Help - My computer's restarting on its own.

Hello,

The restarts stopped for the past day or two, but then started up again. When I woke up this morning, my computer said 'No Sync Input,' as if whatever's causing the restarts also caused the harddrive to turn itself off overnight. In any case, my computer restarted itself again today, then a second time, after 32 minutes. I noticed there's a slight 'click' or 'chirp' sound that sounds like it comes from the front of the computer tower right before the computer does one of its restarts, though this is probably just a normal reboot sound, but last time it clicked about 3 times before it happened.

Thanks for your responses.
Bobo, you said:

Get rid of the following:
R3 - URLSearchHook: ICQ Toolbar - {855F3B16-6D32-4fe6-8A56-BBB695989046} - C:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll (file missing)
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {59879FA4-4790-461c-A1CC-4EC4DE4CA483} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: ICQ Toolbar - {855F3B16-6D32-4fe6-8A56-BBB695989046} - C:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew Animation\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)

But since the actual files are missing, how do I get rid of these things? As for lack of power, how would I check that? There shouldn’t have been any changes in the amount of power supplied to the system, or in the way everything’s plugged in, between the months in which I didn’t have this problem, and the days that I now do. I didn’t install any new hardware or software prior to this rebooting happening. As for safe mode, the computer asked me if I wanted to do that after one of the times it restarted, but I’m not sure how to boot into safe mode without it asking? As for the multimeter, what is that?

Joeswm8:
I got ZoneAlarm Pro, and am still using it, but even after scanning my entire computer twice with its Anti-virus scan, nothing ever comes up, whereas Avast, one of the programs recommended in the malware sticky, always came up with infected file(s) after scans. But anyway, for all I know, it’s not necessarily a Trojan causing this, but maybe a lack of power like Bobo suggested, or whatever else could cause something like this.

Any further help would be great. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Hi

I have only just recently cured my computer from the Random restart syndrome, my problem was to do with my Main Memory (RAM), which in one of the modules had developed bad addresses, so I ended up with all sorts of problems, and I would highly suggest checking for BAD RAM.

I used Microsoft’s own memory diagnostic tool which you can download from:

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp#top

The webpage explains everything. It’s a fairly simply procedure, but you will need a floppy drive or a CD-R drive.

Hope this is the root of the problem, give a shout if you need any help.
 
HThanks for your responses.
Bobo, you said:

Get rid of the following:
R3 - URLSearchHook: ICQ Toolbar - {855F3B16-6D32-4fe6-8A56-BBB695989046} - C:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll (file missing)
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {59879FA4-4790-461c-A1CC-4EC4DE4CA483} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: ICQ Toolbar - {855F3B16-6D32-4fe6-8A56-BBB695989046} - C:\Program Files\ICQToolbar\toolbaru.dll (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: Run IMVU - {d9288080-1baa-4bc4-9cf8-a92d743db949} - C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew Animation\Start Menu\Programs\IMVU\Run IMVU.lnk (file missing)

But since the actual files are missing, how do I get rid of these things?
Select and fix them in Hijack This. There's nothing malicious, just worthless things that don't need to be there.
 
Hello,

Thanks for your responses.

I made a boot disk using the Microsoft program you showed me, but when the computer starts up, it gives me the message 'Disk I/O error,' and I couldn't find an explanation for the error on the site.

As for any other possibilities for why my computer's restarting on its own, can anyone help? I feel like my chances to get help are lower because this thread has become lengthy.

Thanks
 
Hello,

You’re right, the floppy was just bad. Using a good one, I ran the test at bootup, but just as the last Test was about to be complete for the second Pass, the computer did one of its restarts again. All the tests that did complete showed as ‘Successful’ anyway. However, I’m going to run the test again, just in case. It takes some time, and I can’t afford downtime, so I’m going to hold off on it until it can be done overnight tonight.

That might be an interesting fact, though, that the computer restarted during the bootup test, since I suppose that means it can restart even when the computer hasn’t technically started up yet? Unless that does count as starting up.

I’m not too good with computers, but after narrowing the problem down over the past week, I wonder if it’s some sort of Trojan or other ‘bug’ that I simply need to find the right anti-virus scan to detect, such as AVG or Antivir? Avast was the one I chose out of the 3 suggested in the Basic Malware Prevention sticky.

