Windows XP reboots during any application and blue screen error

[Mel]

I've read the reboot and blue screen errors, but these
don't seem to help. I've reformatted and totally erased
my drives. I also bought a new drive just in case and
reformatted with windows xp home (fresh install). The
same thing happens. During any application(including win
update and IE), it works for a while and then suddenly
without warning, restarts itself. Sometimes there is a
blue screen of death but the errors always change, so
there's not much to go on. Any ideas?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Mel,

Unexpected reboots can have several sources. It could be a system error, but
it could also be overheating. Disable the autorestart setting in the Control
Panel/System/advanced tab/startup and recovery settings. If it is a system
error, the next time it happens you will get a blue screen with a cryptic
error that can be researched as to the cause. Please post back with this
error for further assistance.

If no blue screen occurs, and the system reboots anyways, then you likely
have an overheating problem. Random reboots are often a sign of
over-heating. Things you can do:

1) Open the case and make sure all fans are operating, especially the cpu
fan. While you're in there, get a can of compressed air and blow out the
dust bunnies.

2) Make sure the drive tower is well ventilated and not stuck in some
department store computer desk pc cabinet with only a little vent hole in
the back.

3) Visit a local pc shop and have them add an intake or exhaust fan. This is
not something you should do on your own unless you are familiar with the air
circulation pattern inside your machine. Adding a fan can be
counterproductive if not done correctly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Guest]

Well that's the thing..
I have already disabled autobooting and it still does it. The blue screens only come up randomly. Ex. it might reboot 13 times and no blue screen. Then again it might reboot a few times and have an error screen. It also doesn't seem to fit any pattern of activities either(no certain applications or certain amount of time or any combinations of activities). And the bios says that it is at acceptable levels (temperature and voltage), I also have an alarm set up if it reaches a critical temperature(it'll give a message and then shut down). But it hasn't been that from what I can tell. I have 3 fans that nearly create a wind tunnel in it(done by tech people not me) and it is brand new computer so it has no dust bunnies yet.. I was given advice today that perhaps it is memory speed? Have you heard of that? The person said they changed memory speed in the bios and the computers stopped rebooting. Maybe if I get a different edition of xp? I have home edition sp1 right now. Will the updates help at all? Is there a way I can get them on a disk and install them? Every time I try to install, the computer reboots during the install and i have to start over. Thanks for help me!!!

----- Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers wrote: -----

Hi Mel,

Unexpected reboots can have several sources. It could be a system error, but
it could also be overheating. Disable the autorestart setting in the Control
Panel/System/advanced tab/startup and recovery settings. If it is a system
error, the next time it happens you will get a blue screen with a cryptic
error that can be researched as to the cause. Please post back with this
error for further assistance.

If no blue screen occurs, and the system reboots anyways, then you likely
have an overheating problem. Random reboots are often a sign of
over-heating. Things you can do:

1) Open the case and make sure all fans are operating, especially the cpu
fan. While you're in there, get a can of compressed air and blow out the
dust bunnies.

2) Make sure the drive tower is well ventilated and not stuck in some
department store computer desk pc cabinet with only a little vent hole in
the back.

3) Visit a local pc shop and have them add an intake or exhaust fan. This is
not something you should do on your own unless you are familiar with the air
circulation pattern inside your machine. Adding a fan can be
counterproductive if not done correctly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Guest]

Btw, the errors are always different.. after about three I gave up trying to fix the errors, because I would see the same error again even after I did what microsoft site said(I looked up the errors on the site and followed directions). Just recently for the first time today I got the Hal.dll error(I already looked it up and I'm going to check it).. so they change each time and come back;p Thanks again!!

 

[Guest]

Sorry one more thing I wanted to add, my computer specs in case it is the hardwar
msi K7N2-V Socket A nForce2 FSB400 DDR400 Motherboar
512 ra
80 gb seagate harddrive(new one)<since I thought it could be hd failure I upgraded from 30g
previously brand new 30gb (generic brand
hi val dvd 4x write
geforce card 64m

That's the general specs for it.

 

[Parish]

I've read the reboot and blue screen errors, but these
don't seem to help. I've reformatted and totally erased
my drives. I also bought a new drive just in case and
reformatted with windows xp home (fresh install). The
same thing happens. During any application(including win
update and IE), it works for a while and then suddenly
without warning, restarts itself. Sometimes there is a
blue screen of death but the errors always change, so
there's not much to go on. Any ideas?

Sounds like flaky memory or PSU. One way to check if it's memory is to
reduce the memory speed in the BIOS and see if the problem goes away,
although it's not totally foolproof.

HTH

Regards,

Parish

 

[Mel]

Thanks Parish!
I started to notice that all the errors were memory
related (except a boot error that was easily fixed in
recovery). I have just tried lowering the speed.. so
far... I have actually been able to use update from
microsoft and they have installed!!! 0.0
I am still testing, but this has been the best results so
far!! I am very excited!! I think the bios was set on the
wrong speed and volts(the manual says a lower volt and it
was set on something higher). I changed both and it LOOKS
GOOD!! But I don't want to jinx myself.. looks good, but
I'll see Thanks.. I'm glad for that option;p and it
means win xp wasn't as bad as I thought (thank goodness).
mel