PC Keeps Restarting

Associate

Hi,

My Brother's PC that has XP on it keeps on Restarting randomly whenever he is using it, doesn't Power itself Off, just Restarts itself.

There is no message prior to this happening.

He only really uses his PC for internet browsing, doesn't have much saved on the PC and doesn't download stuff from the the internet.

Have to say this has never happened in the last 2 years that he has had this PC, he did have his XP reinstalled a few weeks ago due to not being able to browse the internet, internet browsing has been fine since reinstallation.

Here are few things I've been able to eliminate:

1)Memory (RAM) is fine

2)Did Virus check with Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, Malwarebyes and SuperAntiSpyware and no infections were found.

I did a scan with Hijackthis as well but didn't understand what the following log meant:


Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4
Scan saved at 20:29:37, on 28/04/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportMgmtService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\avp.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\avp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WG111T\wlan111t.exe
C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportService.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = about:blank
O2 - BHO: IEVkbdBHO - {59273AB4-E7D3-40F9-A1A8-6FA9CCA1862C} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\ievkbd.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: link filter bho - {E33CF602-D945-461A-83F0-819F76A199F8} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\klwtbbho.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVP] "C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\avp.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WG111T Smart Wizard.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Anti-Banner - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\ie_banner_deny.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: &Virtual keyboard - {4248FE82-7FCB-46AC-B270-339F08212110} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\klwtbbho.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: URLs c&heck - {CCF151D8-D089-449F-A5A4-D9909053F20F} - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\klwtbbho.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1270823151078
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} (get_atlcom Class) - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\PROGRA~1\KASPER~1\KASPER~1\mzvkbd3.dll,C:\PROGRA~1\KASPER~1\KASPER~1\kloehk.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Browseui preloader - {438755C2-A8BA-11D1-B96B-00A0C90312E1} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O22 - SharedTaskScheduler: Component Categories cache daemon - {8C7461EF-2B13-11d2-BE35-3078302C2030} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\browseui.dll
O23 - Service: Kaspersky Internet Security (AVP) - Kaspersky Lab - C:\Program Files\Kaspersky Lab\Kaspersky Internet Security 2010\avp.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Rapport Management Service (RapportMgmtService) - Trusteer Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Trusteer\Rapport\bin\RapportMgmtService.exe

--
End of file - 4714 bytes



3)I went into Control Panel, Performance & Maintenance,System, Advanced, Settings in Start Up & Recovery section, under System Failure Automatically Restart box was already unchecked

4)I downloaded Speedfan 4.0 software on the PC to check the running temperature of the CPU and hard drive and the temperature level was fine.


I was able to do all the above after going on this website, as they were quite simple to do:

http://askbobrankin.com/computer_restarts_itself.html

The website talks about other possible causes being fault with the Power Supply and Bad Capacitors on the motherboard, which is far too technical for me!



Any suggestions on what else it could be and what I can try please?



Thank you.

Jay

HO87

The HJT log doesn't reveal any obvious infection and nothing that could be hogging resources unduly. Others can advise in more detail with regard to those issues.

I would favour the suggestion that the power supply is failing or is supplying insufficient power. Has your brother recently added any additional peripherals? If he has, get him to disconnect it and try booting the machine. If it powers up and runs correctly then he will need to upgrade the psu. This not a complicated task and with a number of online guides available can be carried by anyone who is reasonably competent with a screwdriver. Always assuming the machine is not in warranty.

Other potential causes:

Failing hard drive
Loose connections (power or data) to hard drive(s)

You've not mentioned how old your brother's PC is.

Associate

HO87 wrote: »

The HJT log doesn't reveal any obvious infection and nothing that could be hogging resources unduly. Others can advise in more detail with regard to those issues.

I would favour the suggestion that the power supply is failing or is supplying insufficient power. Has your brother recently added any additional peripherals? If he has, get him to disconnect it and try booting the machine. If it powers up and runs correctly then he will need to upgrade the psu. This not a complicated task and with a number of online guides available can be carried by anyone who is reasonably competent with a screwdriver. Always assuming the machine is not in warranty.

Other potential causes:

Failing hard drive
Loose connections (power or data) to hard drive(s)

You've not mentioned how old your brother's PC is.

No, he hasn't added anything.

Not totally sure about how old PC is, had it for a couple of years, they were passed on by local school who use to use them, he doesn't use his very often, I have got exactly the same PC with the same spec and the speed etc of the PCs is more than sufficient.

Also, he has very little saved on his PC, normally just MS Office, Kaspersky Internet Security 2010, Malwarebytes and Ccleaner.

closed

See if it does it in safe mode. Is he doing anything particular when it happens, anything in event viewer, any crash dumps?

totalsolutions

Faulty RAM / mismatched pairs.

Swop the PSU with yours, try swapping the RAM over as well, first...

HoofeHearted

I suspect that the PC is set to Automatically Restart and it is going into BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) mode and restarting. That is why he is not seeing any error message.

Follow these instructions to remove the auto-restart:-
o Right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties"
o Click "Advanced" Tab
o In "Startup and Recovery" section, click "Settings"
o In "System Failure" section, un-tick "Automatically restart" and click "OK"
o Click "OK"

When the PC next fails, it will stop on the BSOD screen. Make a note of the error message and addresses (0x........ etc) and report the info back here.

Toxteth_OGrady

Run Memtest (google it)

:cool:

TOG

aliEnRIK

Quite possibly the PSU on its way out

rumpelstiltskin_2

Has he installed any new software recently?

I had a simlilar problem and when I googled it this was the suggestion.

I had recently installled a webcam and when I un-installed it everything was OK. I have since re-installed the webcam and (touch wood) no problems since

Associate

closed wrote: »

See if it does it in safe mode. Is he doing anything particular when it happens, anything in event viewer, any crash dumps?

He normally uses PC just for basic browsing or waching football matches on it, nothing too demanding. Its been happening when he has been using the internet.

Also when I ran full scan with malwarebytes, with internet disconnected, he told me soon after scan finished PC restarted itself.

I went to Event Viewer and thought only Application, Security and Sytem logs may be relevant, there were no logs for Security.

I don't understand the logs for Application and System, far too many characters for me to save in txt format and then copy and paste on here for anyone to view and explain.

melorablack

It could be overheating, an old computer I had would restart itself when it got too hot then if I was really unlucky it would just switch itself off for good until it cooled down.