Any further help would be great.
Thanks
 
OK well if the computer is restarting even when the only thing operating is the memory diagnostic, then I am doubting its the RAM that is causing the restarts, and if you do manage to complete a full "pass" with no errors found, then it is even more unlikely it is your RAM.

Looking back through the posts, I am a bit worried about those Temps you posted. Could you try a second utility to just see double check we are not getting erroneous readings

I use Everest Home Edition http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

This is very useful at nearly finding out about anything in your computer etc.

To get temps up click computer then sensor.

Either copy and past or print-screen them.
 
Hello,

Thanks for your response.

The Temps I get from that program are:
Temperatures
GPU 56 °C (133 °F)
GPU Ambient 45 °C (113 °F)

Any further help would be great.
Thanks
 
As for the temps, SpeedFan gives me these:
Temp1: 25C
Temp2: -10C
Temp3: -9C
Temp: -8C
Temp: -10C
Local: 42C
Remote: -57C

And PC Wizard 2006 gives me these:
Processor Temp: 25C
GPU Temp: 256C
GPU Ambient: 43C
Please let me know if you think the temps are the problem.

Well your CPU would seem fine (25C in both)
The next thing I am looking at is the GPU
The Temp PC wizard 2006 gives is not right at all and there’s no way a component would last long under 256C so I’ll disregard that reading.
Secondly many of the speed fans Readings are -Ve, which is very weird.

And Everest at least proves the GPU is not overheating.

So it doesn't look like your problem is Faulty Memory or Temp.

So my next question is what major changes did you do, if any about the time these started happening.
So Hardware changes for example
Or Major software Changes
Or A Nasty bump on the computer (like moving it) could have upset some component seating.

And one other thing that might lead you in the right direction. After a restart are you presented with a "Windows has recovered form a serious error message", if you do get that and there is a button that says "Send error report". Do so if not follow these steps to turn error reporting ON.

Start / Control Panel / (Classic view) System / Advanced(Tab) / Error Reporting / and then enable it.

Then next time your comp restarts, you can send an error report to Microsoft. And a few seconds later you will get a web page with info relating to your error and you might be lucky, in which case it will tell you what is the cause.


Hope this helps.

P.s one other component that could be causing restarts is a failing Hard Disc, I don’t know how to diagnose that, so you might want to post a new thread asking how to go about that.
 
Are u sure its the fault of temp? i think u can check by replacing hardware. My suggestion is u should change the harddrive (just to check, don't buy it). I had the same restarting problem, my computer got restarted while playing songs in windows media player or doing somekind of things. I replaced the harddrive and the problem was sorted out !!!
 
Hello,

Thanks for your response.

There were no major hardware or software changes I can think of, nor any bumps suffered by the computer. I’m not presented with that error message after a restart. I found that Error Reporting was already turned on in Control Panel. I’ll post a new thread asking about how to diagnose a failing Hard Disc as you suggested.

I’m not confident enough to change anything on the inside of the computer, but what do you mean by replacing the ‘harddrive’?

Any further help would be great.
Thanks
 
I got it fixed

Hello,

It’s been a while since I posted about this rebooting issue my computer had, but I thought I should return and let you know what it seems the problem and solution turned out to be, after I got it fixed at a computer shop, in case it helps people who end up experiencing the same issue or are helping others with the same issue.

It seems the fix to the rebooting issue was two things:
1) The computer has to be plugged directly into a wall outlet, not through one of those multiple-plug thingies. (just the main computer plug, not necessarily the monitor plug or anything else that needs plugging-in)
2) I’m guessing this was the more important one: Using an Aerosol can (from Wal-mart or something), which blows air, shut the computer down and then blow out the dust in the ‘heat sinks,’ which are the lines behind the fans that look like this: |||||||||| but remember that the dust will fly out everywhere. Blow out the dust anywhere else you can, but these ‘heat sinks’ are crucial, as well as any other areas that look like |||||||||, such as by the video card. Do not use a normal vacuum for cleaning dust, as you may mess something up, just the Aerosol can.

Hope this helps anyone, and thanks again to everyone who tried to help me.
 
I dont think it could be through an adaptor.. I'm running my computer through an 8-socket powerboard and not any issues. Most likely the dust was clogging something, which was causing the crashes. Just for future reference try to clean out your computer internals every few months.
 
Sorry, I meant to say powerboard thing (multiple sockets on one board)... I don't see how it could effect it...

Yeah, I'll give mine a dust and see if it helps anything out...
 
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