Windows XP Home logs off at random intervals

[Doghouse Riley]

The system dumps out to the Welcome screen. It does not reboot or
lock the computer - I can always log in again immediately.

This is not the immediate log-on, log-off others have complained
about. It happens after the user is logged in and has been working
for minutes to hours. Does not appear to be connected to a specific
application.

The interval between log-offs is decreasing, now as often as 2-3 times
per hour.

Just before log-off, the system emits a single, high pitched beep.

Anything else anyone could suggest..... this is an E-machines PC with
a factory-image only CD so reinstalling would be an -absolute last-
resort.

 

[Malke]

The system dumps out to the Welcome screen. It does not reboot or
lock the computer - I can always log in again immediately.

This is not the immediate log-on, log-off others have complained
about. It happens after the user is logged in and has been working
for minutes to hours. Does not appear to be connected to a specific
application.

The interval between log-offs is decreasing, now as often as 2-3 times
per hour.

Just before log-off, the system emits a single, high pitched beep.

Anything else anyone could suggest..... this is an E-machines PC with
a factory-image only CD so reinstalling would be an -absolute last-
resort.

The beep is coming from your motherboard. Some hardware component is
failing, perhaps the machine is overheating. Here are some general
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). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org - 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 - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

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). Or if
the machine is still under warranty, call eMachines tech support or
take it back to the store where you bought it.

Malke