Reboot loop on Dell

[maxemo]

I have a Dell SX270. About two months ago when you started it up, it would get to the Dell logo and reboot continually. Could not go to safe mode or go back to old restore point. So I reformated it and reloaded XP. It just started doing it again. Does this sound like a software issue or virus or possible hardware problem? This is my wifes computer and she does some blogging. I know its an old computer but I hate to fork out money for a new computer when it could be just a virus. Looking for some help.
Thanks

 

[Modelworks]

If you can get into the bios turn off the full screen logo , fast post, so you can see boot messages. It should say what the problem is.

 

[maxemo]

I can't get to the computer for a couple of days but I will give this a shot. How do you turn off the logo in the BIOS? Don't think I have seen that option.

 

[imagoon]

I have a Dell SX270. About two months ago when you started it up, it would get to the Dell logo and reboot continually. Could not go to safe mode or go back to old restore point. So I reformated it and reloaded XP. It just started doing it again. Does this sound like a software issue or virus or possible hardware problem? This is my wifes computer and she does some blogging. I know its an old computer but I hate to fork out money for a new computer when it could be just a virus. Looking for some help.
Thanks

Considering that is the sister to the GX270 which had bad cap issues sometimes causing exactly what your describing, I would bet $ to donuts the system board is toast. The psu could also be bad due to the same reasons.

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=450

http://www.google.com/search?q=dell...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

 

[maxemo]

The board was replaced by Dell a couple of years ago for the cap issue. I haven't looked but I am thinking if it is a hardware issue, just reloading operating system wouldn't fix it. I will look when I get a chance. I have a USB back up drive that I can swap the drive with. I will run a scan on it with my other desktop and see if its corrupt. Thanks for the posts.

 

[maxemo]

For those following this thread, here is the latest. I ran diagnostics on the drive and got a error code 7. I went ahead and replaced the hard drive and reloaded everything so the computer is up and running. I tried hooking the old hard drive to another computer as a second drive with a USB cable but i haven't been able to do a check disk and try to repair it to extract my documents. I think the drive may be fried.