Why Did My Computer Reboot Last Night?

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
yesterday and 3 PM today?

W. eWatson wrote:
> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.

[Randem]

Check your event viewer for some clues about what happened about the time of
the reboot. MS updates have been known to reboot your computer automatically
sometimes.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Find Out What Your VB Program is Really Doing
http://www.randem.com/rstools.html



"W. eWatson" > wrote in message
...
>I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
>came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
>reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC was
>completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.

[john]

"Randem" > wrote in message
...
> Check your event viewer for some clues about what happened about the time
> of the reboot. MS updates have been known to reboot your computer
> automatically sometimes.

yes, and without your permission...

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

Randem wrote:
> Check your event viewer for some clues about what happened about the time of
> the reboot. MS updates have been known to reboot your computer automatically
> sometimes.
>
I got to it via Help. Maybe it was on Ctrl Panel. Anyway, I see things
like Micrfosft Fax, Security Cente, BMUService, Unserenv, SceCli. There
was an Msi install at 10:40. Curious. Are those triggered by me?
Unfortunately, the machine in question is 120' from here, so I have to
run back and forth.

See me below responding to Windows Updater log. MVP

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
> yesterday and 3 PM today?
>
> W. eWatson wrote:
>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.
>
How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
to stay up and running all night.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Please top-post your replies to my posts. Thanks.]

How to read the WindowsUpdate.log file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093


W. eWatson wrote:
> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
> to stay up and running all night.
>
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
>> yesterday and 3 PM today?
>>
>> W. eWatson wrote:
>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.

[Randem]

The MSI install was most likely a Windows Update that automatically rebooted
your machine. If you open that MSI entry you should see the application that
was installing at that time and it should give you an idea of what happened.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Find Out What Your VB Program is Really Doing
http://www.randem.com/rstools.html



"W. eWatson" > wrote in message
...
> Randem wrote:
>> Check your event viewer for some clues about what happened about the time
>> of the reboot. MS updates have been known to reboot your computer
>> automatically sometimes.
>>
> I got to it via Help. Maybe it was on Ctrl Panel. Anyway, I see things
> like Micrfosft Fax, Security Cente, BMUService, Unserenv, SceCli. There
> was an Msi install at 10:40. Curious. Are those triggered by me?
> Unfortunately, the machine in question is 120' from here, so I have to run
> back and forth.
>
> See me below responding to Windows Updater log. MVP

[N. Miller]

On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:

>> W. eWatson wrote:

>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.

>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
>> yesterday and 3 PM today?

> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
> to stay up and running all night.

For a computer that needs to be left running all night, change your updates
to either, "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
them", or, "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".
That way, you will get a notice in the System Notification area when there
are updates available, and you can choose a more convenient time to install
them.

--
Norman
~Oh Lord, why have you come
~To Konnyu, with the Lion and the Drum

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

N. Miller wrote:
> On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:
>
>> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>
>>> W. eWatson wrote:
>
>>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
>>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
>>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
>>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.
>
>>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
>>> yesterday and 3 PM today?
>
>> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
>> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
>> to stay up and running all night.
>
> For a computer that needs to be left running all night, change your updates
> to either, "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
> them", or, "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".
> That way, you will get a notice in the System Notification area when there
> are updates available, and you can choose a more convenient time to install
> them.
>
Where do I do that? The security icon? I did look there, but may have
missed it.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

W. eWatson wrote:
> N. Miller wrote:
>> On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:
>>
>>> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>
>>>> W. eWatson wrote:
>>
>>>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When
>>>>> I
>>>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some
>>>>> XP
>>>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
>>>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.
>>
>>>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
>>>> yesterday and 3 PM today?
>>
>>> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
>>> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
>>> to stay up and running all night.
>>
>> For a computer that needs to be left running all night, change your
>> updates
>> to either, "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
>> them", or, "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".
>> That way, you will get a notice in the System Notification area when
>> there
>> are updates available, and you can choose a more convenient time to
>> install
>> them.
>>
> Where do I do that? The security icon? I did look there, but may have
> missed it.

