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Computer Restarts Suddenly
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Posted by: daydream
Hi
Since formatting my computer and re-installing Win XP Pro w/ SP1 about a month ago, my computer has started behaving strangely. About two or three times a week, my computer will suddenly restart. After i login again, I get an error message saying that Windows has recovered from a serious error.
This appears to happen at random, but it has happened about four or five times when I arrange videos by date added in Windows Media Player. Weird. I havent had restarting problems since Windows Millennium Edition.
From reading similar problems on this website and others, I have seen that people pointed out overheating, faulty drivers and power supplies as potential causes.
I have a pc with P4 3.0Ghz processor, Intel mobo, 1GB Ram and X300 Graphics card and 500W power supply.
I bought a bigger Thermaltake fan for the processor and I cleaned out the dust from inside the case before format/reinstall. Also, the case is not in a corner so I doubt it's overheating. I have Norton AV installed and updated, so I doubt it's a virus.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Posted by: redwench
 Quote:
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Originally Posted by daydream
re-installing Win XP Pro w/ SP1
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sp2 has been out for about 2 years and is now quite stable.
given the recovery message, you didnt disable the reboot on error. do that, and check the error message. after you upgrade your sp of course.
Posted by: daydream
Hi
I tried installing SP2 last year, and I got a critical error message and my computer became extremely unstable. I immediately ran system restore, and everything went back to normal. I again tried installing SP2 (from the same disk supplied by Microsoft) when I formatted/reinstalled a month ago. Exactly the same thing happened. Again I had to run system restore. Again things returned to normal. I'll try to install SP2 using another SP2 disk.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by redwench
...you didnt disable the reboot on error. do that, ....
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Could you please explain how I disable "reboot on error". Do I have to go into my bios, or can I do it in regedit / gpedit.msc or something similar in Windows?
Posted by: Outlaw
Quote:
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Originally Posted by daydream
Could you please explain how I disable "reboot on error". Do I have to go into my bios, or can I do it in regedit / gpedit.msc or something similar in Windows?
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Right-click My Computer and select Properties from the dropdown list, then go to the Advanced tab and into the Startup and Recovery settings. There should be an automatic reboot option there that needs to be disabled.
When that's done, you should get a blue screen with alot of text next time it crashes. If you do, remember what it says, especially the 'STOP' part. We might be able to figure out what's wrong with that information.
Posted by: daydream
Hi
After reading some advice on this site to a person with a similar problem (pc reboots), I went into my BIOS and selected [Advanced] --> [Hardware Monitoring]. This is the information that was shown. Please let me know if anything is unusual.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Advanced
------------
Hardware Monitoring
------------------------
Processor Zone Temperature: 56'C / 131'F
System Zone 1 Temperature: 40'C / 104'F
System Zone 2 Temperature: 40'C / 104'F
Fan Speed: 1913RPM - 2171RPM
Rear Fan Speed: 0
Front Fan Speed: 0
+1.5Vin: 1.467V
Vccp: 1.329V
+3.3Vin: 3.310V
+5Vin: 5.157V
+12Vin: 12.187V
-------------------------------------------------------------------
I loaded Windows. I deliberately opened Windows Media Player 10 and selected
[Videos] --> Sort by [Date Added] ---> I scrolled to the bottom of the list. As usual, the computer rebooted.
When Windows loaded again, an error message popped up. I clicked to view what the error report contained. I took screenshots of the error windows. See errors.jpg
Please let me know if any of this information can help you to help me solve my restarting problem.
Thanks so much for the help so far.
P.S. I only managed to disable reboot on error after all the above occurred. (Thanks for that help). I'll post that blue screen error message when it happens again.
Posted by: daydream
Hi.
Here's the BSOD error message:
STOP 0x0000008E (0X80000004, 0X80533152, 0XEC6588C0, 0X00000000)
Beginning Dump of physical memory.
What does this mean? Please help me solve this problem.
Thanks.
Posted by: Outlaw
Umm... I just looked at a similar error message and apparantly we don't need the STOP line itself, we need the line right below that one. Sorry about that...
Do you remember if there was anything between the STOP line and the "Beginning Dump of physical memory" line?
Have you ever tried installing SP2 by downloading it from the Microsoft site? It's a free download, after all. Just go to www.windowsupdate.com and follow the instructions. Keep doing this until there are no more updates left. One of the fixes in there just might be the one you need.
Posted by: daydream
Hi
There was nothing else between the STOP line and the "Beginning dump of physical memory" line.
I took your advice by downloading updates from Microsoft's website. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, until a (familiar) error message appeared after downloading Service Pack 2. I attached the error message as "error 2.jpg".
I've seen this error message twice before, when I tried to install Service Pack 2 off the Microsoft supplied CD. In the past, I uninstalled Service Pack 2 immediately after seeing this error message and I ran system restore. This time, I chose to ignore the error message and continue downloading updates.
Updates are still currently downloading. I haven't received any other error messages and my computer is as stable as ever.
Today, I opened Windows Media Player 10, selected all videos and arranged by date added. For the first time in two months, the computer didn't restart. I'm not celebrating too early though, as I know how Windows can be.
Anyways, I just want to thank Outlaw and redwench for the excellent advice. My PC and I appreciate it.
Later.
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