Please help, my system has started restarting itself, just when it gets to the desktop and starts loading the startup processes. Can get into safemode no problems without any shutdowns and have disabled all unneccessary start up programs in msconfig. Have also completed av scan(avg), spyware scan(adaware and spybot), system tuneup and system defrag - all in safemode, all to no avail. Have recently installed spybot, spywareblaster, and system tuneup utilities.
please help
benito

I think that u have virus that has caused so much problems last year but i can not think of it name,
It make computers shut diwn and restart over and over again

Here are some links & info that may help , may have to use safe mode .

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Disable auto-reboot
http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin/performance/index.cgi?answer=1036283227&id=1036282433
When Running windows and it crashes you will get a blue screen and it will automatically restart, often it will restart too fast for you to see the error message. You could check the error log in this case but that is too easy. We are going to disable auto restart on system failure.

1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System (Windows+Pause works, too)
2. Go to Advanced
3. Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
4. Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

Or ,

Modify auto-reboot setting
http://www.windowsxpatoz.com/cgi-bin/performance/index.cgi?answer=1036283844&id=1036282433
Since Microsoft has worked so hard to make this version "the most stable ever," then this tweak is not needed. However, I am fairly sure that they have not perfected millions of lines of code in less than a year. Below you will discover how to turn the auto reboot feature on and off. This allows your computer to instantly reboot upon a system fault. (The blue screen)

Start Regedit. If you are unfamiliar with regedit please refer to our FAQ on how to get started.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\CrashControl
Select AutoReboot from the list on the right.
Right on it and select Modify.
Change the value to 0 to disable and 1 to enable.
Reboot your computer.

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You may be able to get more info from the Event viewer .
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308427

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Windows XP Events and Errors
Enter the message source and ID in the text field, then click G
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/support/ee.asp

Or ,

http://www.eventid.net/search.asp

Or ,

Windows Error Generator
http://www.netdevel.net.nz/index.php?mod1=netdevel/software
Ever wondered what Error(312) means ? Look it up with this, or have it list all the errors your operating system is able to give. Also good for programmers who need to throw a specific system error. Go to Software menu.

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Use System Restore for Problems > XP Home
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/howto/gethelp/systemrestore.asp

Try going back to a good Restore point
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306084
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/itpro/managing/restore.asp
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q306084
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-2.html
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6268-1040596-3.html

Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start.
The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
Use the ARROW keys to select Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked), and then press ENTER.
If a boot menu appears, use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows XP and then press ENTER. Windows XP restores the computer to the most recent restore point.

Good thinking rastko , could be the Sasser virus .

http://helpdesk.nus.edu.sg/support/user/guides/Virus2004/sasser.htm

Thanks for all your help folks, i have the sasser and blaster removal tools on a cd rom, can i open the cd while in safe mode?
thanks again
benito

How
to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP
To help troubleshoot error messages or other
issues when you cannot determine the cause of
the issue, disable common startup programs,
settings, and drivers to eliminate possible
software conflicts when you start Microsoft
Windows XP. This procedure is known as
"clean booting."
(Can be done by way of Windows Safe-Mode,
logon as Admistrator,
but where it says RESTART, restart into normal
Windows.)
How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
and that one is a heavy duty article.

Print the articles for reference.