Windows XP has an option to automatically reboot the computer when a STOP error occurs. This convenient because it ensures your computer doesn’t stay “frozen.” However, this feature also means you won’t be able to read any of the information present on the STOP error screen. If you are trying to troubleshoot a STOP error, I would recommend disabling the automatic restart option.
To do that:
- Open System Properties (Either from the control panel or by right-clicking on “My Computer”)
- Click the “Advanced” tab
- Click the “Settings” button under the “Startup and Recovery” section
- Uncheck “Automatically restart”
- Press “OK” on all of the open windows
Next time a STOP error occurs, Windows will not automatically restart.
If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 installed, there is another way to prevent XP from rebooting on a system error. Start the machine as you would start it to get into safe mode by pressing F8 after the BIOS screen has displayed. Select the option named “Disable automatic restart on system failure”.