Computer Reboots Randomly

Question

I called DELL and told them.  They ran the hardward diagnostics test, no problems found.  We did find one problem, on the LCD, both analog and digital cables were plugged in.  We unplugged the analog and just left the digital cable plugged in thinking that might fix it.  Anyways, it didn't. The machine has rebooted on its own a few times right in the middle of doing something since we fixed that. Any ideas?  Is there a report generated somewhere when this happens in XP that I can look at to find the exact cause of the problem?  What should I do? Any help greatly appreciated....    Thank you! ROB....

jmwills · Answer

In the absence of spyware of viruses, this is usually poitning at some heat related probelm.

ky331 · Answer

Rob,

you indicated that DELL (only) ran "hardware diagnostics".... did DELL, or YOU, run any anti-virus/anti-spyware scans?? -- As JMW said, these have the potential to shutdown your computer.

what anti-virus (spyware/adware) programs are you running? do you update them regularly? when have you last run a COMPLETE scan of your system (with updated reference files)?

roblow · Answer

Yes. I have Norton 2003 and I update regularly. I haven't ran any anti-spyware but I will try that right now. They had me pull the green cover off and check the heat sink this mourning. No problem there. Then we ran the extended diagnostic test and they hung up while I did it. The computer crashed right when the 'Extended Test' was at 89% and it was testing the SATA whatever that is. I'm not sure but I think that might be the hard drive. Am I right or wrong?  It did also fail (reboot)  when I had the Dell tech on the phone, right at the DELL logo screen. That makes me think that it might not be anything to do with XP since Windows didn't even have a chance to load yet. Also, I remember a few months ago when the problem first started happening, I ran the 'Disk Check' utility and it did find some corrupted files and fixed them. The problem still occured though.

ky331 · Answer

you asked, bluntly, 'Am I right or wrong?'.   unfortunately, it's not a simple question for anyone here to answer.   please keep in mind that this is an open forum, and virtually all of the participants are simply individuals, of various backgrounds / knowledge levels / qualifications, and in general, NONE of us have any affiliation with DELL... we do our best to try to help, because we take satisfaction in helping others learn from our experiences.   having said this, all I can do at this point is offer a 'laundry list' of possibilities (and comments):   1) virus/worm/trojan.   Can certainly cause a random reboot.  In fact, one of the symptoms of the zotob worm (which made the news recently, infecting major corporations) was that it DOES cause random reboots.   However, since this worm primarily impacts windows2000, and since you have XP, it's unlikely that zotob is the source of your problems.   Nonetheless, if you wish to rule this out definitively,  you can try the Symantec Zotob analysis/removal tool:   instructions on how to use:  http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.zotob.removal.tool.html   actual removal tool: http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/FixZotob.exe       Alternatively, Microsoft offers its Malicious Software Removal Tool:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=AD724AE0-E72D-4F54-9AB3-75B8EB148356&displaylang=en   2) spyware:  you said you'll look into this next.  I'd suggest, at the very least, you run Ad-Aware SE 1.06; and SpyBot Search and Destroy 1.4.  [You might also consider Microsoft Anti-Spyware Beta]. ad aware:  http://majorgeeks.com/Ad-Aware_SE_Personal_d506.html spybot: http://majorgeeks.com/SpyBot-Search_&_Destroy_d2471.html [ microsoft:  http://majorgeeks.com/Microsoft_Windows_AntiSpyware_d4466.html  ] while these 2 [or 3] programs should be more than sufficient, if you want to rule out just about anything else (spyware/software - wise), you might also consider trying HiJackThis... if you're not familiar with it, and want to go that way, I'll supply details upon request.   3) as JMW said, it could be an (over)heat(ing) problem.   4) it could also be an electrical problem, if there are power reductions (and in particular, if there are even 'momentary' power OUTAGES) in your house's current... or in the PC's transformer.   5) Finally, as you indicated, there might be a problem with the hard drive itself... and while this might cause files to get corrupted, and/or the system not to even boot up at all, or to 'freeze' or 'crash', my 'gut' (for whatever it's worth) says it wouldn't cause random reboots. Message Edited by ky331 on 08-21-2005 07:56 PM

roblow · Answer

Thank you ky331. We did a test on the hard drive and it passed. So the Dell tech just decided to have me reinstall everything. I am going to do that and see how it works. If it doesn't, then she said it is something really serious and they'll have to take it to the next level. I'll keep you guys posted though....

R:robotindifferent:B

ky331 · Answer

Rob,   Glad to hear the hard drive is okay.   As for reinstalling everything, this is the most common (and, in my opinion, the most overly abused) 'remedy' offered by tech support... because it's simpler for them, than taking time to properly analyze/diagnose problems.   Of course, if you wish to go that way, you can do so.   but i'd suggest you at least run the two (or three) anti-spyware searches first.   no guarantee they'll solve your problem, but I don't think they could hurt.   once you download these programs, you can back them up [the installation programs] (to CD-R/W, or any other 'bulk' backup media you might be using), and you'll then have them available in case you opt for the re-install.

jmwills · Answer

Also glad to hear all is well.

roblow · Answer

Guys I'm PiiSSed. After deleting the existing partitions and reformatting the hard drive, and reinstalling XP, the computer is still rebooting. Sometimes within 2 seconds of pressing the power buttons. Sometimes it just shuts down completely. It does it even before Windows loads. Dell keeps insisting it's a software problem but how could it be when it shuts down even before it loads. Also, if it shut down before the 'Extended Test' even finished, don't you think theres serious problem there? They want me to pay for 'Software Support' and I'm not satisfied with the hardware support that I've recieved so far. I want them to come out and test it and see what I see. I got the one year at home support deal, shouldn't that cover it?

jmwills · Answer

Well, it's not heat related that's for sure.  This sounds like a driver conflict now.  What happens if you boot into safe mode?

roblow · Answer

Would it be a driver conflict even if it reboots during the 'DELL screen' and Windows hasn't even loaded yet?  Doesn't the fact that everything was erased, freshly formatted and reinstalled rule out software?  I think it's rediculous that they want me to pay for software support after they had me reinstall everything and it still has the problem. I'm not in front of it right now but I will be later. I'm still convinced that there is a problem with the motherboard or something like that since it crashed during the 'Extended Test'. Message Edited by roblow on 08-24-2005 02:50 PM

jmwills · Answer

I would think that software has to be eliminated because nothing has loaded yet.  Is this a Raid drive configuration or IDE or Sata?

roblow · Answer

Well, I know that the SATA thing is on there because when it rebooted during the test, that is what it was testing. But, when the tech had me test the hard drive, it said "PASS" both times. I dont know if I mentioned it or not but it is a Dimension 4700 P4 Processor 520 with HT Technology (2.8 GHz, 800FSB) with XP Home.....

Message Edited by roblow on 08-24-2005 02:54 PM

Message Edited by roblow on 08-24-2005 02:58 PM

roblow · Answer

Anymore suggestions out there on getting the service I need?

roblow · Answer

Message Edited by roblow on 08-24-2005 05:12 PM

Windows General

Computer Reboots Randomly

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