Computer Restarts Without Warning

Discussion in 'Software' started by ranty, Dec 26, 2008.

  1. ranty

    ranty Private E-2

    Over the past week my computer has restarted on its own several times. There is no warning that it is getting ready to happen, it just does it.
    When it reboots back to the desktop there is a message box that always pops up and says "The system has recovered from a Serious Error".
    There is some additional info in the box and I have taken snapshots of the error messages.
    I am using XP MCE ver 2002 SP3.
    Thanks
     

    Attached Files:

    ranty, Dec 26, 2008
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    You need to turn off "reboot on error" so that the computer will give you a BSOD and an error number. That way, we can see exactly what is creating the problem.
     
    plodr, Dec 26, 2008
    #2
  3. ranty

    ranty Private E-2

    Thanks plodr, I have turned off "reboot on error".
     
    ranty, Dec 26, 2008
    #3
  4. ranty

    ranty Private E-2

    This morning my computer gave me the blue screen error message:

    *** Stop:0x0000008E(0xc0000005,0xbf952937,0xef748c00,0x00000000)

    *** win32k.sys-address bf952937 base at bf800000, datestamp 48ce513a

    Thanks for any help!
     
    ranty, Dec 28, 2008
    #4
  5. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    That error is a real general one http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945658/

    Scroll down to Advanced users. Since you say that this hs been happening oer the past week, I'd be inclined to restore the computer to a date before this started happening. If the computer seems stable, then it would point to software as the cause. if the BSOD still appears, then it would point to hardware as the cause.
     
    plodr, Dec 28, 2008
    #5
  6. ranty

    ranty Private E-2

    Thanks for all the replies. I decided to go with the restore option.
    I hope that solves the problem.
    Should it reoccur what would be the next option?
    Is there a utility that can reliably identify a specific piece of hardware as a problem?
    I have not installed any hardware for nearly a year so I guess I can rule out any "new" hardware as the cause.
    To play it safe I chose a restore point that went back nearly a month since I couldn't remember the exact day the problem started.
    Thanks again.
     
    ranty, Dec 29, 2008
    #6
  7. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    The only suggestion I have now is to write down every update to programs and windows you do and the date, so if it happens again, you might be able to pinpoint exactly what is creating the problem.
    Note what you have updating in the background (I don't allow anything to update on my computer; that way, if something breaks, I know immediately what I last updated and is probably the cause).
     
    plodr, Dec 29, 2008
    #7

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