My (old) computer keeps restarting spontaneously

hypochondriac · 10 Jul 2008 at 15:21

Yup, as the name says, my PC will be running fine until suddenly the screen goes black for a fraction of a second and the whole thing boots up as if I'd just turned it on.
It's only a recent thing, the past week or so. But it started to get more frequent. Then about once every 1-2 days it'd do it during the start up process falling into a horrible loop that would continue for about 10 mins. Occasionally during the loop it'd say something like 'it failed to turn on, this could be due to hardware or software, do you wanna boot up as normal or safe mode or the most recent settings that worked?'

I reset my PC to factory settings, but that did nothing to stop it. windows thinks it's something to do with some HP Photo thing, but I reckon it's hardware related. I'm not very knowledgable about these things though so I could be wrong. Windows' solution was to turn on auto updates (which were already on lol).

When it is running fine, it runs perfectly fine. But then spontaneously it'll just go.

Any ideas what is happening and how to fix it?

Ch3m1c4L · 10 Jul 2008 at 16:47

turn off auto restart after a crash so you can see the message from the BSOD and tell us what it is.
To do this, rclick my computer and select properties. Click the advanced tab and then click on startup and recovery. make sure it is set to write an event to the system log and that it isn't set to auto restart.

hypochondriac · 10 Jul 2008 at 17:47

OK I've done that, I'll have to get back with the error message when it next does it....no telling when that'll be though.

So to clarify when it crashes again, it won't restart, but when I turn it back on, there'll be a screen telling me a code of what went wrong?

hypochondriac · 10 Jul 2008 at 20:12

Right Just had the BSOD,
it said:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen,restart your computer. If this screen appears again follow these steps:

Check to be sure you have adeuate disk space. If a driver is identifiedin the stop message, disable the driver or check with the manufacturer for driver updates. Try changing video adapters.

Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memorysuck as catching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remover or disable components, resart your computer, press F8 to select advanced startup options, and then select safe mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000008E (0xC0000005,0x8055096D,0xB82A4624,0x00000000)

Begining dump of physical memort
Physical memory dump complete.
Contact your system administrator or technical support group for further assistance.

Any ideas whats happening?

hypochondriac · 11 Jul 2008 at 14:51

Sorry for triple posting, but now I've had a new BSOD:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen,restart your computer. If this screen appears again follow these steps:

Check for virusus on your computer, reomove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers.Check your hard drive to make sure it's properly configured and terminated.
Run CHKDSK /F to check your hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7C49524,0xC0000034,0x00000000,0x00000000)

please tell me whats wrong so I know whether I have to get a new computer, because if I do I need to do it soon as my laptop is away for repairs and this is my only computer at the moment.

Teaf · 11 Jul 2008 at 14:59

Hello!

When exactly do you get these BSOD's? Do they just happen randomly when only in Windows, or do you get them also when booting up and shutting down?

Also can you please follow the instructions in this post in regards to the part about the Microsoft Debugging Tools for Windows. Get the full reports then post them here. If you can't do this, feel free to browse to c:\Windows\Minidump, and make a zip folder of all the .dmp files in there and upload them somewhere like http://www.megafileupload.com/ and I'll download them and inspect them myself for more information on your problems.

These files do not have any personal information in them, they only contain information on the blue screen and some very basic information about the computer itself (hardware mostly).

hypochondriac · 11 Jul 2008 at 19:25

I get them randomly, I might not be doing anything, then *click* its gone.
Then sometimes when I turn the computer on it does it halfway through booting.
Never shutting down though.

Heres a .zip of the .dmp files:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4cuj2a

hypochondriac · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:30

Sorry for double post, does anyone know whats wrong with my pc from the .dmp files?

Teaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:48

Apologies for not replying, I forgot about this post.

I'll examine the dump files now and get back to you soon.

hypochondriac · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:54

Thats fine, it did slip far down the board.
Plus you don't need to apologise, you're doing me the favour.

Since then there's been a few more crashes, BSOD spouting things wrong with all aspects of the hardware! Each one is different, I feel like I'm collecting them all like Pokémon lol.

Teaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 15:06

could have things I'm noticing, and just wanted to clarifiy, do you have these two programs installed at the moment:

AVG Anti-Virus
TuneUp Utilities

hypochondriac · 13 Jul 2008 at 15:19

yes I do.

Although this problem occured before I reset my PC to factory settings and therefore before I installed them if you think it has something to do with it.

Teaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 15:25

Nah I don't think it's them, but I just wanted to make sure you had them installed in case it was a virus/trojan/spyware disguising itself as those programs. Well after going over all the dump files, it looks like it's definitely related to your network - whether that is either your connection to the Internet if you use a RJ45 cable for that (ie. Virgin Media) or a local network pc->pc.

Mini070808-01: AVG caused this BSOD (Can be Network if attempting to scan over it)
Mini070808-02: NCISWrapper problem (Network)
Mini071008-01: TuneUp Utilities was the problem
Mini071008-02: IRQL NLOE on SMB (Network)
Mini071008-03: Kernel Mod Exception on SMB (Network)
Mini071008-04: Kernel Mod Exception on SMB (Network)
Mini071108-01: IRQL NLOE on Realtek NIC driver (Network)
Mini071108-02: Bad Pool Caller on SMB (Network)

Opinion: It's network related, and it's most likely a dodgy driver somewhere

It might only be fixable for a format. I'd remove all your Realtek NIC drivers, and use a driver sweeper to do it (Guru3D Driver Sweeper). Then I'd remove AVG and switch to Avast to remove that possibility. Reinstall the newest Realtek driver from their website. If that doesn't work I'd format and whatever drivers you used on your computer to install your network devices, don't use them - get the newest ones around including the Intel chipset drivers / Realtek drivers and burn them to CD for the next install.

hypochondriac · 13 Jul 2008 at 15:30

Hmm I don't have a network which is odd.
I connect to the internet (BT) via ethernet. But it was connected via USB before when it started.

Thank you for all your help, i'll get back with results...if any.

MAllen · 13 Jul 2008 at 16:20

hypochondriac said:
Hmm I don't have a network which is odd.
I connect to the internet (BT) via ethernet.

If you connect to BT via Ethernet then you DO have a network. Just a very small one of one PC and the router.

Is that AVG 8.0? And does it include the firewall? I have seen this go a little mad lately on a few client PCs. So try ripping it out and swapping to Avast as suggested above.

(Though, in both of those cases, the PC wasn't actually rebooting)

Also - the most common cause of sudden reboots in the summer is heat. When was the last time you cleaned out the dust and carp from your PC? Unplug it and open up the side. Check the fans for dust buildup. Clean it out carefully with an old toothbrush\paint brush. Ideally a can of compressed air. (Don't use a hoover)

Finally - what type of PSU have you got in there? Is it a cheapo unbranded one? OR a decent quality one? It could be failing...

After a crash... what happens if you unplug it and leave it alone for 30mins? Will it then start clean? OR is it still BSODing in that case?

hypochondriac · 13 Jul 2008 at 17:46

MAllen said:
If you connect to BT via Ethernet then you DO have a network. Just a very small one of one PC and the router.

Yeah I kinda contradicted myself with that one. But I don't have a multi-PC network.

Is that AVG 8.0? And does it include the firewall? I have seen this go a little mad lately on a few client PCs. So try ripping it out and swapping to Avast as suggested above.

Yes it is AVG8 with the firewall, I'll swap it for avast.

Also - the most common cause of sudden reboots in the summer is heat. When was the last time you cleaned out the dust and carp from your PC? Unplug it and open up the side. Check the fans for dust buildup. Clean it out carefully with an old toothbrush\paint brush. Ideally a can of compressed air. (Don't use a hoover)

Finally - what type of PSU have you got in there? Is it a cheapo unbranded one? OR a decent quality one? It could be failing...

It's not very hot in my house, but I'm gonna be honest, I've never cleaned out the computer, its an old family one we got from PC world years ago, it has a big inpenetrable looking case that I couldn't even begin to think how to open but I'll give it a go later.
I'm gonna assume the PSU is a crappy one (I've no idea what make).

