XP Pro - decides to reboot every now and then..

[Rock]

Hello,

I have XP PRo and it has been fine for months , but a friend has been
using it and for some reason it now reboots every now and then.

It will start up fine and one can use it for a few mins then it just
goes black and reboots.

I think he has downloaded some things but he has gone and I am not sure.

Any help ?

Thanks

[Maurice N]

Rock wrote:
> Hello,
>=20
> I have XP PRo and it has been fine for months , but a friend has been
> using it and for some reason it now reboots every now and then.
>=20
> It will start up fine and one can use it for a few mins then it just
> goes black and reboots.
>=20
> I think he has downloaded some things but he has gone and I am not
> sure.=20
>=20
> Any help ?
>=20
> Thanks
Hello Rock,
I'm passing on my usual troubleshooting list for random reboots or =
freezes. Keep in mind you may have to get into SAFE mode if normal mode =
is un-workable. (Just keep tapping F8 Function key at pc bootup to get =
bootup choices.)

Did you add any applications to this pc? Did you add hardware? Make =
any other changes?
Did you add PC Anywhere or such ?

A freeze (or pc reboot) can be due to any one of a number of =
possibilities.

Go into your Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | System icon =
| System properties | "Advanced" TAB | in the "Startup and Recovery" =
section....click the "settings" button. "Un-check" the "automatically =
restart" line.
And in the "Write debugging information" select "NONE". This turns off =
the error "dumps".(That's a suggestion; most people won't need them). =
Apply change, make clean exit.
=20
Start button/ Run / type
devmgmt.msc <enter> -- or Go to Control Panel ----Device Manager. =
Take a good look at list of devices. Expand lists & look at each device. =
Are there any marked with exceptions?

Start button/ Run / type
eventvwr.msc<enter> -- or Go to Control Panel / Performance and =
Maintenance/Administrative Tools >Event Viewer.
Review the sections and look for Errors or Warnings that match the =
time the event occurred. Double click---the information may give a =
clue on the issue.

Be acutely aware of all your startup programs. One of them may be =
causing a fault condition.=20
go to Start menu / Run / type
MSCONFIG <enter>

Click on "Startup" tab and look at list of your startup program. Jot =
those down, since perhaps 1 of them "may" lead to a freeze.
You can experiment by un-checking all programs (to not start), then =
later add 1 by 1, until you pin down the culprit.

You may want to look at this utility - Startup Control Panel
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_conflicts.htm

--=20
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

[Rock]

Maurice,

Thank you so much for your in depth advice. I will be at it tomorrow.

Regards,

Rock

Maurice N wrote:
> Rock wrote:
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I have XP PRo and it has been fine for months , but a friend has been
>>using it and for some reason it now reboots every now and then.
>>
>>It will start up fine and one can use it for a few mins then it just
>>goes black and reboots.
>>
>>I think he has downloaded some things but he has gone and I am not
>>sure.
>>
>>Any help ?
>>
>>Thanks
>
> Hello Rock,
> I'm passing on my usual troubleshooting list for random reboots or freezes. Keep in mind you may have to get into SAFE mode if normal mode is un-workable. (Just keep tapping F8 Function key at pc bootup to get bootup choices.)
>
> Did you add any applications to this pc? Did you add hardware? Make any other changes?
> Did you add PC Anywhere or such ?
>
> A freeze (or pc reboot) can be due to any one of a number of possibilities.
>
> Go into your Control Panel | Performance and Maintenance | System icon | System properties | "Advanced" TAB | in the "Startup and Recovery" section....click the "settings" button. "Un-check" the "automatically restart" line.
> And in the "Write debugging information" select "NONE". This turns off the error "dumps".(That's a suggestion; most people won't need them). Apply change, make clean exit.
>
> Start button/ Run / type
> devmgmt.msc <enter> -- or Go to Control Panel ----Device Manager. Take a good look at list of devices. Expand lists & look at each device. Are there any marked with exceptions?
>
> Start button/ Run / type
> eventvwr.msc<enter> -- or Go to Control Panel / Performance and Maintenance/Administrative Tools >Event Viewer.
> Review the sections and look for Errors or Warnings that match the time the event occurred. Double click---the information may give a clue on the issue.
>
> Be acutely aware of all your startup programs. One of them may be causing a fault condition.
> go to Start menu / Run / type
> MSCONFIG <enter>
>
> Click on "Startup" tab and look at list of your startup program. Jot those down, since perhaps 1 of them "may" lead to a freeze.
> You can experiment by un-checking all programs (to not start), then later add 1 by 1, until you pin down the culprit.
>
> You may want to look at this utility - Startup Control Panel
> http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
>
> How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_conflicts.htm
>