Reboot, reboot, reboot

[Howard]

My computer has begun shutting down and rebooting
itself. It starts off normally, I select the user,
enter my password, I get the desktop screen, but then at
various points in loading shuts down and reboots. Only
rarely can I get started, unless I boot into safe mode.

My computer is a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with 512 MB RAM
and Windows XP Professional.

Nothing new recently added.

One error message back from Microsoft regarded a problem
with my NVIDIA TNT driver, but no problems evident in my
device manager. Nevertheless, I upgraded that driver to
no avail....

Thanks!

Howard
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Have you tried a System Restore back to a point before the problem started?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


| My computer has begun shutting down and rebooting
| itself. It starts off normally, I select the user,
| enter my password, I get the desktop screen, but then at
| various points in loading shuts down and reboots. Only
| rarely can I get started, unless I boot into safe mode.
|
| My computer is a Dell Dimension XPS T500 with 512 MB RAM
| and Windows XP Professional.
|
| Nothing new recently added.
|
| One error message back from Microsoft regarded a problem
| with my NVIDIA TNT driver, but no problems evident in my
| device manager. Nevertheless, I upgraded that driver to
| no avail....
|
| Thanks!
|
| Howard
| (e-mail address removed)

 

[Kelly]

Hi Howard,

Check your settings here in Safe Mode:

In the right pane under Userinit, Change the key to read:
C:\Windows\System32\Userinit.exe,

If this doesn't apply in your case:

By default when WinXP encounters a system failure, it reboots without
warning. The setting that controls this can be changed:

Control Panel/System/Advanced/Settings (Startup & Recovery)/System
Failure/Uncheck-Automatically Restart.

You can use Event Viewer to view and manage the event logs, gather
information about hardware and software problems, and monitor Windows
security events.

To view the event log: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or
Start/Run/eventvwr.

To review Shutdown Event Tracker data, Open Event Viewer. Click System Log,
scroll to the Event column, and find entries with the number 1075.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q308427

And also:

Go to Start/Run/Msinfo32/Hardware Resources, Components/Problem Devices and
Software Environment/Windows Error Reporting.

Go to Help and Support/Pick a Task (left side)/Use Tools to view.../(left
pane)My Computer Information/(right pane)View the status of my system
hardware and software/Hardware/Update and Troubleshooters.

How to Troubleshoot Hardware and Software Driver Problems
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q322205

Try running the DirectX Tool: Start/Run/Dxdiag, Lower Hardware Acceleration
(Display/Settings/Advanced/Troubleshoot/Hardware Acceleration). Check
System Info for problematic issues: Start/Run/Msinfo32/Hardware Resources
and Components/Problem Devices and Software Environment/Windows Error
Reporting.

Report Error's to Microsoft automatically

Start/Run/gpedit.msc/Computer Configuration/Administrative
Templates/System/Error Reporting. Right click Report Errors/Properties.
Check off Enable and then check off, Do not display links to any MS provided
more information web sites. Apply, ok.

Good luck with it all, Howard and keep us posted.

 

[Howard]

Thanks for your reply-- yes I have. The same issue
persists.

Howard

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

Have you tried a System Restore back to a point before the problem started?

Does the computer actually say "Windows is shutting down..." or does it
all of a sudden clear the screen and show the BIOS screen?

 

[Malke]

Thanks for your reply-- yes I have. The same issue
persists.

Howard

There is a good possibility that you have some failing hardware. Here
are generic hardware troubleshooting steps:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). In your
case be sure to observe the fan on the processor if there is one; 2)
test the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Good luck,

Malke