why do computers abruptly restart?
338920
heat may be the factor and is the most common causes for pc to restart if it is only when the game is running it will be eaither the ram or the heat if you pc restarts on its own without the game running and not many programs open sounds like you have a virus you may get a blue screen say dumping memory\n\nhope this helps
24281
This usually happens when Windows XP is busy with another applications or processes.  Sometimes wait awhile will get it back, but more often a restart should fix the problem.
563700
It could be due to any number of reasons. Try and narrow the problem down.\nIs it when you are running a particular application? \nHave your recently installed a new applications or hardware?\nIs it at a particular time of day? \n\nIs the CPU overheating?\nIs the RAM OK?\nLoose connector somewhere?\n\n\nHope that helps some :)
456848
The main reasons for restarts: 1.bad memory 2.overheating (can either be processor or chipset)   Yours sounds as if it's your processor overheating, though, since it's usually happening when you're using your processor at or near 100% usage.  \n\nTry turning it on, then going into the BIOS, and check your temps there.  If it's idling much above 50°C in the BIOS, then that's almost surely your problem.  More than likely, you just need to go to Wal-Mart, and buy a can of compressed air, and blow all of the dust out of your heatsink.
230242
You can work without restarting ...\nBut after 10-15 days you will face issues related to perfomance as the components of computer get heated up due continuos use...
1090584
This could be a cooling issue, check your fans and dust out your system. I saw one system the other day that did this because of the massive amount of dust, even though the fans were still turning. \nAlso try starting the computer in safe mode and see if it works then or locks up without restarting. A bad XP install will cause this sort of action. Sometimes there is a bios option that tells the system to restart on error, you can turn this off to help diagnose the problem.
292178
There is probably an application that is not terminating when the computer is being shutdown.  Remove any programs that you do not need and try it again.  Also try closing any open applications manually and try shutting down.  If you hit Ctrl+Alt+Del, and go to processes you can see what is running.  Also make sure you don't have any adware/spyware running.  You a program like Adaware(www.lavasoftusa.com) to check.
395007
Another common cause of sudden shut-down is overheating. If your laptop is making a lot of noise when it goes down, this may be the problem (or, if your fan is broken, if it doesn't make any noise...). Sometimes these temperatures can be checked in the BIOS, take a look when you restart immediately after it shut down. There are also some programs available for free on the net that can monitor your system temperature.
14145
Because computers run with programs that sometimes get into loops or lose command lines causing the computer to be unable to resolve the problem.  At that point the computer freezes.
1131069
t could be several things that cause your computer to reboot on its own. Here's a few to check out....\n\n1. It could be a virus. Do you have updated anti-virus software running on your computer? Do you notice anything unusual running on your PC?\n\n2. Your PC could be overheating. Does your PC have adequate ventilation? Does it have very little dust on the inside? Is the Processor getting too warm?\n\n3. It could be misconfigurations. Meaning your PC may be blue screening (without you seeing it). Windows XP is notorious for blue screening and rebooting right away before you even know what happened. Did you install something recently that could be uninstalled? Did you add a new hardware component that's not functioning properly?\n\nHope this helps out a little....
787668
might be some sort of virus.\n(If u download something, then also it restarts)\n\nTry scan your computer with good antivirus program.\nNorton / McAfee / SpyBot\n\nGoodLuck
1067414
Quite possibly it is because the power supply is overheating, and the outside power supply fan should ALWAYS run. Since it is not there is definitely a problem with the P/S. I have found that the three major causes of unexplained reboots are due to faulty power supplies, RAM failure and general overheating that is not due to technical failure.\n\nYou might be able to buy a power supply testere for about $15 at your local computer store (Radio Shack MAY carry it, but a CompuUSA or PCClub should too). Otherwise I would either replace the power supply, or replace the outside fan in the power supply and see if that works (make sure that the connection types match on the old/new fans).\n\nWhat you could do before all that is to just leave the side of the computer off and see if it still reboots, and if so then it is not an overheating problem, but could still be the power supply.
855144
It just means the system is temporarily overloaded. Give it a moment
438465
If it does only during startup then its the BIOS setting that holds the key. But if it does quite often during your normal working, then a virus could be a culprit. Another reason could of some program which has been run from the drive and stopped adruptly and its still seeking its home from the background.
