc to the setup screen and then you can hit "R" for the repair feature. From there you get a command prompt so you can run chkdsk. I have to go find this link that will explain it all with more detail then I can but this will fix it for you.

^^ Laptop? You sure it wasn't the battery or power supply?

Oh , I'm pretty sure. I eventually assumed that me hitting my laptop out of rage at various losses in sports computer games might have been a factor , since when I hit the hard drive it started to whirr. The way I remember that freezing thing ended up , eventually Windows died because some blue screen of death kept coming up and corrupting windows files. It was one of I think about 6 reformats / mail in's to Toshiba that happened in that period. Stupid laptop.

My PC usta kind of do that. It would go to my desktop, it would usually go to the XP screen adn after that, it would be all black and you can see the mouse. But i fixed it cuz my comp has a system restore program so yeah.