Computer restarts without warning?

9761 · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:04

Hi,

a lot latly my computer keeps restarting for some unkown reason. It could be me just surfing the net to listern to music.
Ive scanned for viruses, hackers, adaware and spyware and nothing on my computer. I've defraged my HDD.
Any ideas how I can sort this problem out?

when I get back into windows I get a message saying " windows has recovered from critical errors" something like that.

I havnt replaced any hardware on my pc for a while. Just starting to happen.

cheers

Larok · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:13

have you got some different memory you could try for a while, or perhaps just run one stick at a time if you have two in there.

Could also be a corrupt file on your windows install, is reinstalling windows possible if anything else you try fails?

9761 · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:20

oh forgot, Ive reinstalled windows 2 days ago but Im still getting it.

Ive tried the ram yesturday with just 1 stick in there but it restated again

Curio · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:35

More than likely the PSU. Either it's dicky or isn't quite powerful enough - have you added any new hardware recently?

Another possibility is spikes/dips in the electrical mains. Do you have a surge protector?

9761 · 6 Mar 2006 at 17:43

PSU is 460 Enermax PSU,
Havn't added anything for a while, and its only been the last month its happening.
Ive got a UPS with surgeprotector with PC plugged into it

Rob43 · 6 Mar 2006 at 18:33

Try running memtest to check the ram,at least that will rule it out one way or another

Rob

9761 · 6 Mar 2006 at 19:32

Just did a 50 minute test with no errors

snailham6 · 6 Mar 2006 at 21:10

try not using ** ups try it direct with mains see *** happens !

Zephyrus · 6 Mar 2006 at 21:25

snailham6 said:
try not using ** ups try it direct with mains see *** happens !

I'm assuming that in some strange corner of your mind you found that amusing...

The Mad One · 6 Mar 2006 at 22:11

Zephyrus said:
I'm assuming that in some strange corner of your mind you found that amusing...

I'm guessing he didnt mean for that to be funny, thats the forums profanity filter being set on the "Overly Paranoid" setting since it filters "u-r" slang for your, im guessing the 3 letter one was "w-a-t". The admins must have something against internet speak.

Zephyrus · 6 Mar 2006 at 22:23

Ah I thought the stars were filtering out swearing

9761 · 7 Mar 2006 at 21:44

I plugged the PC unit into the mains socket yesturday and ran all the rest off the UPS but it just restarted again just a minute ago

Mekrel · 7 Mar 2006 at 22:26

Try running with minimum devices installed, then also disable things like usb controller in your bios and running

Past setups have been unstable due to usb etc.

updated your bios?

NightmareXX · 7 Mar 2006 at 23:17

I assume your running Windows XP. If so, right click on my computer -> properties -> Advanced

Under the 'Startup and Recovery' click settings. Make sure that the option under 'System Failure' that reads 'Automatically Restart' is DE-TICKED.

When Windows next crashes, it'll give you a nice looking BSOD

Note the error and google it. That should give you a good idea of what the problem is.

If Windows restarts without displaying the BSOD it's a different error that Windows doesn't have time to intervene with.

Curio · 7 Mar 2006 at 23:36

NightmareXX said:
If Windows restarts without displaying the BSOD it's a different error that Windows doesn't have time to intervene with.

That could also point to a PSU problem as well.

9761 · 8 Mar 2006 at 12:42

NightmareXX said:
I assume your running Windows XP. If so, right click on my computer -> properties -> Advanced

Under the 'Startup and Recovery' click settings. Make sure that the option under 'System Failure' that reads 'Automatically Restart' is DE-TICKED.

When Windows next crashes, it'll give you a nice looking BSOD Note the error and google it. That should give you a good idea of what the problem is.

If Windows restarts without displaying the BSOD it's a different error that Windows doesn't have time to intervene with.

Ok I will do that, yeah just unchecked it so gonna see what BSOD gonna come up.

can I ask what BSOD means? I know what it is it the blue screen of death but have always wondered what it stands for.

cheers

Dutch Guy · 8 Mar 2006 at 12:54

9761 said:
can I ask what BSOD means? I know what it is it the blue screen of death but have always wondered what it stands for.

You are right, BSOD = Blue Screen Of Death

PinkPig · 8 Mar 2006 at 12:59

Have you tried looking in the error log to see if it has any info about the problem?

9761 · 8 Mar 2006 at 13:01

Dutch Guy said:
You are right, BSOD = Blue Screen Of Death

Oh LOL,

Answered my own question.

thanks

9761 · 8 Mar 2006 at 13:02

PinkPig said:
Have you tried looking in the error log to see if it has any info about the problem?

where can I find this?