Computer reboots after POST before it loads the operating system

[rreed55]

I am in need of some expert advice. I have a Sony Vaio Desktop:

? m/n: PCV-RX760
? Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.20GHz
? 512MB PC-2100 DDR? 400MHz Front Side Bus
? 80GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive

After the system passes through POST with out a problem, my machine will reboot before it starts to load the operating system (XP Home) from the hard drive. I have tried swapping out hard drive with out any luck and ran Tough Test PRO from a floppy and tested the controlers, and the memory while I was at it. I have also reset the CMOS, and cleaned the Heatsink from the processer. I have verified the information in the BIOS to make sure that everything is booting in the order that it should. I also tried running a different power supply because i had one lying around, all with out any luck. I am out of ideas, any suggestions.

 

[edmundoab]

I remembered that I faced this kind of problem after installing the wrong chipset driver into my system.

Think what I did was put the XP Bootable CD inside and do a repair on the system.
After that it loaded fine.

don't know if you faced something similiar, but maybe that would be an idea,
to try and repair the OS first.

 

[zagood]

Set your BIOS to boot from CD and try a repair installation from the XP CD. Other than that, good luck!

-z

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: edmundoab
I remembered that I faced this kind of problem after installing the wrong chipset driver into my system.

Think what I did was put the XP Bootable CD inside and do a repair on the system.
After that it loaded fine.

don't know if you faced something similiar, but maybe that would be an idea,
to try and repair the OS first.

BAH! beat me to it. Good advice though...

-z