Infinite Restart Cycle Help PleaseFollow

Hey Kao,

Well, we just moved across country from Maryland back to California. Our newer Dell computers were hooked up immediately and all is well with them. However, my slightly older pc (3-years old (?)), a Dell Dimension 4100, seems to be having some issues with starting up correctly. It appears to be stuck in a loop of rebooting.

The cycle appears to be:
1. Turn on computer.
2. The DVD drive is read.
3. The CD Burner drive is read.
4. A short grinding noise occurs (hard drive? Never heard it before or simply hadn't noticed).
5. The video card info appears.
6. Dell Logo with Globe appears.
7. The Windows XP screen appears.
8. The screen hangs for a sec, then automatically reboots again.
9. The screen with the options on how to open are presented: (Safe Mode, Last known good configuration, start Windows normally).
10. Repeat cycle until I have to turn off computer.

Some other things that may be worth noting: I noticed the screen doesn't seem to be in it's best resolution while opening. This may be something I hadn't noticed before (i.e., the Windows XP screen looks like it's in basic resolution).

I am pretty sure I am using the correct power cable and video cable. I opened up the case and everything seems to be secure, but I can check again if need be.
The computer was working fine before we moved and it was packed up securely for the move.

Help me Obi Wan Kaolian, you're my only hope...well, unless I want to be on the phone with Dell Support for a few hours!

Well, someone here is going to tell you the same thing as the people at dell are going to tell you over the phone. Only difference is it takes up someone's time that's not being paid for it as opposed to someone who is getting paid for it. Not that i'm opposed to helping people but chances are you might have got it resolved quicker and with more accurate instructions by just calling Dell.

Anyway, put your windows CD in the drive, boot into windows setup, get to the recovery console by pressing 'r' in setup then type "chkdsk /r" when you get to the command prompt.

Thanks Blowfin - I think I dug through the forums and on page 8 I found a similar problem that you offered the same advice. I have to find my Win XP cd as we just moved across the country. I did try the chkdsk /r at the C: prompt when I selected Safe Mode with prompt. Unfortunately, it seems to lock up the computer when I try to go any of the Safe Mode options.

Someone online (while using my newer pc) mentioned that it might be a virus that had been going around. I'm surprised if it is and my McAfee Anti-Virus program didn't catch it. But I can't get back to Safe Mode in any form now to try to run a virus scan.

Hopefully I'll find my Win XP cd and go from there.

Thanks again!