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Windows NT Reboots Continuously During Installation

Article ID: 168502

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q168502

SYMPTOMS

When you are installing Windows NT Server or Workstation, your computer may reboot continuously after the first reboot.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Bootsect.dat file in the root of the hard disk is infected with a boot-sector virus. The Bootsect.dat file is an image of the boot sector with added code to load Setupldr.bin to continue the Windows NT installation.

RESOLUTION

Boot the computer from a virus-free bootable floppy disk. Use a third- party virus detector (such as McAfee's Virus Scan) to scan the root of the drive. Clean the virus from the Bootsect.dat file. If the file cannot be cleansed, boot from a write-protected bootable MS-DOS disk and use the SYS C: command to place a new boot sector on the boot drive. Run Setup again to create a new Bootsect.dat file, or reformat the drive and reinstall Windows NT.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: Form-A Virus

Keywords: kbsetup KB168502


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