WinXP Home shuts down without warning

[Guest]

WinXP is shutting down as if someone hit the "Reset" button on the computer.
No warning, no error messages, no event log entries.

Maybe here are some clues. When logged on as Administrator if I shut off
System Restore and/or Automatic Updates and am running an application such as
Outlook when the systems shuts down and restarts, I find that System Restore
is running and Automatic Updates are turned on. It's as if everything I do,
such as updating the anti-virus software, is forgotten upon restart.

The system is about 6 years old, is running a Pentium III at 733 MHz.

I'd appreciate any suggestions about how to find the cause of this
unexpected shutdown.

John

 

[Guest]

I would suspect some failure in RAM, or the Power Supply. Anything within the
Operating System would leave an event.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Mark. I can swap the power supply - - - any ideas how to see if RAM
is causing the problem?

 

[Guest]

Assuming more than one mem chip in the system, the 'traditional' way is to
pull half of the chips, test, and if no failure, put in the other half by
itself, and test. If either half 'predictably' fails, it's ram.

 

[Guest]

Thanks again, Mark.
I have 3 memory boards. 2 x 128 MB and 1x 512 MB. I'll try them each, one
at a time and see if one (or more) gives a consistent failure.

John

 

[Guest]

While you are in there, you need to test the temp of the processor. If it's
'too hot to touch' you may have a fan problem of some kind.

 

[Guest]

Good morning Mark; thanks for hanging in here with me.

I swapped the power supply and put in a new one. Still have arbitrary
shutdown behavior.

I am in the process of testing each memory board. At this point, it doesn't
matter which of three slots I place the 512 MB card, I still get arbitrary
shutdown behavior.

My BIOS allows me to check processor temperature. I checked last night and
it was 125 degrees C. I also see that the fan is working fine. Should I
remove and reseat the processor?

Does the operating system, in the event of an arbitrary shutdown,
automatically use the previously known "good configuration?" That's what
seems to be happening.

Thanks again; this is beginning to be frustrating!

 

[Guest]

Oops. Just checked CPU temp again - - - it is 118 degrees F. (not degrees
C. as I stated in my previous post). I think this is a normal temp for the
processor.

 

[Guest]

Yep, depending on the type of processor, and the quality of the cooling, 118
F should be ok.
That consistan failure on the 512 ram is a pretty sure bet. Expensive news,
but at least I think you got it. One last ditch effort to salvage the chip
might be a through cleaning of the MoBo and chip contact with some neutral
solvent, like alcohol.

 

[Guest]

Mark, I don't believe what just happened! Upon the latest restart, the
system ran chkdsk. I have been trying to get chkdsk to run for 2 days and
couldn't. I then got a window telling me that Windows had recovered from a
serious error. Now the system seems to be stable. I hate it when these
problems fix themselves! I had done nothing with respect to RAM or the CPU
since my last post.

In the future, is there a way (other than the standard way) that I can force
chkdsk to run with the fix option upon startup?

 

[Guest]

Well, the way to do it would be identical to how windows does it, with a
registry entry. You can set the scan the standard way, and export the reg
entry that it creates, then set a shutdown script to run the reg file.

The registry entry at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
Manager\BootExecute may have an entry for 'autocheck'

shutdow script: start/run, type:

HH
mkMSITStore:%windir%\Help\Help\SPconcepts.chm::/gptext_assigncomputershutdownscripts.htm

 

[mikeyhsd]

suggest you get a program that can monitor temperatures and fan speeds.
I use Speed Fan.
or see if the computer manufacturer has one available.



(e-mail address removed)



Mark, I don't believe what just happened! Upon the latest restart, the
system ran chkdsk. I have been trying to get chkdsk to run for 2 days and
couldn't. I then got a window telling me that Windows had recovered from a
serious error. Now the system seems to be stable. I hate it when these
problems fix themselves! I had done nothing with respect to RAM or the CPU
since my last post.

In the future, is there a way (other than the standard way) that I can force
chkdsk to run with the fix option upon startup?

 

[Pappion]

Isn't it important with XP to have a minimum of programs run at Start Up?

If not, how does one have chkdsk run?
suggest you get a program that can monitor temperatures and fan speeds.
I use Speed Fan.
or see if the computer manufacturer has one available.



(e-mail address removed)



Mark, I don't believe what just happened! Upon the latest restart, the
system ran chkdsk. I have been trying to get chkdsk to run for 2 days and
couldn't. I then got a window telling me that Windows had recovered from a
serious error. Now the system seems to be stable. I hate it when these
problems fix themselves! I had done nothing with respect to RAM or the CPU
since my last post.

In the future, is there a way (other than the standard way) that I can force
chkdsk to run with the fix option upon startup?