blade995 Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 This is my family PC and it's getting quite diffecult to do anything at the moment. The computer is restarting itself randomly and often. I scanned with everything for spyware and viruses, hoping that would be it instaid of a worse problem. Found nothing. I think it might be overheating. SPECs Athlon XP 3200+ (2.2ghz) 512mb Windows xp I have used speedfan to detect the temps and are at 105(f) defrees normaly and about 110 on startup. Which I don't think is that hot. Please help me out. Gotten so bad the rest of my family is using my gaming computer and I don't like anybody touching that but me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apinagez Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 It was happening to me like a month ago, and our computers are pretty similar. At first I thought it could be overheating, and, infact, part of the problem were, my video card was getting too hot and when I was running heavy applications, it would go off, then I'd have to wait for it to chill off. But that ain't your problem. The other problem I had was my power source, even though it was powerful enough, it wasn't working properly, then I replaced it with a 700W one and it's now working. If after your comp turns off, it boots just fine, it can't be your motherboard, nor your RAM, then I'd go for the power source :) ^The most disturbing signature on Tip.it^Last.fm|HELLY KAYLA!|Oh the mehagurtz!|#Siencemakers"they care less about their spelling mistakes then I." - Lionheart"apinagez... let me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collective Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 In addition to the above: Does Windows perform a 'proper' restart or does the screen just go blank and start again? Do you get a blue screen flash up when Windows restarts? When Windows starts again after a random reboot, does it give a message to the effect of "Windows has recovered from a serious error"? Those temperatures are well within the limits for that processor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 Does Windows perform a 'proper' restart or does the screen just go blank and start again? It preforms a proper restart. Do you get a blue screen flash up when Windows restarts? no When Windows starts again after a random reboot, does it give a message to the effect of "Windows has recovered from a serious error"? I do get that sometimes. I have not gotten that in a couple days. The others I get nothing just a restart and normal startup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collective Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 So just to be clear, Windows shows the "Windows is shutting down" message? That would suggest that the problem is software related rather than hardware. Although you said you'd already checked for viruses another scan will never hurt, so check using one/more of the following: - Panda ActiveScan: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/ - TrendMicro Housecall: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ - RAV Online Scan: http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ - BitDefender Online: http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php Regarding the 'serious error' message goto Control Panel -> System -> Advanced (tab) -> Startup and Recovery [settings] -> Uncheck "Automatically restart". This should allow you to take note of any error message that appears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apinagez Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 So just to be clear, Windows shows the "Windows is shutting down" message? That would suggest that the problem is software related rather than hardware. Oh, the power source suggestion will solve the problem only if the comp turns off suddenly, with no "your computer is shutting down" message, and then turns on again. ^The most disturbing signature on Tip.it^Last.fm|HELLY KAYLA!|Oh the mehagurtz!|#Siencemakers"they care less about their spelling mistakes then I." - Lionheart"apinagez... let me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Militaris Posted January 14, 2006 Share Posted January 14, 2006 My computer was also showing simalar signs, although it has stopped. Although I can not honestly say what fixed the probolem. I did two things which could have been responsible. 1) I did a clean install of windows XP. 2) I upgraded from a 300w hyena PSU (very bad brand) which was not sufficient to power my new video card, and upgraded to a 485w Enermax (Good stable brand) which was easily sufficient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 14, 2006 Author Share Posted January 14, 2006 So just to be clear, Windows shows the "Windows is shutting down" message? That would suggest that the problem is software related rather than hardware. No, it just restarts with no warning. I will try it with the power supply from my case. I have a 400w Antec in my case so if it still doesn't work it's sure as hell not the power supply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilheart14 Posted January 15, 2006 Share Posted January 15, 2006 this probably has nothing 2 do with it but go run > shutdown -i and see if anything is there for a shutdown programed but im pritty sure its not due 2 this. Have u installed/downloaded anything when this started happening or any viruses detected not long ago? Aussie Aussie Aussie, :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 15, 2006 Author Share Posted January 15, 2006 this probably has nothing 2 do with it but go run > shutdown -i and see if anything is there for a shutdown programed but im pritty sure its not due 2 this. Have u installed/downloaded anything when this started happening or any viruses detected not long ago? The only thing I have installed in a while is a usb 2.0 card in the computer, with the drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilheart14 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 *is it shuting down or restarting cause if its overheating it should be shutting down. You said that it is 110* on startup and then 105* when running. Do u have the computer in a hot area? It may not be temperature related if there have been no changes 2 the computer/ environment but u thought it might be and 40*C is medium warm I have Gigabyte Easy Tune 4 but get a similar program that works with your computer 2 check if its specified to do something at a certain temp. As most are and this may have been changed by a wierd program. Aussie Aussie Aussie, :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 *is it shuting down or restarting cause if its overheating it should be shutting down. It's restarting. You said that it is 110* on startup and then 105* when running. Do u have the computer in a hot area? Nope, my house is around 70* durring the winter. I am going to try to underclock my processor to see if it is caused by overheating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilheart14 Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 underclock ure proccesor?? have u overclocked it or is it just normal and ure trying 2 go under now? cause when i tried 2 overclock my computer at all, no sound would work and simliar problems. Aussie Aussie Aussie, :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 underclock ure proccesor?? have u overclocked it or is it just normal and ure trying 2 go under now? cause when i tried 2 overclock my computer at all, no sound would work and simliar problems. No, never been overclocked. I am trying underclock to see if it is something to do with the processor. Well I under clocked it by 100mhz making it 2.1ghz. I have not had a restart Since before this last night. Since it's been working since, do you think it's something wrong with the heatsink? If so I need some help, I'm not good with old hardware. I would like to get it back up to default without the restarts. This is getting wierd because 110* is in the range of the computer by far, but it's not stable at default speed, guessing by heat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wahoo Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 if the restarts are completely random, then it is probably heat problems. If the restarts seem to be fixed, check running processes at the time of the restart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devilheart14 Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 im assuming its winter where u are? if ure house is 21*C and its going up to 40*C it may very well be a heat problem with my computer only at 40*C because it is very hot in sydney in summer but i have fans (in the computer) to fix that. if u think its heat sink u may want 2 have a friend that knows a little bit about computers put it on and try installing another fan. How many fans do u have running? If ure inside the computer make sure u dont have static as this can damage components when ure touching them. try installing some applications 2 monitor your computers temp. and see if it restarts at a certain temp. Also post a HJT log for ppl 2 look at on this forum to look at just 2 make sure your computer is clean. Aussie Aussie Aussie, :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wahoo Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 40c is a perfectly fine temp for a comp. If it starts going up to high 50's then you might want to start being concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blade995 Posted January 19, 2006 Author Share Posted January 19, 2006 I have 2 case fans (80mm) inside. I have a 60mm ( I think it's 60mm) fan on the processor heatsink. The thing is this is an emachines computer which has a realy small case and can not add anymore fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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