Have you ever tried a fresh install of Windows? If you have, this would more than likely indicate a hardware issue. If you haven't, it may be a place to start.
As well, ensure you have run a full system virus scan using the latest signature file available for your antiviral program to ensure no viruses are causing the random reboots.
You could also check you don't have Auto....restart set by pressing Windows+Break(pause) keys together , Advanced tab , Startup & Recovery , Settings button & remove tick from System Failure > Auto restart. This will give you time to read Blue crash screen if any displayed.
You could also check Event Viewer , System Log by using Administrator Tools > Event Viewer. Double click on a System Log entry to View details.
Really hard to say then. So many factors can contribute to random resets. Even something as simple as fluctuating power. If for example, your power supplies voltage randomly dropped, it could cause a reboot. Could be software, could be hardware, could be OS related...
Run the msconfig utility from the run field and disable ALL items on startup. Reboot, and see if the problem persists. If it does then its obviously something else ;)
Thanks Gary. I have previously done that. I am at the point where I am using WinDbg to view the mini dump files. I am trying to make sense of the information on the screen, which to me seems to be the toughest part, to debug my issue.
I wish it would just tell me in simple english the area of trouble.
You could download Belarc's Advisor (Belarc.com) --- the free one --- to see what's actually installed and running on the system - post the report (html file) here (minus any personal information you wish to delete - like your Service Tag #) -- then we can analyze a FULL report - instead of just a little Minidump thing
I have the restart box unchecked, but I never see the BSOD. I will be working on the computer and next thing I know, it is rebooting. At first I thought that it was a bad PSU, so I put in a new one. It didn't help.
Main Circuit Board Board: Dell Computer Corp. 02Y832 Serial Number: Bus Clock: 800 megahertz BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A03 07/21/2003
Memory Modules 1536 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'CHANNEL A DIMM 0' has 512 MB Slot 'CHANNEL B DIMM 0' has 512 MB Slot 'CHANNEL A DIMM 1' has 256 MB Slot 'CHANNEL B DIMM 1' has 256 MB
Controllers Standard floppy disk controller Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers Primary IDE Channel [Controller] Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
Display RADEON 9800 PRO [Display adapter] RADEON 9800 PRO - Secondary [Display adapter] DELL 1901FP [Monitor] (19.3"vis, September 2003)
Bus Adapters Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2 Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4 Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7 Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE Intel(R) 82801EB USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 24DD
Multimedia SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Communications 1394 Net Adapter Bluetooth Device (RFCOMM Protocol TDI) Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection RAS Async Adapter Network Card MAC Address: Network IP Address: 192.168.0.2 / 24
Virus Protection Norton AntiVirus Version 9.05 Virus Definitions Version 1/29/2004 Rev 4 Last Disk Scan on Friday, January 23, 2004 4:52:49 PM Realtime File Scanning On
Other Devices VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller Microsoft Bluetooth Enumerator Microsoft Wireless Transceiver for Bluetooth Bluetooth HID Device Bluetooth HID Device HID-compliant consumer control device HID-compliant consumer control device HID-compliant consumer control device HID-compliant consumer control device HID-compliant consumer control device HID-compliant device Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop for Bluetooth Keyboard Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer for Bluetooth (IntelliPoint) Generic USB Hub USB Mass Storage Device USB Printing Support USB Root Hub USB Root Hub USB Root Hub USB Root Hub USB Root Hub
The dump file should only be created if
systemstops "Write debugging information" says;
"Specifies what type of information Windows should record when the
systemstopsunexpectedly, and the name of the file that holds this information."
So are you sure the dump file you are looking at was created when system reboots.
You can check by right click on file , Properties > Created , Modified.
-----------------
Also have you checked the Event Viewer , System Log for info.
Double click on Log entire for info.
You could try running DELL Diagnostics from FAT partition if there by pressing F12 at startup or by boot from Drivers & Utilities (Resource) CD. ---------------- You could try running SFC , which checks protected System Files for corruption & if found replaces them from reinstall..XP CD . If it prompts for XP CD , hold Shift key while inserting XP CD to stop Auto play. Use Start > Run & type sfc /scannow (space after sfc) --------------------------- A Windows Repair from XP CD Not the 1st R for Recovery Console but start Install then select the next R for Repair from the next screen displayed. If you do a Repair you will have to download Windows Updates again including SP1a if your XP CD label doesn't show SP1. The Data & Installed programs are left intact. -------------------- Failing that can only suggest a reinstallation of XP OS using a Clean Install status. I have shown the supersite link last as it assumes Clean Install status so doesn't include step to delete existing partition at step 5 & so achieve Clean Install status.
Use this link & select XP Home or PRO then method , ie: Used Hard Drive , Multi_Page has text & large pictures of Clean Install. http://www.windowsreinstall.com/
Clean Install deletes existing partition (like FDISK) & Formats HD during Install of Windows XP from XP CD. Set BIOS to use CD-ROM as 1st boot device usually by pressing "F2" key during boot (startup), for some Computers press "Del" key Re-start Computer & when message "Press any key to boot from CD" shows do it & let subsequent messages "Press any key...." time out to Windows setup.
grazer1
30 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 16:00
Have you ever tried a fresh install of Windows? If you have, this would more than likely indicate a hardware issue. If you haven't, it may be a place to start.
