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!

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

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.

1. If the system is already turned off, power it on.
2. If the system is already on, shutdown the system normally, wait 30 seconds, then power it back on.
3. Begin tapping the F8 key every few seconds as the system boots up until the screen offering the Safe Mode option appears.
4. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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?

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

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?