Computer reboots itself using video.

Not sure if this is a hardware problem or software problem. My PC reboots after running media players (Real Player, Winamp, etc) and running flash Facebook applications (Farmville, biggest time-waster in the world).

I've tried two solutions suggested to me; System Restore and updating graphics card drivers. Any thoughts?

Windows XP
Pentium 4 3.2 GHz
Radeon 9600XT
1 GB RAM, no idea what type
not sure what other data might be useful.

 

you get get no error codes on why windows needs to reboot? after running media player WinAmp and so?

Suggestion is u might to see if you get errors in event viewer in windows...

 

There was event ID 45062 concerning a thing called ati2mtag, but google searches say this is harmless and erroneous.

I just replaced the PSU (another suggestion,everything starts up again alright), but now I am getting BSOD messages re "ati2dvag is stuck in an infinite loop". Google says to change something in Device Manager:

http://www.sightsea.com/pghpchd/pages/infinite_loop.html

Incidentally, this is also a searchable solution to the ati2mtag issue! Having already done it, reversing this solution seems to have solved the problem for now, which is why I can still post.

 

Just another question curiously... Have you been having trouble with your moniter?? such as images being distorted or just lines?

 

No, monitor works just fine.

Sporadically, the screen turns off and on, but I am told this is unexpected with a newly installed driver, as it configures itself.

 

Ati radeon graphics card.? too?

 

Yeah ATI RADEON 9600, with the latest available driver

http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...px?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.24&lang=English

 

Yeah I figured...

According to a few other sites people are having problem with the cataylist driver for the grahic card.. ATI has yet to come with solution, from what I have read there a few other fixes then one you found.. Like one updated to the 7.8 version had trouble, then went back to the one he had. I believe it was 7.4 version