windows shuts down unexpectedly

[rich]

Windows shuts down unexpectedly. Is there a way to pinpoint the cause based
on the logs and errors that Vista produces? I have read at least a half
dozen reasons suggested for this type of occurrence in general and wonder if
there is information being captured by the system that can help pinpoint the
cause for my specific case.

Problem Reports and Solutons / View Problem History shows 11 instances of
this, 7 today at approximately 1/2 hour intervals and one 5 days ago, one 6
days ago and two 7 days ago. It says : Windows / Shut Down Unexpectedly /
(date & time) Solution Available. However whenever connected to Microsoft
site it never comes back with any solution.
Information from one of those messages:
Product

Windows

Problem

Shut down unexpectedly

Date

5/2/2008 7:07 PM

Status

Solution Available

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen

OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3

Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)

Mini050208-08.dmp

sysdata.xml

Version.txt

Extra information about the problem

BCCode: 9f

BCP1: 00000003

BCP2: 8356F030

BCP3: 85946030

BCP4: 83B56488

OS Version: 6_0_6000

Service Pack: 0_0

Product: 768_1

Server information: 9d99154d-ac5b-4586-abd0-9ffbaff6894a

Also when going to
Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer it shows Critical Errors
but there are never any results when connecting to Microsoft's web site for
that either.

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 5/2/2008 6:38:56 PM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: None
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: emachine
Description:
The last sleep transition was unsuccessful. This error could be caused if
the system stopped responding, failed, or lost power during the sleep
transition.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power"
Guid="{331c3b3a-2005-44c2-ac5e-77220c37d6b4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2008-05-02T23:38:56.458Z" />
<EventRecordID>19361</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>emachine</Computer>

etc.


Any steps recommended to take to get to bottom of this?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

In this instance, I don't think the logs are going to help pinpoint the
problem.

Did you look at the error message?

All cases of "sudden shutdown" that I've encountered over the
years could be tracked back to a hardware failure. Most often this would
be either the CPU Fan that has failed (and the fan fail alarm is turned
off) and the system turns itself off to protect the CPU. In other cases,
it is a bad Power Supply Unit (PSU).
LOL!

I'd check the CPU fan and PSU first.

So how was a memory dump made?

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Windows shuts down unexpectedly. Is there a way to pinpoint the cause
based
on the logs and errors that Vista produces? I have read at least a half
dozen reasons suggested for this type of occurrence in general and wonder
if
there is information being captured by the system that can help pinpoint
the
cause for my specific case.

Problem Reports and Solutons / View Problem History shows 11 instances of
this, 7 today at approximately 1/2 hour intervals and one 5 days ago, one
6
days ago and two 7 days ago. It says : Windows / Shut Down Unexpectedly
/
(date & time) Solution Available. However whenever connected to
Microsoft
site it never comes back with any solution.
Information from one of those messages:
Product

Windows

Problem

Shut down unexpectedly

Date

5/2/2008 7:07 PM

Status

Solution Available

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen

OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3

Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be
available)

Mini050208-08.dmp

sysdata.xml

Version.txt

Extra information about the problem

BCCode: 9f

BCP1: 00000003

BCP2: 8356F030

BCP3: 85946030

BCP4: 83B56488

OS Version: 6_0_6000

Service Pack: 0_0

Product: 768_1

Server information: 9d99154d-ac5b-4586-abd0-9ffbaff6894a

Also when going to
Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer it shows Critical
Errors
but there are never any results when connecting to Microsoft's web site
for
that either.

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 5/2/2008 6:38:56 PM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: None
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: emachine
Description:
The last sleep transition was unsuccessful. This error could be caused if
the system stopped responding, failed, or lost power during the sleep
transition.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power"
Guid="{331c3b3a-2005-44c2-ac5e-77220c37d6b4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2008-05-02T23:38:56.458Z" />
<EventRecordID>19361</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>emachine</Computer>

etc.


Any steps recommended to take to get to bottom of this?

Your computer is having problems with going to Sleep. There are a lot of
computers that have problems with Vista's Sleep function, and it seems to be
happen with certain motherboards. I am not sure if SP1 has improved on this
situation, but a BIOS update helped with my motherboard. If you are already
using the latest BIOS for your motherboard, the easiest solution would be to
not use Sleep. You need to go to Power Options and make sure that Sleep is
not used. Maybe you could use Standby instead, without issues.

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Did you look at the error message?


So how was a memory dump made?

