WinXP Continuously Rebooting

[Pachicat]

I installed AOHell 9.0 on a desktop for my husband to use and upgraded it to 9.0VR. The program decided to add an anti-virus module and when he exited the program, the computer rebooted, and went into a continuous reboot cycle. I have attempted to fix it by using the recovery console command, fixmbr, to no avail. I cannot even boot into safe mode to see if I can fix the problem.

The computer is running WinXP Home. I do not remember the remaining specs off the top of my head.

Can I do a repair install without losing any data?

What about programs already installed. Would I lose those and have to reinstall all of them?

Thanks.

[Sterling_Aug]

A repair install will not lose data and all previously installed programs will work fine!

Make sure to download all the hundreds of Windows Updates after you are done with the repair install.

[Pachicat]

Thank you for your reply.

I attempted a repair reinstallation and, unfortunately, it did not work. The reinstallation reached the part where the computer rebooted to continue setup and immediately went back into the continuous rebooting cycle. I am going to have to do a complete reinstallation to solve the problem.

Fortunately, there is no data on the computer which I need to worry about losing, but I do not have all the program cd's with me at this location. So the reinstallation will have to wait until my husband brings all the cd's from the home to here, which will be next week.

In the meantime, I'm going to have to share my computer here.

Thanks for your help.

[naptownman]

After the re-install, don't use the AOL software. If you have a need to access AOL mail just use the web-based version at aol.com. They also have a web-based chat client if you want to use Instant Messenger. AOL only continues to make their proprietary software more intrusive with each new variant. This isn't true for their web-based browser apps.

[Midknyte]

Did you do a hardware diag also? It could just be coincidence about the AOL stuff. At least run memtest+ and a hard drive diag.

[bonz_dragon]

Sorry to hear your plight. From previous experience I have learned to treat AOL like a virus and won't even allow it in the house.

[Pachicat]

Thank you for all your replies.

The computer was working flawlessly prior to the AOHell fiasco. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with AOHell installing it's own anti-virus on top of Norton. As we all know, multiple anti-virus programs do not play well together.

Not having AOHell on a computer for my husband is not an option. I've tried for years to wean him off of it, but he's extremely technologically challenged, and AOHell is ridiculously easy for someone like him to use.

His homework assignment is to bring all the software I've left at home to this location. Once I get my hands on all the software, I will reformat and reinstall Windows and the programs he will need on the computer.

Thanks again for all your help.