After a crash... what happens if you unplug it and leave it alone for 30mins? Will it then start clean? OR is it still BSODing in that case?

Well it doesnt always have a BSOD on start up, infact it's quite rare considering how many times it's just randomly stopped.

@flibby:
That driver cleaning program didn't even have a list of the right drivers, for instance it said I had Creative and Realtek audio drivers when I have Soundmax. So I couldn't remove the driver. So I tried to do it via the device manager in the computer properties, but then it wouldn't connect to the internet because it was the ethernet port driver, so I got it working again eventually and downloaded the latest driver...All was well untill it did it again just a few mins ago

MAllen · 14 Jul 2008 at 09:34

hypochondriac said:
It's not very hot in my house, but I'm gonna be honest, I've never cleaned out the computer, its an old family one we got from PC world years ago, it has a big inpenetrable looking case that I couldn't even begin to think how to open but I'll give it a go later.
I'm gonna assume the PSU is a crappy one (I've no idea what make).

AH... where in the world, but that place... I would keep a very close eye on the system. Expect the PSU to give up soon as usually awfully low quality. And when they do die, they tend to take out the PC with them.

Get in there and clean out the dust. Some patience with the case will show you the way in.

Personally, I'd check out the PSU and think of replaceing it. If you can get a PSU tester - great. If not, just buy a new PSU. (But not a cheap and nasty)

Bad power can do what you are describing.

Also note - as you see less problems at the start of the day this is why I am thinking heat buildup.

hypochondriac · 14 Jul 2008 at 12:22

MAllen said:
AH... where in the world, but that place... I would keep a very close eye on the system. Expect the PSU to give up soon as usually awfully low quality. And when they do die, they tend to take out the PC with them.

Get in there and clean out the dust. Some patience with the case will show you the way in.

Personally, I'd check out the PSU and think of replaceing it. If you can get a PSU tester - great. If not, just buy a new PSU. (But not a cheap and nasty)

Bad power can do what you are describing.

Also note - as you see less problems at the start of the day this is why I am thinking heat buildup.

Where in the world indeed, God knows what I was thinking, but I was young.

Well it's all turned to excrement now... I used a can of compressed air and a paintbrush like advised to clean out the tons of dust accumulated over the last 5 odd years, and now I can't even start it up. I've been trying for some time and I'm getting a myriad of BSODs -new and old- and other error messages, even safe mode will rarely start.
I'd upload all the .dmp files but I cant get into my system heh.

When you say the PSUs take the PC with them, do you mean to say the sysem (w/PSU) won't start (like it's doing) or even if I replace the PSU the other components are defunct?

With my laptop away for repair and my PC on it's deathbed with a terminal ailment, I'm now resorted to a friends laptop.

PS can anyone recommend me a PSU?

MAllen · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:42

Often when the PSU dies in a cheap computer, it fries the motherboard and nothing boots. Not even the BIOS starts in those cases.

If you are getting BSOD's then it isn't completely dead - yet. but it is clearly sounding sick.

I assume you were gentle when cleaning? Didn't knock any components off?

Next - pull out the RAM and any extra PCI cards. Make sure you didn't blow any muck into their slots. Then try reseating them. (May be worth doing a memory check with a memtest86 bootdisk)

hypochondriac · 15 Jul 2008 at 12:58

As it was a family computer my parents didn't want to wait for me to fix this one and/or build a new one, so they went to pcworld....again (and got lumped with norton)....and we now have a new computer.
Patience is a virtue, I could've saved them some money, but hey least it aint my wallet.

Yeah I was gentle, nothing came off.
I'll try cleaning the slots.

I managed to reset the registry which helped boot the thing up a bit more than usual. I got some files off so I could try and reset it with the windows disk.
It didn't work last time but my dad is adamant that his mate is good at computers and "knows" it's something to do with software i've installed, even though it started happening before I installed anything. When the HDD was formatted it still gave me BSODs whilst installing windows so it couldn't be anything I've added if its a fresh install.