Why is my computer randomly resetting itself?

Question

Is it a system config problem, or am i being attacked?

Ok.. right there's no warning, it just shuts itself off. Bang

Or sometimes it says a system file has terminated and a 60 minute timer comes on.. then it shuts down. That's it. It's really annoying!

Answer 1

It might be that your system is over heating. I've had my system over heat and it will turn itself off because the cpu is too hot.

Answer 2

Shutting down without any reason is a hardware issue most of the times. You should have a setting in your BIOS where you can adjust the heat level for your CPU before it shuts down. I would also recommend you install a second fan if possible. I had the same problem and it was due to heat, so after I installed another fan I no longer had this issue.

There are also viruses that causes your system to execute a RPC (Remote Procedure Call) which causes your computer to restart. I recommend you also get some anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for your PC.

Download free Security software at the following page:
http://www.cybertopcops.com/free-downloads.php

Answer 3

lol your not being attacked...
there could be a number of things causing this
when your computer 'rests' does it just instantly shut off?
or does it shut-down?
if it just instantly shuts off does it show you a blue screen with a bunch of technical writing?
if you do see a blue screen then odds are your power supply cant handle your system
if you dont see a blue screen then it could be a number of different things
please list the things you do before your computer shuts off and maybe then we can help you.









---edit---
ok when you get the 60 second warning saying its shutting off your computer go to the
start>run type 'cmd' hit 'run'
then type shutdown -a
and it will go away
then you need to figure out what file is being ended


when the computer JUST shuts off, it could be a few different things, network, curropt files, curropt memory, or over heating CPU
I would think it would be the CPU overheating.. so try download a program that will tell you the temp of you CPU and if it goes above 60 degrees Celsuis your CPU is haveing heating issues
best way to fix it is, if you arent a good computer user/expert, go to a local computer repair shop and have them put in a new heat sink for you

Answer 4

could be several reasons...

try booting onto safe mode. turn off your comp, and as soon as you turn it on, press f8 key a few times. You'll get a menu, highlight safe mode and press enter. Check if your comp restarts in safe mode. If it doesnt its a software issue. Some drivers (softwares which are not compatible with your computer might be causing it). Did you install any softwares lately?! If you did, try uninstalling them, that should work.

But, if your comp restarts in safe mode as well, then its a hardware problem...(could be a virus too) ....you can try reseating the memory cards (RAM) of your comp. You'll have to open the chassis and reseat the memory. If your comp already has an anti virus and reseating the memory doesnt work, then the problem might be with the memory (RAM's), with the harddisk or the motherboard. Contact a technician.

Answer 5

Address these issues first!

Remove all Dust and dirt on fans and mother board!

Dying power supply (Critical- will send wrong current amounts to the motherboard there bye destroying DA Chips, RAM, CPU and motherboard!

System over heating will shut down!

If you are satisfied that non of the three above are an issue,
back up your data from the My Documents folder in C:\documents and Settings\You Folder Name\My Documents

Disconnect your system from the Internet.

Re Install your system, deleting all partitions during the install,
creating at 20GB partition, formatting (NTFS) and installing the Operating System in that partition. Install mother board drivers first then all hardware drivers, software and last Firewall and Anti virus.

Create a DVD back up of C:\

Connect system it Internet. Go to www.microsoft.com and allow this site to update Windows and software and MSN!

CREATE another C:\ backup DVD.

Format the second partition. Copy your backed up data to that partition. Save all future data to that partition.

Answer 6

It could be a Malware infection, but most likely it is due to something with your computer.

Run a Scan with your AV and AS programs or use a free online scan like housecall at Trend Micro.

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/


If the above doesn't solve the problem the look a Item 7 on this Microsoft site.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/IEtopten.mspx

Answer 7

Check for any error messages during startup. Most likely this would be caused by a CPU fan failure, causing your CPU to overheat and shut down the system.

Answer 8

Could be an infection. Could be overheating. Try a few scans to rule out infection and open your case to let some air in and double check that all the internal fans are still turning.

Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Popups:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022-10247782.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/
http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/download/
Online Scanners:
http://www.webroot.com/consumer/products/spysweeper/freescan.html?
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
http://www.spywareguide.com/onlinescan.php
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/
Spyware, Adware, Trojans, Malware, Dialers, Popups List:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/104
http://www.download.com/Adware-Spyware-Removal/3150-8022_4-0.html?tag=dir
Antivirus:
http://www.grisoft.com/
http://www.avast.com/
http://www.free-av.com/
Antivirus Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/1
http://www.download.com/Antivirus/3150-2239_4-0.html?tag=dir
Firewall:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=staticcomp_za
Firewall Lists:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/97
http://www.download.com/Firewalls/3150-10435_4-0.html?tag=dir
IP Blocker:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/peerguardian/pg2-050918-nt.exe?download
Browser:
http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/
Email, News, RSS:
http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/
System Cleaner:
http://www.ccleaner.com/
System Cleaning List:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/98
System Info:
http://www.softpedia.com/catList/92

Answer 9

There might want to be a difficulty with considered one of units on the gadget. regrettably, without information its not achieveable to perceive which gadget and what style of difficulty it has. to perceive the priority, you may deactivate the automobile restart "function" of abode windows. (word: those are education for abode windows XP - once you've a quite some operating gadget, please replace your question.) to attempt this, correct click My laptop and decide houses. From the window that pops up seek for the stepped forward tab. lower than the stepped forward tab, there might want to be an element for initiate and restoration, click settings there. contained in the hot window that pops up, contained in the gadget failure section, uncheck the instantly away restart examine container. click ok on each and every thing to go back for your pc. Now if there is an blunders, fairly of the laptop restarting, you'd be offered with a blue demonstrate, with white textual content. word down the blunders message - it really is the likely source of the priority. in the experience that your laptop continues to be lower than assure, I recommend you ring-up the help-table for the producer and get them to observe it, otherwise, submit again the following and we may be able to attempt helping you out.

Answer 10

it sounds like it's over heating. where is it? if it's in a attic, ect. it might over heat more often. my computer used to over heat a lot. (it was in the attic) So i moved it to the basement in the summer. that works better. maybe you could switch where it is seasonally?