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in WinXP:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

[Mark Adams[_2_]]

"W. eWatson" wrote:

> N. Miller wrote:
> > On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:
> >
> >> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> >
> >>> W. eWatson wrote:
> >
> >>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
> >>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
> >>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
> >>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.
> >
> >>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
> >>> yesterday and 3 PM today?
> >
> >> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
> >> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
> >> to stay up and running all night.
> >
> > For a computer that needs to be left running all night, change your updates
> > to either, "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
> > them", or, "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".
> > That way, you will get a notice in the System Notification area when there
> > are updates available, and you can choose a more convenient time to install
> > them.
> >
> Where do I do that? The security icon? I did look there, but may have
> missed it.
>

Control Panel, Security Center. Look under "Change the way Security Center
notifies me" or words to the effect. Change the check mark to the appropriate
box.

[Mark Adams[_2_]]

"W. eWatson" wrote:

> N. Miller wrote:
> > On Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:40:00 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:
> >
> >> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> >
> >>> W. eWatson wrote:
> >
> >>>> I left my PC running last night after I left it at around 11 pm. When I
> >>>> came out to look at it around 3 pm, it had rebooted. Isn't there some XP
> >>>> reporting facility that might indicate what was going on. A nearby PC
> >>>> was completely unaffected by anything. Same circuit I believe.
> >
> >>> What does WindowsUpdate.log have to say for the period between 11 PM
> >>> yesterday and 3 PM today?
> >
> >> How do I view this log? I couldn't find any reference in Help. If it was
> >> a forced update, that's not good on the object machine. It's supposed
> >> to stay up and running all night.
> >
> > For a computer that needs to be left running all night, change your updates
> > to either, "Download updates for me, but let me choose when to install
> > them", or, "Notify me but don't automatically download or install them".
> > That way, you will get a notice in the System Notification area when there
> > are updates available, and you can choose a more convenient time to install
> > them.
> >
> Where do I do that? The security icon? I did look there, but may have
> missed it.
>
Ooops, Pa Bear is right. It's Automatic Updates, not Security Center. Duh!

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

I finally hauled off the log from the other computer about 120' from
here. Even though I'm networked to it, it's a bit daunting to go between
the two. I don't use mail there, but here in the house. A bit of the
log is below starting about the time I turned the PC on. This and the
link you gave are a bit mind boggling to read. I think I'll just settle
for configuring the updates from a period beginning at 6 pm to 8 pm the
next day.

{9251467A-6DF1-4476-BA39-AD1E62400507}.102] ***********
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
9251467A-6DF1-4476-BA39-AD1E62400507 is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr * Update is not allowed to
download due to regulation.
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
261D2186-5058-4BC5-B783-544E0B87CC3B is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
6041DC4A-91A1-4118-9930-8B93F432E479 is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
99109C84-4817-4DFB-AEBE-70FC66882B76 is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
9251467A-6DF1-4476-BA39-AD1E62400507 is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 22:11:59:875 872 dc0 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr:
Regulation Refresh [Svc: {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77}]
***********
2009-07-21 22:11:59:875 872 dc0 DnldMgr Contacting regulation server
for 4 updates.
2009-07-21 22:12:00:390 872 dc0 Misc Validating signature for
C:\WINNT\SoftwareDistribution\WuRedir\9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77\wuredir.cab:
2009-07-21 22:12:00:390 872 dc0 Misc Microsoft signed: Yes
2009-07-21 22:12:00:406 872 dc0 DnldMgr Regulation server path:
http://update.microsoft.com/v6/UpdateRegulationService/UpdateRegulation.asmx.
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr Per-Update:
6041dc4a-91a1-4118-9930-8b93f432e479 at rate 0
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr Per-Update:
9251467a-6df1-4476-ba39-ad1e62400507 at rate 0
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr Per-Update:
99109c84-4817-4dfb-aebe-70fc66882b76 at rate 0
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr Per-Update:
261d2186-5058-4bc5-b783-544e0b87cc3b at rate 0
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr * Regulation call complete.
0x00000000
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr: New
download job [UpdateId = {261D2186-5058-4BC5-B783-544E0B87CC3B}.102]
***********
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr Regulation:
{9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
261D2186-5058-4BC5-B783-544E0B87CC3B is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr * Update is not allowed to
download due to regulation.
2009-07-21 22:12:03:312 872 dc0 DnldMgr *********** DnldMgr: New
download job [UpdateId = {6041DC4A-91A1-4118-9930-8B93F432E479}.102]
***********
.... on into the night ...

