fanboy19
asked on
windows xp unexpected shutdown
how do i troubleshoot windows xp to figure out why it is randomly shutting down. I've already enabled the shutdown event tracker and disabled power save options. It still randomly shuts down with no warning and does not file a log in the event viewer when it does.
Sounds like it could be a heat issue or an under powered power supply. Sometimes to track down these type of problems if it is desktop is to get inside it and check to make sure none of the connections are loose and that the fans are working. Also systematically swapping the RAM modules and using one at a time to see if one of them is causing the problem. Also pulling all your hardware off the machine leaving yourself with just a mouse, a keyboard, video card, 1 hard drive. No CD Drive. And see what happens.
ASKER
yes, that is correct. it is completely random and often happens during periods when the system is idle.
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ASKER
it is a laptop.
ASKER
ill try that
CrazyOne, I have had the same problem described in this post for almost a year now - I posted a previous query to this forum in April 2003, but was not able to satisfactorily resolve my problem from the responses received - maybe I just didn't get all the rights bits of info, or just didn't understand the answers - I tried all the suggestions.
My question now is, how do you update the BIOS? I'm NOT a techie, and cannot dissassemble computers, etc. - is this something I do, or do need an update from laptop provider? (Compaq Presario 1500)
Many thanks - there was a post submitted with my original query that referenced the BIOS, but I could not understand all of the steps and did not want to damage the computer - I also showed it to a computer technician and he could figure it out (however, he may not be an expert!) The answer referenced turning off several options in the BIOS, but it appeared that either I could not access the "BIOS" (I did use F10 from boot-up options...) or I could not find the right "settings" - maybe the wording on my computer was different? Anyway, I am not a techie, but this problem is driving me to distraction - could you advise in baby steps how to go about checking and updating the BIOS? Anything else? I even had my entire computer reformatted and loaded from the XP CD (lost a lot of Compaq add-ons, too) but this did not resolve the problem.
Sorry to ramble, but I truly need an answer to this one - same symptoms as described in this post - system just randomly shuts down, does not reboot. Often, this happens when I'm running a full system virus scan (in fact, every time!), opening an Adobe document that a long time to load, accessing a web page that takes a long time to load - in other words, something is usually running; however, it has on occasion just shut down and if something was running, I'm unaware of it.
Many thanks.
Angela
"starsnstripes"
My question now is, how do you update the BIOS? I'm NOT a techie, and cannot dissassemble computers, etc. - is this something I do, or do need an update from laptop provider? (Compaq Presario 1500)
Many thanks - there was a post submitted with my original query that referenced the BIOS, but I could not understand all of the steps and did not want to damage the computer - I also showed it to a computer technician and he could figure it out (however, he may not be an expert!) The answer referenced turning off several options in the BIOS, but it appeared that either I could not access the "BIOS" (I did use F10 from boot-up options...) or I could not find the right "settings" - maybe the wording on my computer was different? Anyway, I am not a techie, but this problem is driving me to distraction - could you advise in baby steps how to go about checking and updating the BIOS? Anything else? I even had my entire computer reformatted and loaded from the XP CD (lost a lot of Compaq add-ons, too) but this did not resolve the problem.
Sorry to ramble, but I truly need an answer to this one - same symptoms as described in this post - system just randomly shuts down, does not reboot. Often, this happens when I'm running a full system virus scan (in fact, every time!), opening an Adobe document that a long time to load, accessing a web page that takes a long time to load - in other words, something is usually running; however, it has on occasion just shut down and if something was running, I'm unaware of it.
Many thanks.
Angela
"starsnstripes"
Ummm Angela it is kind of against the EE membership agreement to piggy back onto somebody elses question. You really need to ask a seperate question. I would suggest asking this in the Hardware section. https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/
Thanks, and sorry - didn't realize that - I was trying to add more to this comment, but got to rambling - but I did post a separate topic under OS, XP
:)
That is understandable. The system shuts off there is no time for the OS to acknowledge this is happening hence it can't log an error.
When you say randomly then this would mean you can't reproduce the problem. It happens whether you have this program open or that program open. Whether of not you are on the internet or not. Correct?