Computer Problem: EMERGENCY!

[Dawgs0916]

I have a horrible problem. I have just recently gotten a job with my town's newspaper as a reporter/staff writer and my computer is freaking out at the worst possible time since I use it to write and edit everything.

It keeps restarting out of nowhere. Sometimes it takes 5 minutes sometimes 30, but without fail it restarts no matter what im in the middle of. I ran a couple of avast virus scans and it restarted both times in the middle of them. Luckily, the second time it caught a virus before it restarted and told me to let it continue the scan in pre-boost safe mode or something.

Well, I did that, and sure enough it found 6 trojans on my computer. I thought it was all fixed since it deleted all the files and everything. However, as I was trying to convert some movies to iPod format with a program I downloaded, it restarted again, and it has continued throughout the day like before. What do I do?!! I don't have money to take it to a computer repair person and I know there are some really smart computer people on here.

Any help would be great, because I need this for the job, and everything else for school and everything. Please any ideas, as soon as possible. Thanks so much!

[Heisenberg]

It might be overheating. Since it's free to take the side of the case off and let room temp air hit it, that might be what you need to do. You might even put a fan nearby blowing air into it.

If it's not that, it could be a failing power supply or bad memory, but I'd go with heat first.

[Dallas]

Boot into safe mode then run the virus scan.


If the system is already turned off, power it on.
If the system is already on, shutdown the system normally, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on.
Begin tapping the F8 key every few seconds as the system boots up until the screen offering the Safe Mode option appears.
Use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode and press the Enter key.The system will now boot into Safe Mode.
On Windows XP, you may receive a prompt asking if you really want to boot into Safe Mode. Choose Yes.
Once Windows has booted into Safe Mode, open your antivirus program using the Start | Programs menu and run a complete virus scan.

If your PC is a multi-boot system (i.e. has more than one operating system to choose from), first select the desired OS and then begin tapping the F8 key every few seconds while it boots.
If tapping F8 did not result in the Safe Mode option being offered, repeat the steps.

[Dawgs0916]

Well like I said, it already did the scan in safe mode, before booting, and it found 6 trojans that it deleted. Do I need to do it again? And I will try the overheating thing but I would like to see if there are any other options, im thinking if i downloaded a virus off of limewire, the avast scan got it when it found those 6 wouldn't it?

[Dallas]

Can you boot to your last known good configuration? Do you have Symantec PCAnywhere installed on this computer?

[Dawgs0916]

I have no idea what you meant on that first part... and no the only antivirus things I have are avast and the stupid AOL thing.

[Dallas]

Have you added any new software/hardware to this computer lately?

Is your device manager complaining about anything?

Right Click - My Computer - Properties-Hardware-Device Manager

Do you have any bright yellow ?'s ?


When you hit F8 you should have an option along w/ safe mode called "Last Known Configuration"

[Dawgs0916]

Nope, no bright yellow ?'s. The last thing I downloaded was a couple of programs to try to convert video files to ipod format, even though I can't seem to get the files to transfer to my iTunes to put on the ipod itself. but thats beside the point. thats all i have installed besides plugging in the new ipod...

[Dallas]

Have you tried removing those recently installed programs?



Also check your event log. Maybe post the last couple of events it logged before shutting down?


Start-Control Panel-Administrative Tools-Event Viewer

[Dawgs0916]

It just did it again man....I did the even log check. The last stuff was all under "Security". Success Audit. A couple of those and thats about it. What can I do? I am freaking out I thought it was fixed it lasted over an hour this last time. Right in the middle of converting another video, bam. I know its not that though because I have tried it with two different programs and the same thing happens. Even when im not doing the iPod thing, it still reboots.

[Mash]

Sounds like a heat issue.....that or the memory is bad.....did you check the fans in the computer? Power suppy...cpu...etc?

If you dont think its a heat problem......did you try a system restore? go back a few day before this was happening.

The if this is somehow a software related problem or a virus....you can then run the proper utilities to clean up the comp...in case there is any hidden maleware or viruses still lurking.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000689.htm

[Mash]

You can also try to go to

Control Panel/System/Advanced/Settings (Startup & Recovery)/System
Failure/Uncheck-Automatically Restart.

and see if it gives you a error message.....

[Dawgs0916]

It just did it to me while in safe mode, and running the virus scan. So what do I do to correct the heat issue exactly, and is it something that is going to cause the computer to be fried no matter what?

[Dawgs0916]

It didn't give me an error message when I un-checked automatic restart...what does that mean? Should I check it again?

[Mash]

If it didnt give you a error message then its seems it isnt a software problem.

Are the fans running properly


Make sure your fans are running......sounds like a cpu fan or the power supply fan is acting up.

open the box and try having a fan blowing on the motherboard.......and then see if your computer still restarts when running a program.



Also...you can check your cpu temp in the bios.......hold the delete key when rebooting....try to see the temp of the cpu.

Sorry Dawg...wish I could be of more help....its just sounds alot like heat issues.....

[Dawgs0916]

I did disable it. And no error message....Ok, I will take off the side of the comp and see what happens. This is the only computer we have in the house so I am gonna be without it while I do that....Should I check the temperature first and let you know?

[Heisenberg]

I did disable it. And no error message....Ok, I will take off the side of the comp and see what happens. This is the only computer we have in the house so I am gonna be without it while I do that....Should I check the temperature first and let you know?

You can, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it'll show up when the CPU isn't under heavy use like it is when you're coverting videos. It could be a dust issue where the fins of the heatsink are all clogged and canned air might do the trick.

