Unwanted restart on shutdown?

[John Favaro]

Last night I shut down the computer (XP Pro) and got the message that it
was going to install updates, don't turn off the computer, it'll do so
automatically, etc. etc. The usual, no problem.

But then, I found the computer restarted. And again. Every time I do
"shutdown," it shuts down, but after a few seconds, restarts. I have to
physically hit the off switch to keep it off.

Never seen this before, on this or any other computer. Any ideas?

Thanks,

John

 

[Rich Barry]

John, take a look at this MS Article
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320299

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093

After disabling Automatic Restart per http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320299
(see previous reply)...

Examine your WindowsUpdate.log and tell us which update(s) installed. Note
any errors associated with the update(s).

Tip: The end/bottom of the log is where you'll find the most recently
installed updates so go to the end/bottom of the log and scroll upwards.

 

[John Favaro]

How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093

After disabling Automatic Restart per
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320299 (see previous reply)...

Examine your WindowsUpdate.log and tell us which update(s) installed. Note
any errors associated with the update(s).

Tip: The end/bottom of the log is where you'll find the most recently
installed updates so go to the end/bottom of the log and scroll upwards.

Many thanks to both of you for taking the time to respond so carefully -
a great list with lots of helpful people.

I monitored the behavior of the computer all weekend and after that
first day, it didn't do it again. Now I am convinced it was a genuine
hardware problem, not the software, that made it restart - also because
it was more of a "start" than a "restart" - that is, the disk had
literally been turned off before it turned itself on again. (Assuming it
doesn't come back,) I'll probably never know what kind of transient
problem it was, but once again thanks for your responses, and I did
*not* know about the automatic restart in any case, and that's very good
to know.

Best,

John

 

[John Favaro]

For what it's worth, the computer started acting up again: last night,
it literally turned itself on at 5 in the morning!

But it's pretty obviously a hardware related thing at this point, not
Windows related.