every time i leave my computer for a while it does this?

Question

it comes up with a blue screen saying that it needs to shut down due to an error and then it just restarts (im a bit sketchy on the details because i dont get a long time to read the blue page before it restarts)
its never done this before?? and now its been doing this alot

Answer 1

What you're referring to is the Blue screen of Death (BSoD), which means something in your computer went so seriously wrong, that it had to restart. I can't say what exactly the cause for it is since everybody's computer configuration is different, but I suggest doing a quick virus/spyware scan and see if you can't clean up your computer a bit by uninstalling unneeded software.

Answer 2

There are some references to your problem, but I need to know the exact error you're getting.

If you can give the exact message that appears on the screen it will make it easier to pin down, but I will tell you this:

My Gateway laptop started doing the exact same thing and it was a physical harddrive failure. The hard drive was headed for a mechanical crash.

Turn the computer off, let the hard drive cool down completely, then back everything up that you want to keep if possible.

If you can get back with the exact error code that appears, I can help you more.

Here are a couple of resources that might help as well:

This article will help you identify the error...
http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/bsod.php

This article from Microsoft might help...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174630

Here is another article that suggests it may be a video card problem. Heat will also cause random restarts. You might check the heatsink on your processor for clogging.

For more information, just search for "blue screen and restarts" without the quotes.

Good luck,

Michael

Answer 3

I have a computer that used to do that too. What is happening is that your computer is running a lot of programs, even though it is idle, in its memory. One of the programs has crashed, causing the error screen. It's commonly referred to as "the blue screen of death".

You can try running anti-spy software. This will hopefully eliminate the program that's causing the problem. I recommend Spybot - S&D, which is available for free download. Another thing we used to do is just leave a program open when we left the computer for a while. Running a program seemed to prevent the crashes.

Happiness!

Answer 4

Surely your computer could not start anymore. Check all your wires and cable connections. Blue Screens are somewhat a driver installed that the computer try to stop on continuing before your unit boots up. Try an installation disc of your OS and before it boots up press "del" configure to 1st drive to a CD rom on boot. Save and exit. And install your OS . But before this try to press "leave existing OS to recover your important files".

I hopes this helps, God Bless.