250325
Moving a computer doesn't normally cause that kind of problem, unless you dropped it or something.\n\nIf the hard drive is working, but is "wiped clean" (totally erased, operating system and all), or even partially erased, the most likely explanation is that someone (accidentally or on purpose) erased it.\n\nIf you describe exactly what happens when you turn the computer on, I might be able to help you diagnose the problem better.
956653
Freezes and Crashes \n\nAll computer users must deal with the occasional aggravating freeze or crash. A freeze is a totally unresponsive computer. With a freeze, nothing responds, including the mouse. A crash occurs when a hard drive stops operating and the computer shuts down. Sometimes a crash causes a spontaneous reboot. These problems can be triggered by malfunctions such as resource conflicts, power glitches, hardware problems, software conflicts, and outdated or buggy drivers for various devices that are installed on the computer system. \n\nTroubleshooting Freezes and Crashes Checklist \n\nWhen a freeze or crash occurs, on a PC, hit the keystroke combination Ctrl + Alt + Delete. If a dialog box appears, select Task Manager and then End Task for the application that is not responding. (On a Macintosh, hit the keystroke combination Ctrl + Command + Esc to force quit the application that is not responding.) \nIf Ctrl+Alt+Del doesn't work, restart the computer. Use the reset button to do this, if the computer has one, or the power switch if it doesn't. \nIf the mouse responds when it is moved, minimize a window or select the application on the task bar. The computer is not frozen, it is not responding to the selected application. In this case either End Task on a PC or Force Quit on a Macintosh. \nIf the computer is frozen, restart the computer to see if that will solve the problem. \nRun a virus check on the computer to look for a possible virus. \nPossible Causes and Fixes for Freezes and Crashes \n\nFreezes and crashes are generally caused by some sort of instability in the computer system. The following is a list of specific problems that can cause instability along with what to check when troubleshooting each. \n\nViruses can cause instability. \nRun a virus check on the computer to look for a possible virus. \nConflicts can cause instability. \nCheck the Windows Device Manager to see if there are any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs beside the listings for device classifications. If there are, contact Tech Support. \nBuggy or damaged software applications can cause instability. \nIf the system is less stable when certain software programs are running, shut down those programs and see if the problem continues to occur. If the problems stop, chances are that those software programs are causing the problems. \nBuggy, outdated, or conflicting drivers can cause instability. \nCheck manufacturer web sites for updated device drivers for the various devices installed on the computer system, such as: printer drivers, modem drivers, video drivers, sound drivers, USB device drivers, etc. \nUpdate one driver at a time and see if the system stabilizes. If this doesn't work, it may be a hardware problem, so contact Tech Support. \nAC problems can cause instability. \nCheck to see if the computer system is plugged into an overloaded outlet. \nMake sure the computer system is plugged into a surge suppressor. \nThe installation of new devices can cause instability. \nThere are three typical symptoms that point to this problem: \nThe computer system fails to boot, freezes during a boot, or freezes during an operation for no apparent reason. \nThe system fails to recognize the newly installed device. \nOne or more software applications fail to function as expected after an upgrade. \nSome Tips for Dealing with Freezes and Crashes \n\nKeep track of the hardware and software that is added to a computer. The addition of new hardware and software can often cause problems to occur. \nResearch the compatibility of new hardware and software with the existing computer system before purchase and installation. \nThe older a PC, the more likely it is to crash. \nWhen a computer freezes or crashes, chances are that changes made after the last save and when the freeze or crash occurred will be lost.
417093
In cases like this either you have some hardware problem or a very major software issue. The reason windows reboots is to stop damage from occuring to your system. My advice would be either to identify what is causing the error. \n\nHave you recently installed any new software or made any configuration changes or installed a new hardware on your system. Undo those changes to see if the error occurs.  Also try starting windows in safe mode usually by presseing the F8 key when windows is booting and see if you can get windows operating system to load. I am not fully certain but with windows xp you can do a repair of the operating system with out having to fully re-install windows. What I am not sure of is whether this will delete your saved files or still keep them. Hope fully someone here can answer that  \n\nHope this helps