Major Computer malfunction - Please Help
 

My PC is refusing to boot. It worked fine this morning although before I shut it down, I had been playing the Sims 2 and the program froze the computer. I didn't think much of it and went to the office all day. When I got back, I turned it on and noticed that I got no beep.

It went through the little bios screen, then started windows. A few seconds later, I got an error message that said something to the effect of "We apologize for the inconvenience but windows failed to load". It then gives me the option to safe boot, normal boot, or boot from last known configuration that worked. I've tried all of them and no matter which I choose, it goes back to the Bios splash screen, then starts windows, then goes back to the apology screen.

My first thought was the ungodly heat and humidity has caused a problem with the CPU. Yet, it seems the problem is windows related. If the CPU was bad, it doesn't seem I would have been able to go into BIOS (which I can, nothing looked abnormal)

So now I'm thinking virus. I downloaded some custom content last night for the Sims and I'm wondering if there is something suspect with one of the files. However, I installed the files last night and the system booted fine this morning. I've been keeping the computer off when I'm not using it due to the heat.

So while I try to find my windows disk and see if I can do a repair of the OS, does anyone else have any ideas as to what this might be? Hard drive failure? virus? gnomes? I'm open to suggestions.

:mad:

Open the case. Is there a cpu fan? is it running?

Yes, the CPU fan is running.

However, under one of the BIOS settings, it says that the CPU is 160 degrees farenheit. Is it me or is that very hot considering I just turned the machine on about 20 minutes ago?

That sounds hot. If you can get it to boot start backing stuff up before you do anything else.

Do you have any of the boot disks that came with your computer?

160 degrees F = 71 C

According to this article says:

"An easy way to find out the maximum temperature your processor can support without burning out is referring to the table given at http://users.erols.com/chare/elec.htm. This table shows that Pentium 4 processors can operate up to 75º C (167º F) or slightly less, depending on the model, Athlon 64 can run up to 65º C or 70º C (149º F or 158º F), depending on the model, Athlon XP processors can run up to 85º C or 90º C (185º F or 194º F), also depending on their clock, and Sempron processors can run up to 90º C (194º F).
"

What cpu do you have? It could be slightly hot, but it's hard to tell without a baseline number.

I think we need CoasterMatt

GD is out for the count at the moment. I'm sure he'll have a suggestion or two whenever he wakes up. Best of luck!

It's a pentium 4, 3.2 Gig

I'm thinking though: If it is running that hot right now, how hot was it running when I was playing Sims2 for an hour and a half this morning. I wonder if I fried it.

Hmm, it just beeped upon reboot, something it hadn't been doing. ???

However, it is running at 77 degrees C. at the moment. That can't be good.

You don't have a spare hard drive do you? If you put a vanilla windows on it, then you could determine whether the problem is hardware or software.

Nope, sure don't. What else might I try? Should I try the windows disks and see if there is anything to repair software-wise?