I have a Pentium 3.2 running 1 gig of memory.
The computer shuts down without warning at odd times. I thought it was a memory conflict but have replaced two chips with one, 1 gig chip but the problem persists.
The computer is reasonably new and is not overheating nor is there a dust problem.
I don't really want to format the hard disk- only as a last resort.
Thank you
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
David,
Any error messages? What are you doing when it quits? There should be some indication that you can advise us on?
Power supply?
Only clutching at straws.
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
I can be doing anything from playing a game, surfing the internet or burning a CD.
There is no indication given it just shuts down and reboots.
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
David,
As there is no warning or error messages, I would suspect your power supply. Do you have a lot of peripherals running at the same time? It may be a power capacity problem.
Just a thought- Have you checked to ensure that all power plugs are inserted correctly?
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
You say it is not overheating, but this is waht it sounds like. Try looking in the BIOS settings for a shutdown temp, often under PC Health or similar. They may also be a overtemp warning which will confirm.
Otherwise it sounds like the power is being switched off. If XP starts up clean then it has been shut down rather than crashed.
Check the power button, make sure it is not sticking in (one press = On, next press = Off, hold 4 seconds = Off) and the reset button. In fact try disconect reset just to eliminate.
Try banging the side of the case to test for loose connection, poss inside the p/supply.
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
If you are sure there are no power supply problems, take a look at your IDE cables and master/slave settings.
I had a new computer assembled for me that would shut down and reboot any time I put in a DVD, or plugged in my mobile phone into a USB port.
The problem appeared to be a faulty IDE cable. I made sure it was well seated, but no improvement in the problem until I replaced the cable altogether.
Now I have no further difficulty.
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
In Systems Properties, Startup and Recovery settings you can uncheck the box for "auto restart" computer! Then recheck the box to start it going again. Then next time it does it, it will display the reason. You can also activate (if its not already) Error reporting and send the error to microsoft, they will reply with the most likely reason this is happening!
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
I too am interested in any suggestions as my computer does the same thing. It will shut down unexpectedly with no warning at all, re-boot and in most cases will continue to function fine. Sometimes it will do it while I am using it, at other times I will come back to it after having left it running to find that it has rebooted. I have checked the temperatures in the BIOS and all appear normal, and in no case has there been any error message before-hand. The m'board, CPU and power supply are less than a year old, and this problem has been occuring randomly for at least the last 6 months. It may do it a couple of times in a weekend, and then not do it for a month or so.
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
If your Mobo bios has a keyboard power on/off feature disable it. Especially so if your keyboard does not support power on/off and is a p/s 2 keyboard.
Cheers
Erik
P.S. you may have to read the mobo manual!
Re: Computer shuts down unexpectedly
What you should do is, uncheck the auto restart, >>
In Systems Properties, Startup and Recovery settings you can uncheck the box for "auto restart" computer! Wait for it to happen again, Then recheck the box to start it going again when you are ready!.<<
You will get an error BSOD, and send the error report to microsoft they will usually get back to you right away with what could be causning this! Post back with the results OK?
Tom
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