XP Pro - Random Restarts? [RESOLVED]

[Madboy]

Yesterday, i was just surfing the internet, on occasions using Word and my pc kept restarting randomly, i havnt downloaded anything 'dodgee' that might cause such a thing.

Just wondered why this happens?

My OS in Windows XP Professional SP2

Thanks

[NoteMe]

Check how hot your CPU and GPU is...it might restart if it gets too hot...



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[Madboy]

Where is that, in the BIOS or something?

Thanks

[NoteMe]

In most BIOSes you can check the CPU heat. but if not, there is other aps that can do it. Most of then you will find one for your MB at your MB vendors site.


There is a tool like that for ATI cards too. Can't remember what it is called at the moment. But not sure about NViDIA...



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[visualAd]

Do you get a blue screen of death?

[Kasracer]

Do you get a blue screen of death?

My computer -> Properties -> Advanced Tab -> Startup and Recovery -> Settings -> is there a check next to automatically restart?

If so you're probably getting BSODs and not seeing them. Uncheck, try to make it happen again and write down the error it gives you and post it here

[dglienna]

You might want to blow the dust out of the machine. Sometimes the fan gets blocked up, or stops spinning.

[The_Duck]

I would suggest checking your event logs (Right Click My Computer, Click Manage then navigate to event Viewer).

It may be that an application is crashing and causing your comptuer to restart.

[Madboy]

i thought you were banned Kas, welcome back anyhoo

No i dont get BSOD messages, but i noted this down from the BIOS:

MB Temperature: 26c/78f
CPU: 35c/95f

Is that too hot or not, maybe my fan coolers are broke maybe?

I will try them suggestions above thanks

[NoteMe]

It shouldn't be too hot. Have you tried installing new drivers for your GPU lately? Have you installed any other hardware? Sure you have enough power?


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[Madboy]

Last week i installed a new sound blaster sound card, there was no problems until after about a week.

It did it yesterday twice too, hopefully not today, its getting frustating

[The_Duck]

Spyware is your next port of call imo

It can be quite easy to accidently install.

The microsoft anti spyware is actually quite good (They brought it from another company ! - its in beta atm). I would suggest giving that a try

[Madboy]

It cant be spyware, im using Adaware Personal SE here, nothing shows bad.

I unchecked the system failure group thing, to restart my pc. since then it hasnt done it, but no error has been produced

I guess i just need to wait and see what happens

[The_Duck]

Adaware is good but it doesnt always catch everything !

[Madboy]

Yeah?

Well i used to use Spybot S&D, but noticed Adaware caught many Spybot didnt, whats the best Spyware removal solution?

[si_the_geek]

Like with virus scanners, none of them are perfect.

The best for detecting is Microsoft Anti Spyware (or better still, all three that have been mentioned). I work for a company that had over 30 machines with cases of spyware, and the MS one was the only one that could detect most of the problems.

Removal can be quite awkward, especially with some newer types of spyware. There are other (sometimes specific) tools to help, but it would be useful to know first which (if any) spyware you have.

[Madboy]

Thanks for the insight, i might consider downloading this MS spyware removal tool

[Ideas Man]

The Microsoft one is the best IMO, I recently looked at a mate's computer who had problems, when I said have you checked for spyware, he said he had and ad-aware said it was clean, installed Microsoft's and it found heaps.

[Madboy]

Thanks im going to get it ASAP, i thought Adaware was the best

[Madboy]

The MS one did not find anything in the scan, but i uninstalled Adaware and now MS Spyware is running in my system tray permanently.

As for the initial question i posted, since i did that thing KasRacer suggested, its never restarted yet.

Thanks!

[Ideas Man]

The MS one did not find anything in the scan, but i uninstalled Adaware and now MS Spyware is running in my system tray permanently.

As for the initial question i posted, since i did that thing KasRacer suggested, its never restarted yet.

Thanks!

That's because you havn't had a BSOD.