OK, I'll take that back, my Error message was different. The memory dump
could have been made when the machine tried resuming from Sleep. The time
of the BSOD needs to be checked to verify when it happened.

eMachines used to use Bestec power supply units, which are well known for
blowing motherboards, taking graphics cards, memory and optical drives with
them, in the hardware newsgroups I post in.

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Windows shuts down unexpectedly. Is there a way to pinpoint the cause
based
on the logs and errors that Vista produces? I have read at least a half
dozen reasons suggested for this type of occurrence in general and wonder
if
there is information being captured by the system that can help pinpoint
the
cause for my specific case.

Problem Reports and Solutons / View Problem History shows 11 instances of
this, 7 today at approximately 1/2 hour intervals and one 5 days ago, one
6
days ago and two 7 days ago. It says : Windows / Shut Down Unexpectedly
/
(date & time) Solution Available. However whenever connected to
Microsoft
site it never comes back with any solution.
Information from one of those messages:
Product

Windows

Problem

Shut down unexpectedly

Date

5/2/2008 7:07 PM

Status

Solution Available

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen

OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3

Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be
available)

Mini050208-08.dmp

sysdata.xml

Version.txt

Extra information about the problem

BCCode: 9f

BCP1: 00000003

BCP2: 8356F030

BCP3: 85946030

BCP4: 83B56488

OS Version: 6_0_6000

Service Pack: 0_0

Product: 768_1

Server information: 9d99154d-ac5b-4586-abd0-9ffbaff6894a

Also when going to
Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer it shows Critical
Errors
but there are never any results when connecting to Microsoft's web site
for
that either.

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 5/2/2008 6:38:56 PM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: None
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: emachine
Description:
The last sleep transition was unsuccessful. This error could be caused if
the system stopped responding, failed, or lost power during the sleep
transition.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power"
Guid="{331c3b3a-2005-44c2-ac5e-77220c37d6b4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2008-05-02T23:38:56.458Z" />
<EventRecordID>19361</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>emachine</Computer>

etc.


Any steps recommended to take to get to bottom of this?

Looks at these threads. I do not know if eMachines still does this, as I
would have thought they would have sorted it out by now, and that eMachines
computers that are young enough to be supplied with Vista would have better
PSUs.

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk...en&group=uk.comp.homebuilt&q=eMachines+Bestec

ss.

 

[rich]

I'll have to see if I can figure out how to determine if the fan is working:
"(and the fan fail alarm is turned off)" Before posting here I had contacted
emachines and asked them about the fan as being a source of the problem since
I don't feel any air blowing out of it the way I do with an HP system I have
but the support person said it wasn't that noticeable normally, so I am not
sure if he is right or not, I wonder if there is a command to run to show if
the fan is working rather than to have to take things apart and physically
inspect it. As a first step solution the emachines person said to do f2 when
booting up, then do f9 at that screen to reset the bios and see if that
solved it,otherwise they thought it was a problem with the hard drive which
would have to be fixed by sending the computer in for repair.
--
..

Windows shuts down unexpectedly. Is there a way to pinpoint the cause
based
on the logs and errors that Vista produces? I have read at least a half
dozen reasons suggested for this type of occurrence in general and
wonder if
there is information being captured by the system that can help
pinpoint the
cause for my specific case.

Problem Reports and Solutons / View Problem History shows 11 instances
of
this, 7 today at approximately 1/2 hour intervals and one 5 days ago,
one 6
days ago and two 7 days ago. It says : Windows / Shut Down Unexpectedly
/
(date & time) Solution Available. However whenever connected to
Microsoft
site it never comes back with any solution.
Information from one of those messages:
Product

Windows

Problem

Shut down unexpectedly

Date

5/2/2008 7:07 PM

Status

Solution Available

Problem signature

Problem Event Name: BlueScreen

OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3

Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be
available)

Mini050208-08.dmp

sysdata.xml

Version.txt

Extra information about the problem

BCCode: 9f

BCP1: 00000003

BCP2: 8356F030

BCP3: 85946030

BCP4: 83B56488

OS Version: 6_0_6000

Service Pack: 0_0

Product: 768_1

Server information: 9d99154d-ac5b-4586-abd0-9ffbaff6894a

Also when going to
Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer it shows Critical
Errors
but there are never any results when connecting to Microsoft's web site
for
that either.

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 5/2/2008 6:38:56 PM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: None
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: emachine
Description:
The last sleep transition was unsuccessful. This error could be caused
if
the system stopped responding, failed, or lost power during the sleep
transition.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power"
Guid="{331c3b3a-2005-44c2-ac5e-77220c37d6b4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2008-05-02T23:38:56.458Z" />
<EventRecordID>19361</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>emachine</Computer>

etc.


