Random Reboot

[Bossman]

For the past few months, my computer has been randomly rebooting without any warning whatsoever. The occurance is happening more and more frequently these days. There doesn't seem to be any patterns to it rebooting, it would reboot at any time, whether or not any program is running at the time of the reboot.

I have also noticed that the green LED in my Lanboy computer case is flashing instead of a solid green light. This has only started happening this past month, well after the random reboots started happening.

Does anyone know what exactly is going on with my computer and how I can stop it from occuring?

Here is my computer specs:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
1.85 gigahertz AMD Athlon XP
ASUSTeK Computer INC. A7N8X REV 1.xx
RADEON 9500 PRO / 9700 [Display adapter]
Creative SB Audigy

 

[BillLeeLee]

First, disable automatic restarts. You're probably getting a BSOD, but windows by default will reboot if you do.

You're using Windows XP, so right click My Computer. Choose Properties, go to Advanced tab.

Choose Startup and Recovery 'Settings' Button in the tab, and uncheck the box that says "Automatically restart"

If you BSOD again, let us know what the error message says.

But off the top of my head, I'd first suspect RAM, faulty PSU, or overheating.

Check RAM with Memtest86. Get it at www.memtest86.com

 

[Bossman]

Unfortunately my computer doesn't have a floppy drive. Are there other ways to test RAM without a floppy?

 

[BillLeeLee]

You can burn the program to a cd, or you can use the Windows Memory tester.

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

 

[TheMostWantedPolishTwin]

yeah - you can run memtest86 off a cd.. what temps are you hitting?