[RESOLVED] Something keeps restarting Windows

[Nightwalker83]

Hi,

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium and for about the last day or so Windows has been restarting every ten minutes for so. Here (see attachment) is the event data from the event viewer I don't understand it and was hoping some of you could help me resolve this issue.

System:

Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium Home Edition 6.1.7601
Date 2012-07-03
Time 09:22


--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium Home Edition
OS Service Pack -
Internet Explorer 9.0.8112.16421
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)

Motherboard:
CPU Type Unknown, 3633 MHz
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Unknown
System Memory 16365 MB
BIOS Type Unknown

Display:
Video Adapter GeForce GTX 560
Video Adapter GeForce GTX 560
Monitor AOC 2434 [NoDB] (P4898JA001907)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]
Audio Adapter High Definition Audio Controller [NoDB]

Storage:
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Disk Drive ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device
Disk Drive WDC WD10EACS-00D6B0 ATA Device
Disk Drive Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex USB Device
Optical Drive TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S223C ATA Device
SMART Hard Disks Status Unknown

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 476837 MB (352265 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 503866 MB (342538 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 349997 MB (308916 MB free)
H: (NTFS) 100000 MB (88347 MB free)
I: (NTFS) 476937 MB (345595 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network:
Network Adapter Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (192.168.1.1)

Peripherals:
Printer Fax
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB1 Controller Etron USB 3.0 Extensible Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB1 Controller Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB2 Controller Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller [NoDB]
USB Device Unknown Device
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Input Device
USB Device USB Mass Storage Device



Thanks,


Nightwalker

[PatnLongBeach]

Just taking a guess here but could be hardware related. Overheating could do this. Open the case and make sure all fans are running. Unplug all external devices if you have em.

If it does it every 10 minutes or so, I would also check in safemode and see if it does it there too.

I'm sure somebody here will have better ideas.

Pat

[Nightwalker83]

Well, the problem hasn't occurred for the past hour and a half I also just cleaned up my pc using CCleaner as well as scanning for and removing and malware or viruses that might be on the system. Hopefully, the problem has resolved itself.

Edit:

Looks like I was wrong! While scanning my pc for viruses it rebooted and I noticed that it rebooted when it reached 50% - 60% done in the scan during the scan of the file system the scan for the registry went without problems.

[Edgemeal]

By default windows is set to auto restart on system failures, if you disable that option the next time the system fails you should see a BSOD window with an error code/device/driver that caused the problem.

How To Disable Automatic Restart in Win7.

[Nightwalker83]

Thanks! However, for some reason this problem reboots the computer regardless of whether that "Automatically Restarts" check box is checked or not. At the moment it is unchecked but the computer still reboots whenever the problem occurs.

I have narrowed the problem down to a file in the "Windows" directory although, at this stage I don't know which file it is.

[PatnLongBeach]

why not try a system restore to see. Maybe you already have.

I would be surprised if software related as most of the time these are hardware related.

Pat

[Nightwalker83]

The only system restore point that I have covering the initial time period is the before I installed AVG 2012. I don't know why I had to install it again I can remember installing it before that.

Edit:

Not sure if this is related but while I was trying to reboot the computer it rebooted again just after the CMOS checks, etc.

[PatnLongBeach]

I think it is going to be impossible to figure what the cause is by when and how it's shutting down. No consistency.

Try removing all devices and cards that are not necessary. unplug your ram, vid card, hard drive connectors and plug them back in. This sometimes can clean the contacts. Look for bulging caps. I had this happen once on a vid card. I would get the bsod randomly.

essential try running the computer with the bare minimum. unplug all usb devices.

Pat

[techgnome]

couple things jump out at me.... CPU temp... it may be over heating. Usually that just shuts down, doesn't force a reboot. A bad memory chip... would... and might be why you're now seeing it after CMOS check... It may be time to start pulling the memory chips and replacing what you can...

-tg

[Edgemeal]

I think it is going to be impossible to figure what the cause is by when and how it's shutting down. No consistency.

When I've had problems like that in the past it was always the PSU getting weak or a stick of ram went bad.

The OP doesn't give any info on the system so its hard to say, but I'd start by checking the obvious stuff, cooling, connections, re-seat memory and cards, check all cable connections, check PSU voltages in bios or with a VM, run a memory tester from a boot CD, etc, etc...