Any steps recommended to take to get to bottom of this?

In this instance, I don't think the logs are going to help pinpoint the
problem. All cases of "sudden shutdown" that I've encountered over the
years could be tracked back to a hardware failure. Most often this would
be either the CPU Fan that has failed (and the fan fail alarm is turned
off) and the system turns itself off to protect the CPU. In other cases,
it is a bad Power Supply Unit (PSU).

I'd check the CPU fan and PSU first.


--
Dzomlija

Peter Alexander Dzomlija
-Do you hear, huh? The Alpha and The Omega? Death and Rebirth? And as
you die, so shall I be Reborn...-

_*Prometheus*_
MOBO: ASUS MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi-AP
CPU: AMD Phenom 9600 Quad
RAM: 2 x A-Data 2GB DDR2-800
GPU: ASUS ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO, 256MB
BOX: Thermaltake Tai-Chi Water Cooled
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate x64
'' (http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc.php?id=333562)'[image:
http://valid.x86-secret.com/cache/banner/333562.png]'
(http://valid.x86-secret.com/cache/banner/333562.png)

 

[rich]

It sounds like I should try and understand the sleep function better, I
haven't located yet where to look for those settings other than seeing in
Control Panel / Power Options / to change when the computer sleeps, but don't
see to where to change IF the comptuer sleeps.
Also I am not sure how to tell if I have the latest BIOS.

 

[Adam Albright]

I'll have to see if I can figure out how to determine if the fan is working:
"(and the fan fail alarm is turned off)" Before posting here I had contacted
emachines and asked them about the fan as being a source of the problem since
I don't feel any air blowing out of it the way I do with an HP system I have
but the support person said it wasn't that noticeable normally, so I am not
sure if he is right or not, I wonder if there is a command to run to show if
the fan is working rather than to have to take things apart and physically
inspect it. As a first step solution the emachines person said to do f2 when
booting up, then do f9 at that screen to reset the bios and see if that
solved it,otherwise they thought it was a problem with the hard drive which
would have to be fixed by sending the computer in for repair.

If you hunt around nearly every BIOS version these days reports at
least some basic information on if or not fans are working and their
current RPM. Enter setup after a reboot, but before Windows loads to
get into BIOS. You'll have to hunt through all the pages to see where
it is reported for your system. Typical keys to get into BIOS (setup)
are delete, F2, F8, etc..

If your system shuts down unexpectedly and repeats this behavior over
and over then yes, suspect overheating. Any number of suspects. The
case fans have stopped, more likely the CPU fan has. Also could be
your memory is running hot, even something obstructing the air flow or
one of the connecters to one of the fans as wiggled loose. If any of
this has happened then this can quickly build up heat and BIOS should
detect the CPU starting to overheat and as a precaution it shuts down
your system to protect it from damage before it gets too hot. If you
bought a name box they usually cut corners and install cheesy heatsink
and fans.

I've build my systems from scratch for years and ALWAYS invest a few
more bucks in a decent (oversized) heatsink and variable speed fan.
Heck, I can tell from the pitch change the fan makes when it speeds
up, slows down, and yes, even stops by design since the heatsink is
huge and all copper my system runs very cool even under prolonged
load.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

If you hunt around nearly every BIOS version these days reports at
least some basic information on if or not fans are working and their
current RPM. Enter setup after a reboot, but before Windows loads to
get into BIOS. You'll have to hunt through all the pages to see where
it is reported for your system. Typical keys to get into BIOS (setup)
are delete, F2, F8, etc..

If your system shuts down unexpectedly and repeats this behavior over
and over then yes, suspect overheating. Any number of suspects. The
case fans have stopped, more likely the CPU fan has. Also could be
your memory is running hot, even something obstructing the air flow or
one of the connecters to one of the fans as wiggled loose. If any of
this has happened then this can quickly build up heat and BIOS should
detect the CPU starting to overheat and as a precaution it shuts down
your system to protect it from damage before it gets too hot. If you
bought a name box they usually cut corners and install cheesy heatsink
and fans.

I've build my systems from scratch for years and ALWAYS invest a few
more bucks in a decent (oversized) heatsink and variable speed fan.
Heck, I can tell from the pitch change the fan makes when it speeds
up, slows down, and yes, even stops by design since the heatsink is
huge and all copper my system runs very cool even under prolonged
load.

