Install and scan during boot

It looks like my sons computer is infected and I cannot boot completely into Windows. When the computer reaches the Windows screen (XP), it reboots after around 5 seconds. Tried to run in Safe Mode, but same issue.
Can Avast load during boot and scan / repair the computer?
Thanks

Hi metalone, welcome to the forum.
Avast can indeed perform a boot scan, and may be able to clean an infected computer (depending on the infection) but to schedule this you need to be able to get into Windows.
Can you try, from the same option page that offers the “safe” option, ''Last known good configuration".

I tried Safe Mode and Last known good configuration, no help. Thanks for the reply.

You might need to run a rescue boot disk. I’ve read good things about both the Avira offering, and the DrWeb. Reply 3@ here might help. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=43771.msg366204#msg366204

Maybe this helps…
Read the instructions, download and burn (maybe from another computer), finally use one of this rescue CD’s:

  1. Avira
  2. Kaspersky
  3. BitDefender
  4. F-Secure
  5. Dr. Web

Are you sure that it’s an infection of some sort?

This sort of behavior could be the result of a bad driver, or failing hardware as well.

I’m not saying that it’s not an infection, I’m just trying to figure out if we’re going in the right direction.

If you try the previously posted solutions and they don’t find anything, it might be hardware.