Random rebooting

[MikeM]

In the past week my computer has rebooted 4 times. There is no
warnuing, no error message, it doesn't shut down first, just reboots.
A couple of times it has happened when I was away from the computer
and a couple of times when I have been working on different programs.
The biggest change I have made in that time is installing the update
of Trend Micro Internet Security. Any suggestions where I should start
looking?

Thanks
MikeM


XP, 2 GH, 2 GB DDR,

 

[yaugin]

In the past week my computer has rebooted 4 times. There is no
warnuing, no error message, it doesn't shut down first, just reboots.
A couple of times it has happened when I was away from the computer
and a couple of times when I have been working on different programs.
The biggest change I have made in that time is installing the update
of Trend Micro Internet Security. Any suggestions where I should start
looking?

Thanks
MikeM

XP, 2 GH, 2 GB DDR,

You should run Prime95 and Memtest. If you're in AU it just turned
summer right about now, didn't it? Intermittent heat-related problems
will be more visible when the ambient temp is hotter.

 

[RD]

In the past week my computer has rebooted 4 times. There is no
warnuing, no error message, it doesn't shut down first, just reboots.
A couple of times it has happened when I was away from the computer
and a couple of times when I have been working on different programs.
The biggest change I have made in that time is installing the update
of Trend Micro Internet Security. Any suggestions where I should start
looking?

Thanks
MikeM


XP, 2 GH, 2 GB DDR,

One of my PC's was doing that a few months ago. I checked everything I could
think of, then decided to swap the power supply. BINGO! That was the
culprit. Good luck.

RD

 

[Ed Cregger]

One of my PC's was doing that a few months ago. I checked everything I
could think of, then decided to swap the power supply. BINGO! That was the
culprit. Good luck.

RD

I had a similar problem with a "new to me" refurbed Gateway 64-bit Pentium
computer. I contacted customer service and they sent me a new power supply.
No change. Then they sent me a new HDD, still no change. The computer is now
at their repair facility. We shall see.

I have to admit that their customer service was supreme. No complaints from
me. I just hope that they can sort it out for me.

Incidentally, my Gateway is rated at 2.8 GHz. I notice that many of the
computers for sale today are under 2 GHz. This makes me wonder if the 64-bit
computers are prone to overheating at the higher speeds. Any thoughts?


Ed Cregger

 

[skotl]

In the past week my computer has rebooted 4 times. There is no
warnuing, no error message, it doesn't shut down first, just reboots.
A couple of times it has happened when I was away from the computer
and a couple of times when I have been working on different programs.
The biggest change I have made in that time is installing the update
of Trend Micro Internet Security. Any suggestions where I should start
looking?

Thanks
MikeM

XP, 2 GH, 2 GB DDR,

When this happened to me I de-installed Trend Micro and then told
everyone I met that Trend was rubbish.
Then I upgraded to Vista and had so many application failures that I
told everyone I met that Vista was rubbish.

Meanwhile, every so often, I was running Microsoft's ISO based memory
tester - what a pile of poo...
Eventually, I went back to MemTest86 and discovered that I had a
faulty DIMM. So, my previous accusations against Trend Micro and even
Microsoft Vista were unfounded.

Two lessons;
1) The maker of MemTest has suddenly realised that there is money
in this. I think that this is a bit cr@p**; You either set out to make
money, or you don't. Anyways, there are plenty of sites at google on
"Memtest86 iso" that will lead you to the original download. Avoid
"memtest86.com" and have a look at memtest.org
2) You have to (unlike me) run a decent test, At least 24 hours is
best.

Regards
Skot

** I'm not against people making money from software. Heck, I release
some of my own apps under a shareware/purchase scheme. I just think
it's a bit off to seed the market with a utility, see if it takes off,
then start charging for it.

 

[RobV]

When this happened to me I de-installed Trend Micro and then told
everyone I met that Trend was rubbish.
Then I upgraded to Vista and had so many application failures that I
told everyone I met that Vista was rubbish.

Meanwhile, every so often, I was running Microsoft's ISO based memory
tester - what a pile of poo...
Eventually, I went back to MemTest86 and discovered that I had a
faulty DIMM. So, my previous accusations against Trend Micro and even
Microsoft Vista were unfounded.

Two lessons;
1) The maker of MemTest has suddenly realised that there is money
in this. I think that this is a bit cr@p**; You either set out to make
money, or you don't. Anyways, there are plenty of sites at google on
"Memtest86 iso" that will lead you to the original download. Avoid
"memtest86.com" and have a look at memtest.org
2) You have to (unlike me) run a decent test, At least 24 hours is
best.

Regards
Skot

** I'm not against people making money from software. Heck, I release
some of my own apps under a shareware/purchase scheme. I just think
it's a bit off to seed the market with a utility, see if it takes off,
then start charging for it.

You both may want to try Memtest86+. It recognizes more current CPUs,
looks and runs the same as Memtest86 and is free. IMO, it's a bit
better than plain Memtest86.

http://www.memtest.org/

 

[yaugin]

** I'm not against people making money from software. Heck, I release
some of my own apps under a shareware/purchase scheme. I just think
it's a bit off to seed the market with a utility, see if it takes off,
then start charging for it.

They only charge you if you want a physical CD shipped to you. There's
still a big "free download" link on the navbar (yes, free as in not
shareware).

 

[Paul]

** I'm not against people making money from software. Heck, I release
some of my own apps under a shareware/purchase scheme. I just think
it's a bit off to seed the market with a utility, see if it takes off,
then start charging for it.

http://www.memtest.org/ - memtest86+, independent code stream, source available.

http://www.memtest86.com - original version of memtest
- has a free download link, mentions source as well
- sells a CD as well

Both offer a free option, as near as I can tell. And both offer
source. So you're not tied to the CD.

The first site is funded by Google Adwords. I don't see any
obvious third party advertising on the second site. So the
second site is not self-sustaining, in that sense. I too,
rip on people who suddenly "go commercial", but in this case
there is still a free option available.

It would be pretty hard for the second site to go completely
commercial, as long as the first site exists.

Paul

 

[w_tom]

In the past week my computer has rebooted 4 times. There is no
warnuing, no error message, it doesn't shut down first, just reboots.

Memory can explain that. Bad power supply can explain that. Bad
power supply controller can explain that. Bad power switch can
explain that. Failing electrolytic capacitor can explain that. A
thermally intermittent short can explain that. A failing video
controller can explain that. How many speculations do we blame before
learning how to actually do diagnosis?

The one component that can cause any other failure is a power supply
system. Notice the word 'system'. A power supply is only one
'system' component. Start by establishing what is good. That means a
3.5 digit multimeter (a tool with many other applications), two
minutes, and this procedure in "When your computer dies without
warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup alt.windows-xp
at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh

Now you have an answer that is specific - no more "it could be
this". And you have numbers that means better informed posters can
reply.

It is possible your power supply has always been defective. A
defective power supply can still boot a computer. But the meter would
have identified the defective power supply long ago - when it was
installed. If the existing power supply is defective, then the new
power supply also needs the same two minute procedure to establish it
is sufficient.

But that is getting ahead of the problem. First, establish what is
definitively good. Currently - and after doing everything others have
suggested - nothing would be known definitively good or definitively
bad. Get answers that include the word 'definitively'.