Desktop Computer Packages

Computer randomly restarting. Memtest finds no errors.?

I just bought a computer this week and I'm very happy with it aside from the fact that it keeps restarting at completely random times. Whether I'm letting the computer idle while I do something else, or browsing forums like these, or even when I'm playing Crysis. There is no rhyme or reason to explain how how often it restarts and I think that's the most frustrating part. I've tried running Memtest86 and letting it run for a total of over 40 hours and over 24 passes of my 4x 2GB Corsair XMS3 ddr3 and it has not found anything. I should also mention that during all the Memtest'ing the computer did not restart at all. It usually restarts once or twice ever 4 hours so going 40+ hours without any restarts is pretty interesting to me. I've tried uninstalling the drivers on my video card and reinstalling them but it restarted a few hours later. I'm really confused.. The manufacturer tells me I can send back any parts I want for an exchange but I really don't want to deal with the weeks it takes to work through the mail. I've played with this system under pretty heavy load before and it worked great which makes me think the hardware it's self is ok. Anybody got any ideas?

Public Comments

1. try putting in your xp installation cd and run the repair tool..then run chkdsk /r alternatively - try reformatting and doing a clean install or the OS
2. There are Viruses that make windows restart check your virus protection and i hope You got something other then what came with it. Also if you have opened it just too make sure check if all the hardware inside looks ok like maybe a blown capacitor or something happen before you bought it.
3. Sounds like it might actually be a hardware issue. Try starting in safe mode and running it for a while, and see if it restarts. Might be a faulty power supply, also, the issue could be caused by an overheating CPU. If it runs fine in safe mode, then the issue is most likely software, if it doesn't, start checking things like exhaust vents, heat sink properly installed, CPU cooling fan running, ETC. If you feel comfortable doing so, and ONLY if you feel comfortable, remove the heat sink and make sure there is the thermal goop between the processor and heat sink. Just some things to check