Random Restarts

[taker36904]

I keep getting random restarts and i have no idea why?I have NOT put in any new hardware in so that excludes any hardware failure.Onlt thing i can come up with is software or power supply failure.I have also recently reformatted my pc.

Here is info from dxdiag......

dxdiag.txt

[redwudz]

My first suspect would be a failing RAM memory module. You could try trading them out if you are using two. Or you could try running a memory test program like Memtest 86. http://www.memtest86.com/ Failing memory causes all sorts of strange problems.

That would rule out one possibility. With totally random restarts, it could be a number of things. Any error messages from Windows? Even memory normally fails with a load on it. Usually a power supply fails completely, but have you checked in BIOS or with a software program to read the PS voltages?

If it is random, then CPU overheat seems unlikely. If it only fails when encoding, that could be overheat or memory. Both are stressed with that process.

[Bjs]

Start with hijackthis , do a system scan , and check what is actually running on the pc in the background .

Disabale all non os required service's and program's ... quicktime , messenger , nero , allow hijackthis to fix these , and reboot the pc ... redo the scan and see who remains standing ... should be clear if something isnt correct ... trojan's and alike will stick out .

Use avgfree to scan for problem's .
Adaware se , for all other's .

Some require the restore points to be diabled in order to completely remove them for good ... xp and windows me .

"I have NOT put in any new hardware in so that excludes any hardware failure"

And just how did you come up with this assumption ???

Unless you are extremely experienced , then this cannot be ruled out at all .

Random restart's can be caused from a number of point's :

1: Faulty power supply
2: Faulty cpu heatsink compound
3: Poor earth connection's inside of case causing interference
4: Hard drive imminent failure
5: Faulty cable's
6: Faulty card connection's (dry rott syndrome) , actually known as oxidization of contact's .
7: Faulty memmory , either above or geniunely faulty
8: Faulty reset switch
9: Stuck key on keyboard
10: Faulty agp graphic's card ... refit , check for overheating

I think that should cover it pretty well ... apart from a genuine issue with the bios may also be triggering the cause ... wrong setting somewhere .

[Dr. DOS]

When you reinstalled XP did you take care to check and update any device drivers on the machine. Windows will attempt to load all required drivers from the XP CD but often those drivers will cause problems and updates are required from manufacturer.

[ranchhand]

This is not an exciting, hi-tech suggestion, but I would hazard a guess that at least 20% of random reboots/shutdowns are caused by filthy heatsinks, clogged Power Supply intake and exhaust ports, and especially crap rammed into the fins of the CPU heatsink until the heat just cannot escape anymore. Check it out: free, only takes a few minutes. A down&dirty fast check is to pop off the side of the computer and set a window fan blowing in. If your reboots stop (or even diminish in number) you are overheating.

[Krispy Kritter]

You can also disable "auto restarts", then you would be able to see the BSOD. That should give you a good indication what is causing the fault.