Random restarting...??

[TorinoGT24]

Aside from my spyware problems, I am having another problem with my computer. Every so often, it decides to restart itself. I figured it was because the cheap power supply was going out, so I bought an antec 350watt power supply. It does the exact same thing. I figured then that it might be the overclocking. I turned everything back to default settings. Now I am lost. It still restarts itself. What could be causing this? I thought those were the only things that could make a computer restart itself. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Collin-

 

[mechBgon]

Do you have up-to-date antivirus protection and a hardware and/or software firewall? Done an exhaustive antivirus scan recently (meaning within the last day or two)? Also check in Windows' Event Viewer > System log to see what it might have to say about it.

 

[Maximilian]

Bad ram? high temps? run memtest for a few hours and check the temps to see if anythings out of order.

 

[TorinoGT24]

OK, I'll run memtest...if I can even get it without restarting.

Temps are fine....always below 40 celcius...but I'll keep looking.

Anything else?

-Collin-

 

[jdogg707]

How are your power rails? Have you tried another motherboard? My guess is it is a motherboard issue if your RAM turns out with no errors in Memtest.

 

[ponyo]

I vote bad ram.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: TorinoGT24
Anything else?
-Collin-

How about the antivirus and firewall? If you need free ones, the Resources page from the link in my signature has links to ZoneAlarm and Grisoft AVG Free Edition. By the way, Memtest86 runs from a bootable floppy or CD-R, so if your system has no problems staying running in those situations, that could indicate a Windows/software problem. Good luck!

 

[Chucu]

I would take a good look at your mobo and look for swelling capacitors. 99% of the time if it is a bad mobo it is because of this. Should be easy to spot.



chucu

 

[TorinoGT24]

Well, I forgot to mention that this started happening with the new motherboard and processor. I just figured it was eating more power, so I needed a new power supply.

I have up to date virus protection and firewall...but here is my question with that...

If it were shutting down due to software, wouldn't it go through a soft shut down? Wouldn't windows save the settings, then restart? I just get a reset all of a sudden, as if I hit the reset button. No warning or anything.

It looks like I could have gotten a bad motherboard.

Memory has always been fine, no issues.

Thanks so much for the ideas guys.

-Collin-

 

[Psych]

I have never experienced a really bad crash in XP, so I don't know what it's emergency restart procedure is. But try turning off automatic restarts in Control Panel>System>Advanced>Startup and Recovery.

 

[mechBgon]

Did Windows Event Viewer's System logs have anything on the shutdown causes?

 

[TorinoGT24]

where can I find the system logs?

I'm starting to wonder if this spyware/adware issue is related to the restarting...

-Collin-

 

[mechBgon]

In Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer and choose the System logs, or whatever is analagous to that on your WinXP system (I've got Win2000 Pro).

 

[TorinoGT24]

HOLY *insert bad word here*!!!!

I just downloaded ad-aware 6.0. Removed 542 adware programs and registries!!!!

That's gotta be some kind of record!!!

Anyway, I thought I was safe with just antivirus. I had never dealt with this crap before....

The computer is fixed as far as I know....thanks for the help!