AboutRider Expertise With 20 years experience I can answer almost any question about Intel computers ror build, restore, backup, configure, OS problems, Hardware issures. Setup of hardware components, repair, remove and replace. Trouble shooting hardware/driver issues.
Qwner of DIY Computer Repair and autor of the DIY Computer Repair E-Book
Experience I have been a hardware/os tech for over 20 years, I also own a web site for the do it yourselfer with over 170 articles.
Education/Credentials AAS Electronics Engineering Technology, MCSE, A , HP/IBM/Compaq hardware repair ceritfications
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Expert: Rider Date: 1/31/2008 Subject: Desktop randomly re-boots by itself
Question My HP desktop - XP - will just reboot at always the most crucial time - like just before saving a file- it does it about 3 times a week- computer is used only about 10 hrs a week- I have tried leaving power on, keeping it off-- I highly suspect the internal DC power supply is failing. The computer is pushing 3 yrs old- and we often just let it hibernate when not in use. The electrical supply to the computer is good- I have a lamp on my desk on the same circuit- and it never interupts when this happens- Also, it can happen when I am just sitting, reading something- no keyboard activity or any other activity--- so am I on the right track? My daughter is ready to kill me- she just lost a big file last night!! Thanks
Answer Ramdom restarts could be caused by different things.
The most common reason for a restart is the computer is infected with a virus.
Another thing that will cause a random restart is heat, the inside of the computer is dirty (dust creats an insulating blanket on computer components and retains heat)needs to be cleaned.
Or you are indeed having a hardware failure, I would suspect the memory before a power supply.
Try this first:
Clean your system of viruis, I have written a article on my web site with instructions, be sure to have the latest virus updates, you may also want to have anti spyware and trojan software installed.
If this doesn't cure the random restart you can clean the inside of the computer. You can do this with a can of compressed air, a vacume cleaner, and a clean stiff brissel paint brush.
With the canned air and the extension nozzel clean out the power supply, blow air in the power supply from the inside out, the dust should go out the fan at the back of the computer. Use the canned air anywhere you can not reach with the paint brush to remove the dust. Next using the paint brush gently 'dust' all the componets on the motherboard, then with the vacume clean out the loose dust, do not put the nozzel of the vacume close to any parts! The vacume could cause serious damage if it comes into contact or sucks up a loose part.
Lastly, if this still doesn't cure the random restarts you will have to do some diagnostics on the computer. You can download a free or shareware test program that runs in DOS. (this requires a bootable device with DOS loaded on it). These programs will test the memory, motherboard, and processor. I would not suggest you do any tests on your hard drive, these are normally destructive.