If it's heat, the side off the case and a fan blowing on it should help enough until you could figure out if there's a faulty fan, heavy dust, or something else causing heat problems.

[Mash]

If you take the side of the comp off....you will still be able to use it....just check to see if the fans are still running.....

I hope it is the fans...because if not....it could be worse like your cpu failing...or the motherboard failing......sorry... :(

I wish I could be of more help

[Mash]

Sorry Dawg,

The cpu temp in the bios should give you a idea....the bios has a temp set by default....if the cpu hits that temp then the comp will shut off to protect itself...

There should be a live reading in the bios of your cpu......

[Dawgs0916]

I dont know what the bios is :( but WOW. There was a SERIOUS dust issue in there. Im gonna run to wal-mart and get some canned air to blow at that because i mean it was ridiculously clogged with dust. All three fans had heavy dust in there. Could that be the issue? It just seems like a virus thing you know?

[Mash]

It could well be a virus....but from seeing some of these same problems at work....it seems its hardware.........heat issue or memory.

If you think it may be a virus...and you cannot get thru a full virus check in safe mode....then try to restore your comp to a previous date....remember ....any files or programs done on or after that date will be lost.

This will prevent the virus from starting......and give you enough time to run a full virus check.....

If that fixes your problem then I recommend to run adaware....spybot...and a updated virus program to make sure your comp is clean.

ccleaner is another free program to help clean up temp files...fix bad registry entries.......If you look futher in this forum there is another computer question that I posted links to these programs.

[Mash]

You will enter the Bios if you hold the delete key when booting up......inside the bios there should be a place where the computer temperture is monitored.

[Mash]

Configuring BIOS

To enter the CMOS Setup, you must press a certain key or combination of keys during the initial startup sequence. Most systems use "Esc," "Del," "F1," "F2," "Ctrl-Esc" or "Ctrl-Alt-Esc" to enter setup. There is usually a line of text at the bottom of the display that tells you "Press ___ to Enter Setup."

Once you have entered setup, you will see a set of text screens with a number of options. Some of these are standard, while others vary according to the BIOS manufacturer. Common options include:

System Time/Date - Set the system time and date
Boot Sequence - The order that BIOS will try to load the operating system
Plug and Play - A standard for auto-detecting connected devices; should be set to "Yes" if your computer and operating system both support it
Mouse/Keyboard - "Enable Num Lock," "Enable the Keyboard," "Auto-Detect Mouse"...
Drive Configuration - Configure hard drives, CD-ROM and floppy drives
Memory - Direct the BIOS to shadow to a specific memory address
Security - Set a password for accessing the computer
Power Management - Select whether to use power management, as well as set the amount of time for standby and suspend
Exit - Save your changes, discard your changes or restore default settings

[Heisenberg]

I dont know what the bios is :( but WOW. There was a SERIOUS dust issue in there. Im gonna run to wal-mart and get some canned air to blow at that because i mean it was ridiculously clogged with dust. All three fans had heavy dust in there. Could that be the issue? It just seems like a virus thing you know?

I bet there's a good chance that's it. As the computer gets dustier and dustier, the airflow gets more restricted. That's why it's a problem that never showed up til now.

I doubt the virus stuff is even related.

[Duane]

I had a weird problem with power offs and it ended up that my power supply was bad. Once I replaced it all the problems went away.

[Chinfu]

I had a weird problem with power offs and it ended up that my power supply was bad. Once I replaced it all the problems went away.


Same here, I had bought a power supply 9 months earlier so I kept ruling out the PS. I changed the CPU and MoBo fan and the problem continued. Thought I would try putting my sons PS in my rig just to see and sure enough that was it. I didn't go the cheap route on my next one.

Good luck getting it fixed.

[DallasFanSince86]

Sounds llike the dust is the cause of your problems. Once you get that cleaned out you should be ok.



Same here, I had bought a power supply 9 months earlier so I kept ruling out the PS. I changed the CPU and MoBo fan and the problem continued. Thought I would try putting my sons PS in my rig just to see and sure enough that was it. I didn't go the cheap route on my next one.

Good luck getting it fixed.

:welcome: to the board.

[Dawgs0916]

OK, I ran to Wal-Mart yesterday, got some canned air, blew the crap out of all the dust in the three fans, and the insides in general, and left the computer, side off, off all night until right now. Let's see if that fixed the problem. When you guys say power supply do you mean simply the cord? If this doesn't work Mash, I am going to need your help with your explanations of the BIOS from earlier. Thanks...

[Mash]

Hey Dawg,

Just make sure the fans are spinning properly.....leave the comp running and lets see if it shuts down on its own....

The power supply inside the computer has a fan also....u will see it in the back of the computer......blow that out also....and check to see if the fan is spinning properly.

[Yeagermeister]

Hey Dawg,

Just make sure the fans are spinning properly.....leave the comp running and lets see if it shuts down on its own....

The power supply inside the computer has a fan also....u will see it in the back of the computer......blow that out also....and check to see if the fan is spinning properly.

You'd be amazed at how much dust and crap gets sucked in to the power supply. It can be pretty nasty. :laugh2:

[Dawgs0916]

Trust me, I was amazed....and yeah Mash, I blew the dust out of all the fans....and so far, so good! I just hope this isn't one of those times it took longer to reboot than others...

[jksmith269]

I haven't read all the posts so someone may have already suggested this but with Trojan's unless you disable your system restore it will not always completely remove the trojan. Now I've had a trojan where it wouldn't let me do a system restore therefore disabling it was no big deal since I couldn't restore anyway.