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log (cf.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093), you are seeing a delay caused by
excessive demand on the servers ("Update is not allowed to download due to
regulation"). It can take up to 7 days or more (sometimes much more) for
all Automatic Update users to get new updates when so many have been
released on the second Tuesday of a given month. See...

Updates are not downloaded or the "Automatic Updates" icon does not display
the status of downloads when you enable the Automatic Updates service
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/910340

You can install the updates via Windows/Microsoft Update website instead:
Understand that by doing so, you're pushing all other Automatic Updates
users further back in the queue (which may explain, at least in part, why
Automatic Updates hasn't brought them in for you yet).
--
Windows Update-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


W. eWatson wrote:
> I finally hauled off the log from the other computer about 120' from
> here. Even though I'm networked to it, it's a bit daunting to go between
> the two. I don't use mail there, but here in the house. A bit of the
> log is below starting about the time I turned the PC on. This and the
> link you gave are a bit mind boggling to read. I think I'll just settle
> for configuring the updates from a period beginning at 6 pm to 8 pm the
> next day.
>
> {9251467A-6DF1-4476-BA39-AD1E62400507}.102] ***********
> 2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr Regulation:
> {9482F4B4-E343-43B6-B170-9A65BC822C77} - Update
> 9251467A-6DF1-4476-BA39-AD1E62400507 is "PerUpdate" regulated and can
> NOT download. Sequence 7946 vs AcceptRate 0.
> 2009-07-21 20:41:59:968 872 b60 DnldMgr * Update is not allowed to
> download due to regulation.
<snip>
> ... on into the night ...

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> Absent any serious numerical Errors in your windowsupdate.log (cf.
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/902093), you are seeing a delay caused
> by excessive demand on the servers ("Update is not allowed to download
> due to regulation"). It can take up to 7 days or more (sometimes much
> more) for all Automatic Update users to get new updates when so many
> have been released on the second Tuesday of a given month. See...
>
> Updates are not downloaded or the "Automatic Updates" icon does not
> display the status of downloads when you enable the Automatic Updates
> service
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/910340
>
> You can install the updates via Windows/Microsoft Update website
> instead: Understand that by doing so, you're pushing all other Automatic
> Updates users further back in the queue (which may explain, at least in
> part, why Automatic Updates hasn't brought them in for you yet).
Actually, the machine is off a lot despite my all night need. It's an
astronomical observatory. When the skies are right, usually, in the
summer here in N. Calif., it may be working all night unaided by me. In
fact, I was so busy with other matters in astronomy, it had hardly been
on from Dec to June. Now I'm beginning to crank again.

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

Try this.
Actually, the machine is off a lot despite my all night need. It's an
astronomical observatory. When the skies are right, usually, in the
summer here in N. Calif., it may be working all night unaided by me. In
fact, I was so busy with other matters in astronomy, it had hardly been
on from Dec to June. Now I'm beginning to crank again.

How does one get older updates if they are "missed"?

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

1. Automatic Updates (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525); or...

2. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com


W. eWatson wrote:
> Actually, the machine is off a lot despite my all night need. It's an
> astronomical observatory. When the skies are right, usually, in the
> summer here in N. Calif., it may be working all night unaided by me. In
> fact, I was so busy with other matters in astronomy, it had hardly been
> on from Dec to June. Now I'm beginning to crank again.
>
> How does one get older updates if they are "missed"?

[W. eWatson[_2_]]

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> 1. Automatic Updates (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525); or...
>
> 2. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com


Well, 2 gives me this. I'm a FireFox/Tbird user. An odd requirement.
Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.

To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or
later.

[Roy Smith[_7_]]

W. eWatson wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> 1. Automatic Updates (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525); or...
>>
>> 2. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
>
>
> Well, 2 gives me this. I'm a FireFox/Tbird user. An odd requirement.
> Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.
>
> To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or
> later.

You can also use the IE Tab add-on at this address:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419

It works as I use it myself to visit the online update page.

--

Roy Smith
Windows XP Pro SP3

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

And if you access Windows Update website using IE...?

W. eWatson wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> 1. Automatic Updates (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525); or...
>>
>> 2. http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
>
>
> Well, 2 gives me this. I'm a FireFox/Tbird user. An odd requirement.
> Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.
>
> To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or
> later.