Sudden rebooting

[Tom]

On occasion, my computer unexpectedly reboots. Sometimes
it happens during startup, and sometimes it seems to be
triggered by my doing something that should be inocuous,
such as switching between windows.

My operating system, Norton AV and Firewall software and
virus definitions are all up to date, including all XP
critical/security updates.

I thought XP was supposed to be more stable, but this
never happened under ME. Any thoughts?

Tom

 

[Sean]

Sure sounds like the latest virus, is it possible you
updated after you were infected? If not, I have seen this
happen for a few hardware reasons. First I would try is
video resolution. Windows Dump can be initiated by over
taxing video dynamics. Lower resolution on your video and
see if it helps. If it does you may have a bad card.
Also, if you go into admin tools, and check events, it
should tell you why it crashed. Post whatever it says.
I would also supect possible core temp (is your cpu
running hot?)
Or improper voltage to cpu.
If it is an XP software problem, the simplest fix is
reformatting. I have found XP to be the most stable OS
yet, but only with a perfect install. Also are all
drivers signed? Updated? (Update video drivers before
anything else!)

 

[JD]

You may find a clue in the "Event Viewer" this can be found by right-mouse
clicking on "your computer" on your desktop and selecting manage, then
navigate to event viewer.

Chances of understanding anthing contained within event veiwer is probably
slim, but make as accurate a note as you can of the time your PC crashes and
then see if you can find the event.

Your right to make sure you have all the updates, my Dad has msblaster and
his PC kept rebooting.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Tom.

Random reboots can be caused by hardware (heat, loose connections, bad power
supply, etc.) or by software. If the cause is in the software, you probably
have not changed the default setting for what WinXP is supposed to do on
System Failure. The default is to Automatically Restart. As we all know,
many transient problems are solved by simply rebooting, so this default
setting works - most of the time. But when it doesn't work, we are left
with no clue as to what the real problem is.

Go to System Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery Settings. Under
System failure, remove the check from Automatically restart. Next time,
instead of rebooting, your computer should halt with a BSOD (Blue Screen of
Death) full of codes telling in technical terms just what is the problem.
Before pressing the Reset button to reboot, copy those codes verbatim and
include them in your next post. Then some guru here (not me!) can point you
in the right direction.

If the problem is hardware, you won't see the BSOD, but we will have
narrowed down the possibilities. Tell us more about your computer (make and
model, hard drive configuration, peripherals, etc.) to narrow them down
further.

RC

 

[Cool_Pete]

When software is not to blame, many times a faulty power supply or damaged
supply from surges or browns can cause this. Also, unstable power can cause
it. I have a new home but it's rural and our power is considered "within
tolerances" for the power company, but I have to run an AVR on every
computer or I had problems like you were describing and the occasional blown
power supply. The supply will run fine for awhile, then slowly be worn down
by the constant switching and eventually the system becomes unstable and
then finally the supply will either stop working or it will take out the
board or chip when it goes. If you determine software is fine (you didn't
load anything new or do any updates that coincide with this) then try an AVR
and possibly a new power supply. It took me many months to figure out what
was causing my trouble. Hope this helps!

Pete

 

[Ron Martell]

On occasion, my computer unexpectedly reboots. Sometimes
it happens during startup, and sometimes it seems to be
triggered by my doing something that should be inocuous,
such as switching between windows.

My operating system, Norton AV and Firewall software and
virus definitions are all up to date, including all XP
critical/security updates.

I thought XP was supposed to be more stable, but this
never happened under ME. Any thoughts?

Tom

Windows XP has a default setting to "restart on failure" and this is
probably what is happening.

Open Control Panel - System - Advanced and click on the Settings
button in the Startup and Recovery (bottom) section.

In the Startup and Recovery window click on the checkbox for
"automatically restart" to clear it. While you are in there you
might want to change the selected option for "write debugging
information" to either "none" or "small memory dump".

Click on Apply and OK as needed to exit. The restarts will probably
be replaced by error messages, and the content of those error messages
will help to identify the underlying cause.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

[Betsy]

What is an AVR and where does one get one? I have an old hose (100 plus
years) and the lights often flicker. Perhaps this is causing my problem,
which is similar.

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Betsy.

AVR means Automatic Voltage Regulation. Electric lines to our houses and
businesses are subject to lots of factors, from lightning strikes, to an air
conditioner kicking on, to inadequate wiring in our house, to simply the
power company's not having enough resources to adequately supply our
neighborhood.

My first UPSes (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) in the 1980s were designed
to have my computer always run off the battery in the UPS, with the battery
being continuously recharged from the wall plug. (I'm a CPA, not a techie
of any kind, so this might not be exactly the way an electrical engineer
would explain this, but it's close enough for me.) So the power received by
the computer was always uniform. Most so-called UPSes are actually BPSes
(Backup Power Supply). Power simply flows through the BPS until a power
failure occurs, and then switches to the battery in a very few milliseconds.
Using this system, your computer will still receive the fluctuating power
simply flowing through the BPS. The better BPSes, though, regulate this
voltage; AVR smoothes out surges and sags automatically so that the computer
receives clean, consistent power.

A true UPS is pretty expensive; nowadays only the larger, more-expensive
products offer always-consistent-because-its-always-from-the-battery
service. But AVR is available in some BPSes priced for the home budget. My
current one is from Belkin - 800 VA for $120; it says UPS, but it really is
BPS with AVR. In addition to the 4 battery-backup sockets, there are two
other sockets that are surge-protected but not AVR because they are not
connected to the battery.

My recommendation is to always have the best power protection you can
afford. UPS is best, BPS/AVR is next, then BPS without AVR, then AVR
without BPS (if this is possible?); even a plain surge protector is a little
better than no protection at all.

RC