Computer Restart

[YodaMan]

I was wondering if anyone knows why a computer would randomly restart. I mean without giving any blue screen or anything. Does that mean I have a part within the coputer that needs changing, like the fan or something? Also sometimes when I am typing my computer deicdes to print a whole lot of (222222222222222222222222222) without any rhyme or reason. Was wondering if these two were inter-connected.

Thanks.

 

[egale]

With the random letters, possibly your keyboard is bad and has a short. Random restarts could be overheating, bad drivers (video, sound, motherboard, etc.) If you are running XP you can change the settings to not automatically reboot in case of a crash. Under system/advanced/startup and recovery, there is a setting you need to uncheck.

 

[FFactory0x]

I was having random restarts that were so random that they were impossible to replicate. They then got closer and closer together. I got a new ps and popped that in and bam, no problems. Try a new ps. That is likely to be the problem. Its prolly going bad

 

[YodaMan]

By ps i am assuming you mean power supply, please correct me if I am wrong. I just wanted to know if I have to worry about compatibility issues with that. Do I have to research the type of ps I would need, or just go out and buy one and install it?
Thanks

 

[M0NEYSH0T]

Could you be a multitude of things. Perhaps your number 2 key is sticky?

Also, about your computer restarting out of the blue. The motherboard could be grounded. I had that happen, and it took forever to figure iut out!

 

[xenos500]

I'd run the computer out of a case for a day and if its fixed.....find out whats wrong with your mountings in the case. Other than that, your powersupply probably sux anyways(most do, mine isnt great :-( ), get a new one.

 

[lostinohio]

my computer started to do the same thing but only when i was on the net. it has rebooted by itself only once when the internet wasn't connected. Also, when i shut down, the fan stays on in the comp and the monitor goes into sleep mode, neither of which is checked in my settings. could i just have a software conflict because it shuts down fine in safe mode.

 

[Ninepepper]

Random restarts:
I had/have the same problem. Mine started after upgrading to the newest zone alarm. Are you running ZA?

 

[lostinohio]

Yes!! my problems started after that too! did you tell zone alarm?:light:

I was wondering if it was updated mcafee and zone alarm fighting each other.

 

[lucky9]

i've had probs with za also. virus checkers are famous for interference with software installs.

 

[Ninepepper]

Originally posted by: lostinohio
Yes!! my problems started after that too! did you tell zone alarm?:light:

I was wondering if it was updated mcafee and zone alarm fighting each other.

Could be.....but given my experience, I don't beleive the conflict is what is causing the problem. I did everything BUT email Zone labs (I am not the type to complain). I searched their forums, I searched google groups, I been to dslreports.com, etc.... and I can't find a solution to the random restarts.

Zonelabs suggested uninstall and reinstall, which I did. I uninstalled and reinstalled an older version of ZA that had not previously given me problems but the random restarts continued. I uninstalled and used recovery (i run xp pro) then installed the old version, still random reboots. (I thought that last step would for sure fix the problem but didn't. However, perhaps it is a clue to the problem?)

My random restarts occur ONLY WHEN I AM ONLINE, never just when I am gaming or using apps. I am stumped

One word of warning, If your OS crashes and you come back up, I STRONGLY recommend another (clean) reboot. If you don't two things may happen. Either you can't get back online (my PPoe will refuse to connect for 2 or 3 minutes after a sudden shutdown) and/or you will connect but the True Vector Engine will not be running and your computer may be running w/o firewall.

If you run XP Pro, look in control panel->admin tools-> applications and it will list several entries with the error true vector failed to start. My research on the problem tells me the true vector engine is a vital part of ZA and is necessary for protection.

Last thing, if you disable XP's automatic restart (after a memory dump) you will BSOD and, in my case anyway, my monitor will refuse to come out of sleep mode EVEN when I tell the computer to do a clean reboot (had to do it blind LOL: "hmm...tap windows key....hmm...right arrow key twice....hmm...enter. yah, I think thats it)

 

[Mnementh]

/me is surprised nobody has mentioned memory yet!!

Go get memtest86 from www.memtest86.com and run that you're looking for at least 10 passes with no errors, which will take a few hours depending on the spec of your machine/memory.

Random reboots in WinXP can be attributed to numerous things but the first things to check are memory and overheating if they're random reboots. If they started just after installing an app then remove the app and see if the reboots still occur.

Always check the things that aren't going to cost you any money first there's nothing worse than going out and buying a new component to only find out that that wasn't causing it!!!

Mnementh