unexpected shutdown during games

[Guest]

My PC (P4 1.8Ghz, Win XP Pro, 512 Mb RAM) keeps shutting down unexpectedly,
usually with a loud 3 second beep. This only happens while playing games
(Unreal, various versions, LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth, GTA 2 through San
Andreas,). It does not crash while using other applications, such as MS
Word, IE6, etc., or while idle. My antivirus is current, I had an extra
video card (with 256MB ram) which I swapped out ‘cuz I had the time, the
interior is clean with little dust. Heat hasn’t been an issue in the past,
but maybe it is now? If a possibility, how do I monitor the interior heat?
Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[RobertVA]

My PC (P4 1.8Ghz, Win XP Pro, 512 Mb RAM) keeps shutting down unexpectedly,
usually with a loud 3 second beep. This only happens while playing games
(Unreal, various versions, LOTR: Battle for Middle Earth, GTA 2 through San
Andreas,). It does not crash while using other applications, such as MS
Word, IE6, etc., or while idle. My antivirus is current, I had an extra
video card (with 256MB ram) which I swapped out ‘cuz I had the time, the
interior is clean with little dust. Heat hasn’t been an issue in the past,
but maybe it is now? If a possibility, how do I monitor the interior heat?
Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Are the beeps coming from the external speakers or the one in the
computer case?

Any error messages on the screen?

Any entries in the event log corresponding to the times of the shut downs?

Using the latest drivers on the manufacturer's web site(s) for your
video and sound accelerators? DirectX up to date? system pass tests in
the DirectX diagnostic?

Check your system installation disks and your motherboard manufacturer's
web site for heat monitoring software. Or use Speedfan at
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

 

[Guest]

Are the beeps coming from the external speakers or the one in the
computer case?

Any error messages on the screen?

Any entries in the event log corresponding to the times of the shut downs?

Using the latest drivers on the manufacturer's web site(s) for your
video and sound accelerators? DirectX up to date? system pass tests in
the DirectX diagnostic?

Check your system installation disks and your motherboard manufacturer's
web site for heat monitoring software. Or use Speedfan at
http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rookie move, I forgot additional information. the event log shows: The
process winlogon.exe has initiated the restart of NEWPC for the following
reason: Other (Unplanned); Minor Reason: 0x0; Shutdown Type: power off

The beep is coming from my speakers, not the internal speaker. No error
messages. VIdeo drivers current, direct x 9.0c, passes dxdiag. Thanks again.