Windows 7 infinite reboot loop problem. SO FRUSTRATED.

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marmalademan

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Jan 13, 2010
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So I decided I wanted to try Microsoft Security Essentials for some reason. I uninstalled Avast and all traces of it. I installed MSE and everything went smoothly. I noticed it was setup to automatically scan every Sun. night. I left it that way. Monday morning I wake up to the infinite reboot. Because of the aforementioned I am 95% sure it is software related, but maybe that is because I don't want to spend money on new hardware right now.

I've tried every safe mode. I've tried to load the last known good config. I tried to repair with my Win 7 disc, but it always restarts itself before I can get anything done. I also tried system restore and also reformatting with the disc, but I get no more than a minute once I've started the computer. I've also tried scheduling memory and system checks at startup but they never get a chance to run.

AHHHHHHH. HELLLLLLLP! I know I need some logs, but I'm not even sure how to get to them.

My system:
Win 7
i5 2.67 ghz
hitachi 500gb hd
4gb dd3
gtx 560ti
 
Solution
P
I'm going to have to agree with MotherFerJones. Something in the hardware needs to be replaced. All things point to the MOBO, but I can still be mistaken. Possibly grabbing a PSU from a friends computer or another that you have temporarily might be the solution to make sure that isn't the problem, because we still haven't ruled out the PSU. The thing is we cannot be sure what exactly needs to be replaced without actually replacing the item first, and seeing if then the system works.

I would say: Try to replace the MOBO and test. Try to replace PSU and test. If you cannot do that then, I would try to buy a MOBO and replace to see if it works. IF not a then a PSU and try that. Hopefully you can buy from somewhere that has a nice return...
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The timing of the restarts are very inconsistent. In the last 25 minutes I have booted into safe mode, stopped three programs from booting at startup(including avast). Next I booted into normal mode and am currently checking compatibility to see if I can do an upgrade as opposed to the reformat/reinstall. It hasn't crashed on me yet. It only happens quicker if I leave it in the boot loop cycle. If I shut it off myself and turn it back on it doesn't seem to shut off any quicker.

But I have a feeling it won't let me upgrade from ultimate to ultimate. It's running extremely slow. It took me at least six minutes to open up the boot disc from windows explorer.
 
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Upgrade failed. But I managed to reformat the drive and install a new copy of Win 7. It installed fine. Took 15 minutes. When I got to the desktop I tried to change my display to 1080p. It would only go as high as 1024 or something close to that. I noticed that the computer wasn't picking up my gfx card. Then I started dxdiag to make sure it wasn't picking up the card and the system started the wonderful crash reboot loop again. So it has to be hardware. Any of the above lead anyone to a new guess?

I'm so frustrated I'm about to just thrown down on a new mobo/cpu and psu. And why not more memory since it's cheap and an ssd because why not. The gfx card is only a year old...

Thanks to everyone that has pitched in and tried to help me so far.
 
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Silverish lining - You can upgrade your system, maybe find a CPU/Mobo combo cheap somewhere.

Technology is a fickle mistress and it always sucks being forced to get new hardware, but just remember to call MS if your install key doesnt work, and tell them about the whole situation, theyll most likely let a new install slide.
 
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I'm going to have to agree with MotherFerJones. Something in the hardware needs to be replaced. All things point to the MOBO, but I can still be mistaken. Possibly grabbing a PSU from a friends computer or another that you have temporarily might be the solution to make sure that isn't the problem, because we still haven't ruled out the PSU. The thing is we cannot be sure what exactly needs to be replaced without actually replacing the item first, and seeing if then the system works.

I would say: Try to replace the MOBO and test. Try to replace PSU and test. If you cannot do that then, I would try to buy a MOBO and replace to see if it works. IF not a then a PSU and try that. Hopefully you can buy from somewhere that has a nice return policy.

Edit: You can also look up motherboard capacitors in Google images. See if you can visibly see any capacitors that are damaged. this would be an indicator that if you didn't need to replace the mobo now, it should be done soon.
 
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Solution
So far so good. Installed gfx drivers, rebooted, no problems so far. If it makes it through the night while I'm updating it I'm going to consider it fixed. As much as I like getting new hardware, I'm a little relieved it's just the psu.

Thanks everyone

Edit: My capacitors look good, at least to my rookie eyeballs.
 
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I just got my new Seasonic psu in from newegg and have everything hooked up. I'm 100% sure it's hooked up correctly. However when I turn on the computer it starts for only a second then turns off. I checked my connections multiple times. Finally I unplugged and replugged the 24 pin mobo connector. I also unplugged the dvd drive. At this point it finally booted up, but I ended up nowhere because it didn't recognize my HD. I shut it off, replugged the dvd drive in. When I started it up this time smoke came billowing out of the dvd drive. Not sure if it was through the power or sata connection. I shot it off immediately. NOW WHAT????

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

This is the psu I bought: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151088

Looks like it burnt up a couple pins at the same exact spot on HD and optical drive for the PSU power connection.
 
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I would hardly say that the PSU blowing up your computer is a good thing. I would be pissed. All I can say is make sure that your PSU is set to the proper amount of volts. (120 in the U.S. and a few other countries, 240 Volts most of the world). Although usually this would cause the PSU to blow up only if you plug it into a 240 volt and have it set to 120 volt. I would call up seasonic and raise hell, a new PSU should not destroy your P.C. like that. Make sure your mobo, CPU, etc. are still o.k. I would not try to use that particular PSU again.
 
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Well, i may have mis-read but apparently the new PSU made smoke come out of your DVD drive and burned pins on the connector for the HDD? Unless both decided to go down in flames at the same time ( highly unlikely ) it's probably the PSU, since you had no other blowing up problems until you plugged it in. I would make sure that the PSU is fine first, but if you want to risk a new 1TB HDD go for it. What I am worried about is the potential of the PSU to damage the mobo, CPU, etc. If it is truly the PSU that caused the damage to your DVD drive. But as you said just now it seems to working, so I would say go for it with the new HDD. That's really funny how your DVD drive just decided to commit suicide like that -____-.
 
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