Computer looping after it was turned off during an update.

Hi,

I have a Zoostorm computer, whilst it was updating someone in my household turned it off by the plug. Now when I turn on the computer it says Windows was unable to start up properly, maybe due to hardware or software update and other stuff ( I don't remember what it fully says as I am currently not on the computer) and has the options for safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with command prompt, last known good configuration and start windows normally. I clicked all the options at different times and it just goes in a loop showing the hp Foxconn sign, then all the booting information and then a page with the safe mode .etc. options. I pressed F8 during startup to go to the advanced options and it has safe mode, safe mod with command prompt, safe mode with networking, enable debugging, last known good configuration, start windows normally and a few other options (I can't exactly remember which) but I am sure that it doesn't have the repair your computer option which I am quite shocked about as my Toshiba laptop has it and I thought it was on all computers, I've tried all the safe mode options, last known... and start windows normally, but it just loops and goes back to the original page with the safe mode options. I had to turn in it off by the plug as there was no other way to turn it off. Does anyone know how I can get it working again?

Someone please help.

Only Vista, Win7 and Win8 have Repair your computer, it sounds as if you may be on XP which does not have it.

Try booting again, press F8 to get the menu, and pick "Disable automatic restart". That might then give you a diagnostic screen with some useful information. If it does, post the error code ( e.g. STOP 0x0000007B) here and we will see if we can help.

If it is an XP computer there is a very complicated recovery procedure given here .

Thank you for replying. I will try the suggestion by Alan. D first and see where that gets me. I looked at the link suggested by Alan. B, which looks really complicated so I don't think I'll try that one. I'll try them later when I'm on the computer and update you.

Actually, I find that 'reboot loop' problems can often be fixed by running chkdsk. But you can only do this by booting from a Windows installation disc. Not many non-professionals have access to a Windows installation disc.

I done as you said and got the F8 menu and picked "Disable automatic restart on your system failure". It then showed the Windows logo as though it's loading and then it shows a blue screen with text saying "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Disable or uninstall any anti-virus, disk defragmentation or backup utilities. Check your hard drive configuration and check for any updated drivers. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x82F5A9F8, 0xC0000102, 0x00000000)"

I ran the Disable automatic restart twice after and noticed that when the blue screen came up again, everything was the same apart from the technical information where the third section of numbers and letters were different so the second time I did it, it showed "*** STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x82F459F8, 0xC0000102, 0x00000000)" and the third time it said "*** STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x82F6B568, 0xC0000102, 0x00000000)"

What does this all mean and does the change of numbers and lettees mean anything?

stop 0x24 usually indicates a scrambled file system.

Usually fixable by booting the machine with a Windows setup CD, then using the recovery console to run CHKDSK /R
Do you have access to a Windows XP setup CD?


the rest of the numbers are random memory addresses - you can ignore them for this problem. The issue is with the hard drive, not the RAM

No I don't have access to one. Would the CD definitely be able to fix the computer again and would I be able to retrieve anything or would everything be deleted?

No I don't have access to one. Would the CD definitely be able to fix the computer again and would I be able to retrieve anything or would everything be deleted?

If you know what to do with the Windows XP CD, which is:

Boot from the CD.
Select the Repair option.
Run chksdk.

Then in my experience there is a high probability that your problem will be fixed. If your hard disk is wearing out then it might only be a temporary fix but that's not the case in the majority of instances where I see this problem.

Of course, if you do the wrong thing with the disc then you could delete all your files.

Is there anywhere I could buy the CD for a reasonable price, I've seen some on EBay but do you think they'll be any good? Can it be a CD that has been used or does it have to be a brand new one?

And is there a specific Windows XP CD that needs to be brought and used?

The Windows XP CD does not have to be new. Ideally the CD would be for the same version of Windows XP as you have on your computer. There are three versions (or 'editions'), 'Home', 'Professional' and 'Media Centre'. I don't think it matters which version you use to attempt this particular repair but other repairs would require the same version as is stated on your Windows product key label. You also need an 'OEM' CD, not a 'Retail' one, to match what you already have.

A Windows XP CD without the accompanying product key has very little value but I would not personally trust eBay as a reliable source.