Windows restarts without warning.

Question:
Windows restarts without warning.

Cause:
This issue could be caused by any of the below possibilities.
1. Software issue or error.
2. Hardware issue or error.
3. Heat related issue.
4. Computer virus.
5. Issue with operating system.

Additional Information:
This document is about computers that are restarting or rebooting, if your computer is
turning off and remaining off please see document CH000689.

Some of the below steps in the answer require you open your computer and remove
hardware devices, while in the computer make sure you're aware of ESD.

Answer:
Software issue or error
Errors generated by software programs can cause a computer to reboot unexpectedly or
without warning. If you are running Windows XP see the below section "For Windows
XP users" before continuing.

If you are not running Windows XP or following the below steps still cause your
computer to reboot without warning. Boot your computer into safe mode, and let the
computer run in safe mode. If the computer is still rebooting in safe mode the issue is
likely not software related but something else, skip to the next section. If the computer
is not rebooting in safe mode it is likely you have software related issue. We would
recommend you run through the basic troubleshooting section for your operating
system.

For Windows XP users

Windows XP is designed to automatically reboot each time an error occurs such as a

BSoD. Although this may be nice for errors that do not occur often, users who have a
re-occurring error may wish to identify the error to troubleshoot it. Below are the steps
on how this feature can be disabled and enabled in Windows XP.

1. From the desktop right click on My Computer.

2. Click the Properties option.
3. In the System Properties window click the Advanced tab.
4. In Advanced click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery.
5. In the Startup and Recovery window uncheck the Automatically restart check
box.
 6. Click Ok.

Now if the computer generates and error it should not automatically restart and enable
you to display any errors your computer may be experiencing.

Hardware issue or error

Any failing hardware component in your computer could cause your computer to
unexpectedly generate an error and/or reboot without warning. If you have recently
attempted to add a new hardware device, remove that device to make sure it is not
causing your issues.

Make sure you are not encountering any hardware conflicts by viewing device manager
for errors. Additional information about device manager can be found on our device
manager page.

New drivers can also cause this issue, if you have recently performed any hardware
driver updates you may wish to try an earlier version of the drivers. Additional
information and help with computer drivers can be found on our drivers’ page.

If you have updated drivers and removed any hardware that could be causing this issue
and continue to experience random reboots, it's possible that the memory is bad in the
computer. Additional information about testing computers memory can be found on
document CH000708.

Finally, hardware devices that are not installed properly in the computer can also cause
random reboots. Make sure all the cables and expansion cards are connected properly to
the computer. The best way to determine this is to disconnect and reconnect all cables
and expansion cards.

Computer virus
Computer viruses such as the blaster virus are written to reboot your computer without
warning. Usually these viruses will make the computer reboot ever 5, 10, 15 or 30
minutes after the computer has booted.

If you believe your computer may be infected with a virus or are uncertain if your
computer is infected with a virus make sure your virus scanner definitions are up to
date. Additional information about checking this can be found in document CH000533.

Heat related issue

Many computer today are designed to turn off or automatically reboot if the computer,
processor, or other device in your computer gets to hot. If you have heard any abnormal
noises coming from your computer recently such as a high squealing this could indicate
a fan may be failing in your computer.

You can first start by verifying the fan on the power supply is working by examining the
back of the computer and seeing if the fan is moving and moving smoothly. For all other
fans in the computer you will need to either open the computer and make sure the fan
are working (processor fan and case fan) and/or if your BIOS monitors the RPM of the
fans enter BIOS and make sure the BIOS does not report any errors.

Users may also be able to determine how hot their computer is by onboard thermal
 sensors, if your computer comes equipped with these sensors make sure your CPU is
not running to hot, additional information about how hot your CPU should be running
can be found on document CH000687.

Issue with operating system

If after following each of the above recommendations your computer still continues to
reboot it is likely that you are experiencing a Microsoft Windows operating system
related issue that cannot be explained. To help make sure this is the case please try the
below steps.

1. Reboot the computer and enter CMOS setup as the computer is booting. If you
are not familiar with how to enter CMOS please read through document
CH000192.
2. After you have loaded the computer in CMOS setup let the computer sit.

If the computer does not reboot while letting the computer sit in CMOS it is likely that
you are in fact experiencing an issue with Microsoft Windows and it is recommend that
if you have followed all of the above recommendations that you reinstall your version
of Microsoft Windows. Additional information about erasing the computer and starting
over can be found on document CH000186.