Computer automatically restarts

Last week my computer started restarting automatically. I was in the middle of working on something and it restarted. About halfway through this restart, it did it again, and again. I turned it off and left it alone until yesterday.

I started the computer but had the same results as the other day.

I'm new to this forum and don't know a lot about the technical aspects of computers. I was given a computer that was built piece by piece and I'm not sure exactly what is in there (which I know doesn't help). It's running XP and is not hooked up to the internet.

I searched the forum and found some similar questions but with different answers. I didn't know if there's anything specific this problem points to or if there are different things to try.

I appreciate your patience with me and greatly appreciate any info/advice you can offer.

 

Right click on "My computer" select properties, click advanced tab, click settings under "startup and recovery", UNCHECK "Automatically Restart", click OK, click OK. Continue with what you were doing.

Next time the computer reboots, it should post a BSOD, give us that information.

 

Thank you both for responding to my question.

I have not tried pressing F8 at bootup yet.

Now that I think about it, there was a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death, right?) when it first restarted last week, but I didn't pay attention to it.

The computer has not gotten to the desktop since this problem first began.

I will try F8 at startup when I get home today.

Thank you again.

 

It could also be heat related. Is the pc dirty/dusty inside?

 

did you download anything before you computer started to restart?

i had a problem with mine re-booting abuot a month ago, i thought i may have been a certain program i had downloaded, i loaded it up in safe mode, removed the program and it did work for a little while, long enough for me to define the problem.

 

Hey, I once got this problem, but it was a while ago. I'm pretty sure that is is a virus of some sort. I formatted the PC and it never had that problem again.

 

The computer continues to restart.

I tried to start in "safe mode" by pressing F8 but this time got the following message (paraphrased): "Cannot find file... Windows/System/Config. ... Recover using CD". (I got the same message when I tried to "use last good configuration".

I loaded the XP disc and it said I needed to use a floppy disk which I don't have to recover.

I was going to simply reinstall XP but it won't allow me to, saying that it will delete everything on my HD before doing so.

Upon startup, I tried accessing the copy of XP on my second HD, and got the BSOD. Here's the message:

Check for viruses. ... Remove newly installed HDs or HD controllers.

Run CHKDSK/F to check harddrive corruption, then restart computer.

Technical info:
*** STOP: 0X0000007B (0XF7AC0640, 0XC0000034, 0X00000000,
0X00000000).


As for dust, I'll check it later.

 

check the following out for info that might help you.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324103