Unexplained XP Restarts

[atomstryker]

My computer (athlon XP 2200+, WD80GB HD, WD40GBHD, Geforce 4 MX440, Hercules Gamesurround Fortissimo 2, MSI Nforce 2 Mobo, 440 watt antec psu, 512mb DDR333 Dual Channel) restarts when a lot of load is applied. For example, ripping CDs and encoding them all with LAME when CPU usage goes to 100% after a little while it just restarts. The temperature isnt too high, its like 115 degrees fahrenheit, and when windows restarts it doesnt have any messages saying this system recovered from a serious error or anything like that. Any idea what could be going wrong?

EDIT: Just happened again, this time I got the system recovered from a serious error message.

 

[tennesota]

You can view error logs in Event Viewer
Start | Run
Type in eventvwr
Click OK

Maybe something in the logs will stand out as a possible clue to the issue

You might also want to look at the size of your Paging File/Virtual Memory size

 

[atomstryker]

The last thing in the log is from yesterday in terms of applications and two days ago for system. Paging file is normal and very small, 104 MB, just installed XP a little while ago, not loaded down with crap.

 

[tennesota]

I've never ripped CD's or used LAME so I cannot comment specifcally about those processes but I'm sure someone will come along in here that will have more to share.

 

[atomstryker]

Thanks for your help. Anybody have any other ideas?

 

[djdrastic]

What happens when you encode , it with another plugin / app , Prime 95 ?

 

[atomstryker]

Its not specifically lame, it happens all the time in video games also, any taxing task. I was just saying that because its something that would outrule the video card or video drivers as the culprit.

 

[atomstryker]

Any help?

BUMP

 

[mooojojojo]

It's strange that you don't have anything in the Event Log. Perhaps you disabled a service which is required for the logging? I also have the occasional unexplained restart. Perhaps the reason is not at all like yours (I don't use your apps and the PC is completly different) but I have entries in the Log which had happened immediately before the restart..

Here's the thread about my problem

I know.. I'm not helping much

 

[NogginBoink]

There are two causes of unexplained reboots on WinXP: blue screens of death, or hardware failure.

Go to system control panel, advanced tab, startup and recovery options, uncheck the option to automatically reboot when you get a BSOD. Reboot for changes to take effect.

Next time, you'll get a BSOD that stays there. If it still just reboots, it's a hardware issue.

 

[NogginBoink]

Just read your edit. Go to the system event log and give me the hexadecimal numbers from the event recorded by Save Dump that says your machine just recovered from a bugcheck.

Also uncheck the autoreboot box.

You're encountering a BSOD.