What is the possible problem when your computer is
A number of things - all bad.
If I were betting on problems I've experienced, I'd be betting on reasons #5, #6 (memory), or
reason #8 (overheating due to failing fan), unless its reason #3 (virus).
(1) you laptop (if you have a laptop) battery is dying, and the system is hibernating in response to the low power indication.
(2) your computer's "Standby" button is being accidentally pressed (or the button has failed), and the computer is going into "Standby mode" since it thinks that the "Standby" button has just been pressed.
(3) a virus/worm/Trojan horse/spyware or other malware infecting your system can cause a system restart. While your computer is actually up, run an anti-virus scan and let it run until the system
shuts itself down, and keep running these anti-virus scans until it finds something, or the scan
finally runs to completion. Only when malware is eliminated as the cause of your system shutdowns can you proceed to address any other cause(s) of random system restarts/shutdowns.
(4) You're accidentally pressing the system "Reset" or "Power off" button (if you system is a tower).
(5) Your computer has developed a memory error in the area of RAM where the kernel is resident.
(6) Your computer has developed a memory error in the area of RAM where the ROM BIOS is loaded.
In the case of #5, or #6 perform an in-depth system memory diagnostic using your system's
ROM BIOS resident diagnostics. Access these diagnostic programs by entering SETUP while
your system is booting - usually by holding down F2 (or other system-specific function key) while the system is booting.
(7) Other software problem(s)
In this case, boot your system (and use it for awhile) in SAFE MODE. Safe mode is selected by holding down F8 (or other system specific function key). If you system does not randomly restart while in safe mode, then you have a software problem causing the restarts when in "nonSafe mode"
For Windows XP users
Windows XP is designed to automatically reboot each time an error occurs such as a BSoD (Blue Screen of Death). Although this may be nice for errors that do not occur often, users who have a re-occurring error may wish to identify the error to troubleshoot it. Below are the steps on how this feature can be disabled and enabled in Windows XP.
1. From the desktop right-click on My Computer.
2. Click the Properties option.
3. In the System Properties window click the Advanced tab.
4. In Advanced click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery.
5. In the Startup and Recovery window uncheck the Automatically restart check box.
6. Click Ok.
Now if the computer generates an error it should not automatically restart and enable you to display any errors your computer may be experiencing.
(8) Possible Heat related issue
Many computers today are designed to turn off or automatically reboot if the computer, processor, or other device in your computer gets too hot. If you have heard any abnormal noises coming from your computer recently such as a high squealing this could indicate a fan may be failing in your computer. If the CPU fan is starting to fail, the motherboard will shutdown the PC when the CPU
temperature exceeds a CMOS-set threshold, which protects the CPU from a thermal meltdown.
First, verify the fan on the power supply is working by examining the back of the computer and see if the fan is moving and moving smoothly. For all other fans in the computer (e.g. CPU fan and/or
a tower case fan (if you system has one)) you will need to either open the computer and visually verify that all fans are working.
If your BIOS monitors the RPM of the fans enter CMOS Setup and verify it does not report any errors.
(9) Issue with the operating system (operating system bug)
If after following each of the above recommendations your computer still continues to reboot it is likely that you are experiencing a Microsoft Windows operating system related issue (an operating system bug). To help make sure this is the case try the below steps.
1. Reboot the computer and enter CMOS setup as the computer is booting.
2. After you have loaded the computer in CMOS setup let the computer sit for a long time.
If the computer does not reboot while letting the computer sit in CMOS it is likely that you are in fact experiencing an issue with Microsoft Windows and it is recommend that if you have followed all of the above recommendations that you reinstall Microsoft Windows - or, since you're running
WinXP Service Pack 2, you may want to simply install (free) Service pack 3 and/or Service Pack 4,
and see if that resolves the operating system bug issue. Note that Windows XP SP2 is a particularly stable version of Windows, and it is unlikely that your "random restart" issue is going to be an operating system bug.
9/19/2011 7:25:41 AM •
Microsoft...
•
Answered
on Sep 19, 2011