The error shows that the computer has gone to Sleep, so overheating is not
likely, as only a trickle charge to memory is kept running. Sleep doesn't
seem to be working very well though, as the computer is supposed to use the
hibernation file that Sleep makes as well (unlike Standby) in that event.
It's possible that the PSU has failed to keep the RAM supplied, and the
corrupted memory causes the BSOD on awakening.

ss.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

It sounds like I should try and understand the sleep function better, I
haven't located yet where to look for those settings other than seeing in
Control Panel / Power Options / to change when the computer sleeps, but
don't
see to where to change IF the comptuer sleeps.
Also I am not sure how to tell if I have the latest BIOS.

Try looking in Help to see how to change the Power Options.

You can use this to see what motherboard you have, and what BIOS version:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

ss.

 

[rich]

Regarding "If you are already using the latest BIOS for your motherboard, the
easiest solution would be to not use Sleep." I do see that in Power Options
where it says 'Change When the computer Sleeps' I could change that from 15
minutes to never. So if the problem is caused by not properly going to sleep
that might prevent it, although maybe that is not actually addressing the
root problem.

Thanks for that link to see if latest bios. I ran that and see what the
bios is, although at this point I am not sure how to determine if that is the
latest version of it or not.
This is what it shows:
System Manufacturer Gateway
System Name T5246
System S/N
Mainboard Vendor Gateway
Mainboard Model MCP61SM2MA
BIOS Vendor Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Version 6.00 PG
BIOS Date 11/10/2007

 

[rich]

(I had posted a reply to this earlier today but doesn't look like it showed
up.) I will have to look more into system fan I think. When running command
at startup for bios it shows copu fan speed 1417 rpg and system fan speed of
0 rpm. cpu temperature 34 degrees C and system temp 37 degrees C. I never
feel air coming out from fan so will probably have to open computer and look
to see if it is spinning.

 

[rich]

( I don't see the latest post you made in reply, I don't know if they
disappear from here, this is first time I have used this discussion group. I
had replied to it earleir today but don't see that reply either.) 1. Thanks
for link for cpuid to determine bios. Althugh i am not sure how to tell if
that is the latest bios for the motherboard or not.
-- System Manufacturer Gateway
System Name T5246
System S/N
Mainboard Vendor Gateway
Mainboard Model MCP61SM2MA
BIOS Vendor Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Version 6.00 PG
BIOS Date 11/10/2007

2. Regarding not using Sleep, maybe that would be one solution, to say
"Never" regarding sleep interval in Power Options, however that doesn't look
like it would solve the root cause of probelm. Although it might be a way to
help isolate what the problem is or is not caused by.

 

[rich]

I changed when computer should sleep to "Never", but there was still an
unexpected shutdown today, so that apparently is not the casue, however the
problem encountered when trying to go to sleep which was reported in the
event log could be another symptom of what is causing system to shut down
unexpectedly, I guess. Whenever submitting those critical errors to Micrsoft
on line they always come back and say there were no results found, so they
don't provide much help in understanding what the problem is. Wonder if
there is any better way?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I changed when computer should sleep to "Never", but there was still an
unexpected shutdown today, so that apparently is not the casue, however
the
problem encountered when trying to go to sleep which was reported in the
event log could be another symptom of what is causing system to shut down
unexpectedly, I guess. Whenever submitting those critical errors to
Micrsoft
on line they always come back and say there were no results found, so they
don't provide much help in understanding what the problem is. Wonder if
there is any better way?

What is the timestamp of the error messages? Are they from the time you are
trying to turn on the machine, or earlier, when you were not at the
computer?

ss.

 

[rich]

-- (If this is a duplcate, I had submitted a post but didnt look like it
showed up, not sure why, third time that has happened here.) First I'll
clarify that the computer shuts down and reboots automatically so it is not
needing to be turned back on. At least for the most recent occurences. For
the most recent occurence of this 2 days ago the message in Windows Problem
Reports and Solutions says that at 6:25 Windows shut down unexpectedly.

In event viewer, a critical message around this time is at 6:24:21:
Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 5/4/2008 6:24:21 PM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: None
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: emachine
Description:
The last sleep transition was unsuccessful. This error could be caused if
the system stopped responding, failed, or lost power during the sleep
transition.

An error message shows for 6:24:38 referring to a system shutdown at 6:22:28:

Log Name: System
Source: EventLog
Date: 5/4/2008 6:24:38 PM
Event ID: 6008
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: emachine
Description:
The previous system shutdown at 6:22:28 PM on 5/4/2008 was unexpected.


Even though in Power Management I changed the setting for when to put the
system to sleep to Never, it looks like there still was a message about a
problem sleeping (first message above)

I am not sure if these tell anything to indicate reason for shutdown problem
or if they are just a result of the fact that it shut down unexpectedly.
..