PC Restarted by Itself...

[IanE]

So in the middle of normal everyday online surfing and AIM my PC immediately restarted... no Windows saving settings or anything, just immediate reboot... any reason why this could be? The system is maybe a month old and this has never happened.

Thanks in advance guys, I'll post my systems specs if needed.

Ian

 

[mechBgon]

See anything unusual in the Event Viewer? Got up-to-date antivirus and firewall protection?

 

[CraigRT]

I've seen a fairly new virus that has the capabilty of doing that.. but it could be a number of things. (hardware OR software)

I'm with mech, update your virus protection and run a scan. if you don't have A/V, TrendMicro has a housecall web based virus scan.. just google "housecall virus scan"

 

[IanE]

How can I access the Evetn Viewer?

I have Zone Alarm Pro with everyone maxed out, and I only talk to a few friends on AIM and look at Anandtech on this PC until my Norton stuff ships in... I seriously doubt it's a virus, but you never know...

 

[gwai lo]

is auto restart disabled? (assuming you're using XP)

 

[Atlantean]

Is it just the once that it did this? It could be a heating problem, maybe check your temperatures next time it happens if it happens again.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
See anything unusual in the Event Viewer? Got up-to-date antivirus and firewall protection?

On that note, I'm betting he's using WinXP; by default, if you get a BSOD condition, it'll automatically reboot.

 

[Corporate Thug]

PSU?

 

[xiaobao12]

Virge,

What is BSOD? Thanks.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: mechBgon
See anything unusual in the Event Viewer? Got up-to-date antivirus and firewall protection?

On that note, I'm betting he's using WinXP; by default, if you get a BSOD condition, it'll automatically reboot.

I second that. BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death), basically it means windows crashed. Like ViRGE said XP will rest itself by default rather then showing you the error. If it was an instantaneous restart (no shutdown process) its decently not a virus.

 

[IanE]

I'm on Windows 2000 Pro, and the CPU temp at time of restart immediately afterwards was 41 Celcius... it was the only time that it happened, and I used the house-call virus scan and it found nothing. I just picked up my Norton Internet Security 2005 and I'll run that soon... I guess it was just a freak occurance.

For whoever aske,d my PSU is an Antec 480w TrueBlue.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[IanE]

Restarted 2 more times.

12v is at 11.67v, could that be it?

 

[Sunbird]

If your not running on a UPS, it could have been a small powerdip on your powergrid.

 

[IanE]

What's a UPS?

 

[Brule]

Originally posted by: IanE
What's a UPS?

Uninterrupted Power Supply AKA backup battery power.

Originally posted by: IanE
Restarted 2 more times.

12v is at 11.67v, could that be it?

I've had some random reboots and recently artifacts (stock VGA silencer and well cooled stock 2600+) when I noticed MBM reporting my 12v rail dropping down to 11.50v for a low. It's an Antec as well, although an older 350w model.

Could the PSU be the problem? In IanE's case the Antec 480w TrueBlue shouldn't be the problem, but maybe it's just a bad PSU to drop that low. (is it always low or does it spike up and down?)

 

[0roo0roo]

look at the dr watson log file. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson

in system properties set it so it doesn't reboot on crash but goes instead to the wonderfulblue screen of death for a clue if lucky.