As well, ensure you have run a full system virus scan using the latest signature file available for your antiviral program to ensure no viruses are causing the random reboots.
grazer1
30 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 18:00
Gary,
Any particular reason your regurgitating what I have already asked/suggested? Take time to read the responces next time :)
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 18:00
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 18:00
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 19:00
You could also check you don't have Auto....restart set by pressing Windows+Break(pause) keys together , Advanced tab , Startup & Recovery , Settings button & remove tick from System Failure > Auto restart.
This will give you time to read Blue crash screen if any displayed.
You could also check Event Viewer , System Log by using Administrator Tools > Event Viewer.
Double click on a System Log entry to View details.
grazer1
30 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 19:00
Really hard to say then. So many factors can contribute to random resets. Even something as simple as fluctuating power. If for example, your power supplies voltage randomly dropped, it could cause a reboot. Could be software, could be hardware, could be OS related...
Run the msconfig utility from the run field and disable ALL items on startup. Reboot, and see if the problem persists. If it does then its obviously something else ;)
schorner
9 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 19:00
Thanks Gary. I have previously done that. I am at the point where I am using WinDbg to view the mini dump files. I am trying to make sense of the information on the screen, which to me seems to be the toughest part, to debug my issue.
I wish it would just tell me in simple english the area of trouble.
schorner
9 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 19:00
I have not tried to reinstall a fresh copy of XP. I was kind of holding that as a last option.
I have updated my virus files and done a full scan. Again, everything came out clean.
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 20:00
Did it show a Blue crash screen with info.?
You have have the latest BETA windbg program Version 6.3.5, November 4, 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/ddk/debugging/
Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 01-31-2004 09:23 AM
Cpudan80
29 Posts
0
January 30th, 2004 23:00
You could download Belarc's Advisor (Belarc.com) --- the free one --- to see what's actually installed and running on the system - post the report (html file) here (minus any personal information you wish to delete - like your Service Tag #) -- then we can analyze a FULL report - instead of just a little Minidump thing
Hope that Helps
Daniel
GetawayplaceNC.com Domain Admin
schorner
9 Posts
0
January 31st, 2004 00:00
I have the restart box unchecked, but I never see the BSOD. I will be working on the computer and next thing I know, it is rebooting. At first I thought that it was a bad PSU, so I put in a new one. It didn't help.
I do have the latest WinBdg.
Message Edited by schorner on 01-30-2004 09:32 PM
schorner
9 Posts
0
January 31st, 2004 00:00
Thanks Cpudan80. Here is my info. I think that there are 2 hotfixes that are noted that need to be reinstalled. They are as follows:
Message Edited by schorner on 01-30-2004 10:25 PM
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 31st, 2004 03:00
So are you sure the dump file you are looking at was created when system reboots.
You can check by right click on file , Properties > Created , Modified.
-----------------
Also have you checked the Event Viewer , System Log for info.
Double click on Log entire for info.
schorner
9 Posts
0
January 31st, 2004 11:00
gryjhnhpe,
Right after the reboot happens, I go to Event Viewer and always there is a Save Dump event in the System file.
I have checked the log file for other anomolies, but nothing there that is suspect or unusual.
Reinstalling the bad hotfixes that Belarc noted did not help. My computer rebooted soon afterwards.
Message Edited by schorner on 01-31-2004 08:47 AM
Message Edited by schorner on 01-31-2004 08:48 AM
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
•
2K Posts
0
January 31st, 2004 18:00
You could try running DELL Diagnostics from FAT partition if there by pressing F12 at startup or by boot from Drivers & Utilities (Resource) CD.
----------------
You could try running SFC , which checks protected System Files for corruption & if found replaces them from reinstall..XP CD .
If it prompts for XP CD , hold Shift key while inserting XP CD to stop Auto play.
Use Start > Run & type
sfc /scannow (space after sfc)
---------------------------
A Windows Repair from XP CD
Not the 1st R for Recovery Console but start Install then select the next R for Repair from the next screen displayed.
If you do a Repair you will have to download Windows Updates again including SP1a if your XP CD label doesn't show SP1.
The Data & Installed programs are left intact.
--------------------
Failing that can only suggest a reinstallation of XP OS using a Clean Install status.
I have shown the supersite link last as it assumes Clean Install status so doesn't include step to delete existing partition at step 5 & so achieve Clean Install status.
Use this link & select XP Home or PRO then method , ie: Used Hard Drive , Multi_Page has text & large pictures of Clean Install.
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/
Use this link for Clean Install of XP , if you click on Pictures they Expand for easy view
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html (Delete existing partition at step 10b for Clean Install)
or use this link ( *** Delete existing partition at step 5 for Clean Install ***)
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
Clean Install deletes existing partition (like FDISK) & Formats HD during Install of Windows XP from XP CD.
Set BIOS to use CD-ROM as 1st boot device usually by pressing "F2" key during boot (startup),
for some Computers press "Del" key
Re-start Computer & when message "Press any key to boot from CD" shows do it & let subsequent messages "Press any key...." time out to Windows setup.