BSOD and restart on windows startup.

[peterfaj]

When windows is loading, probably more at the end, bsod shows up, can't see what's saying and it restarts.
Weird.
Any ideas?

[Carcrazy]

Have you had any recent hardware changes?

[peterfaj]

No.

[prince1142003]

Can you boot into Safe Mode?

What is the error code on the BSOD?

[peterfaj]

I can't log into safe mode and the BSOD disappears too quickly.

[Carcrazy]

What version of windows is it? XP, Vista, or ME/2000 (or older)?

Try booting into your restore disk and use the recovery console to try and fix it. You may need to back-up your data and re-install windows. (But only as a last resort.)

[Bojan]

In my case that was connected to either improperly set or even faulty hardware or a driver conflict.
Try booting up in safe mode (hit F8 right after bios screen). If it works then it's something with drivers. If it doesn't, you have a hardware problem.

[Jmac-]

He already said he can't boot into Safe Mode.

First, start your computer and keep hitting F8; it will give you a list of options that reads like this:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA Mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode
Disable automatic restart on system failure

Start WIndows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu

Select Disable automatic restart on system failure and it will then attempt to load WIndows. This time, instead of giving you a BSOD and immediately restarting, it will stay on the BSOD and you can then google the error code (or post it here) to give you an idea of what is wrong.

[peterfaj]

He already said he can't boot into Safe Mode.

First, start your computer and keep hitting F8; it will give you a list of options that reads like this:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA Mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode
Disable automatic restart on system failure

Start WIndows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu

Select Disable automatic restart on system failure and it will then attempt to load WIndows. This time, instead of giving you a BSOD and immediately restarting, it will stay on the BSOD and you can then google the error code (or post it here) to give you an idea of what is wrong.

Aha.
The BSOD says UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.

[prince1142003]

Something's gone corrupt on the Hard Drive. More than likely it's the MBR. If you can boot from a different hard drive, do so and then download TestDisk (freeware). It can fix minor annoyances like this.

[vellu]

Something's gone corrupt on the Hard Drive. More than likely it's the MBR. If you can boot from a different hard drive, do so and then download TestDisk (freeware). It can fix minor annoyances like this.

Or if you have your XP install CD handy, boot from that. After the install program launches select Recovery Console (instead of installing). Once there execute the following.

fixboot
fixmbr

if these do not help, you can also run the windows disk fixer (not quite as good TestDisk, but works for minor issues aswell).

chkdsk /r

note: this might take a very long time if your hard drive is big (hours).

[peterfaj]

I don't have a XP disc anywhere.
Does TestDisk work in Linux? I have a Linux live-cd somewhere.

[prince1142003]

Yes it can! URL.

[Stereo]

My hard drive failed when that happened.

No. Really.

[peterfaj]

Fixed it.
I had to format the drive.

[Stereo]

Same with me! It sucked... =(

[peterfaj]

Same with me! It sucked... =(

heh, luckily I didn't have anything important on my old PC.