PC Restarts itself, really annoying!

[duffers20]

Recently my pc has been restarting itself when I havent been using it for about 15 to 20 mins. I just away from it, left it on and came back about 20 mins later to find it loading up windows. When it does restart itself, the screen goes black, stays like it for 2 to 3 seconds, and then it will restart. Its not a heat problem as I have monitored the temps closely and I also clean it out quite often. Its incredibly frustrating as I was working on some Java coding and I lost it because I forgot to save my progress when I left teh pc. The fact that it doesn't restart properly is frustrating as I lose what I am working on. Any suggestions will be very helpful!

Thanks in advance

duffers20

 

[Hazar]

scan for viruses first

(spyware too)

 

[Chris D]

First of all just check your Power Options in the Control Panel.

Then you'll need to be looking at doing a memory check (Windows Memory Diagnostic: http://www.microsoft.com/oca) and a chkdsk /r (Click Start > Run > Type: cmd and press enter > From the command line type chkdsk /r and reboot).

If they all turn up clear, I'd probably be pointing towards it being a motherboard issue.

 

[mabufo]

Check your fan too... if they get dusty it can hinder computer performance - cause CPU loss... and heating.

 

[Hazar]

he already said he's monitored the heat closly

 

[DarkSin]

Does your hard drive make a weird noise right before it crashes? I had my PC restarting by itself when the power cable to my hard drive was lose, fiddled around with it fixed the problem.

 

[duffers20]

Thanks for all your reply's. I would just like to add that it only restarts when I'm not using it. I have been playing cs and doing some Java coding for a couple of hours now with no problems, but while i was away from it earlier (not used it for about 20mins) it restarted. I have scanned my pc with 4 different spyware/adaware programs which are all upto date. Also scanned my pc with McAfee Virusscan 9 which is also upto date. I will do the checks suggested by Chris_D. Thanks for the responses.

--duffers20

 

[Darkknighttt]

this happens to me to.

 

[oni_666]

What you should do is right click on "my computer" in the start menu, then select properties, and go to advanced, then go to "startup and recovery" and select "settings", In "system failure" uncheck the box marked "automatic restart".

Once it crashes again, it should'nt restart, then goto "administrative tools" in control panel, and select event viewer, In here select application or system and check to see what errors have occurred that caused the crash, If your still none the wiser after looking here then post any error messages you find on this board again, and then maybe we can help further.

 

[duffers20]

I have tried doing that in teh past oni_666, but when it crashes the screen stays black and you can't doing anything with it apart from resetting it with the reset button on teh case, not through windows. Thanks for the suggestion though. I had a think of what software I installed recently and I have completely removed the latest ati drivers and installed 5.2 and also I installed a slightly newer version of Msn Messenger about a week ago, so I have installed an older version of that too. Don't know if it will make and difference, but its worth a try. Thanks again