[Nightwalker83]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if some of the RAM was faulty all except the fault stick would show up in the "System" part of the control panel (16GB RAM). Also, it appears the usb port that my Maxtor 250gb hard-drive is plugged into is no longer functioning, don't know whether or not that would have anything to do with it?

Edit:

If I go to System in the control panel it shows the correct amount of RAM that I currently have in my pc, 16GB I think if a stick was fault it would should all but the amount for the fault stick. I have attached a hardware report to this posted and updated my initial post to include a system summary.

[PatnLongBeach]

It's all about process of elimination. Remove everything you can. Run just what is needed. and go from there. I know its a pain but its the only way you can figure this thing out.

Pat

[Nightwalker83]

It's all about process of elimination. Remove everything you can. Run just what is needed. and go from there. I know its a pain but its the only way you can figure this thing out.

Pat

Tried that it safe mode but the problems occurs there too.

[PatnLongBeach]

Tried that it safe mode but the problems occurs there too.

I'm talking about removing all hardware. all usb devices, extra drives and things like this.

pull your memory out, plug it back in. same with your vid card and so on.

Pat

[Nightwalker83]

Damn, that is what I was afraid of! Pity, there is no program (that I know of) to display the error code for the hardware on the desktop or even save it to log file.

[Edgemeal]

I was just on a PC forum and a guy couldn't get his new PC to run, After almost a week of swapping parts, he finally figured out what it was.... the reset button on the PC case was stuck in the pressed position, LOL!

[Nightwalker83]

I was just on a PC forum and a guy couldn't get his new PC to run, After almost a week of swapping parts, he finally figured out what it was.... the reset button on the PC case was stuck in the pressed position, LOL!

That doesn't seem to be the case here as I can still push the button.

Edit:

It doesn't even get past the GIGABYTE splash screen that first appears when I boot up the computer. I will wait for a while then see if I can't check the temperature somehow.

Just checked the temp in the BIOS and it's at 30 degrees Celsius for the system temp and 23 degrees Celsius for the CPU temp.

I am currently trying the solutions here to see if they make a difference.

Uninstalling the Windows 8 Alpha didn't help I still experiencing the same problem.

[Lord Orwell]

just want to add that memory showing up in system properties doesnt mean the ram is good. I recommend removing one ram stick at a time and powering on.

[namrekka]

Following your error code, "error 0x80041003" on google I found this:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...b-8ed42a36a96e

[Nightwalker83]

Well, since, I unplugged my external Maxtor hard drive the problem hasn't occurred. I think it was just so hot that it was sending overheating instructions to the system.

@ Lord Orwell

True however, I would think that if that were the case it would cause the BSOD to appear after the steps I took in post #5 but this is not the case.

Edit:

Damn, its not the external hard drive causing the problem since it just happened again with the drive unplugged. I'm guessing it is either RAM or video card since the monitor dies just before the computer restarts. The rebooting occurs when I play games such as Command & Conquer or even just Chess Titans although, I haven't had the computer reboot when the only thing I am doing is listening to music. Ran memory diagnostic but no errors were detecVted.

Here are the specifications for the fans, etc from the BIOS:

Vcore: 1.440V
DDR3 1.5V: 1.472V
+3.3V: 3.360V
Current System Temp 33 Degrees Celsius
Current CPU Temp 25 Degrees Celsius
Current CPU Fan speed 3708 RPM
Current system fan1 speed 0 RPM
'' fan2 same as above
Current power fan speed 0 RPM

CPU Warning Temp: [70 degrees Celsius]

One of the fans is faulty just need to figure out which one it is. The power supply fan is causing the problem.

To diagnose the problem I turned on all the fan warnings in the BIOS enabling the buzz notifying me of faulty fans. I then disabled and saved the settings one by one until the sound stopped.

[PatnLongBeach]

I would bet you have a bulging cap on your video card.

Pat

[Nightwalker83]

Not sure but the problem is the power supply unit (or at least the fan) because now my pc won't even turn on.

Edit:

Just replaced my power supply (650watt) with a new Powercase 750w 120mm Fan Power Supply Unit fingers crossed that fixes the problem.

[Lord Orwell]

i was going to say that the most likely cause based on symptoms was the power supply. A usb hard drive can draw up to half an amp of power (500mw) and that could be enough to prevent your system to boot with a failing power supply. Or it could stop it being recognized by the bios if the voltage is low to it, and this could hang the boot. Since you've marked this resolved it seems to be the problem?

[Nightwalker83]

Since you've marked this resolved it seems to be the problem?

Yeah, that solved it.