My computer restarting unexpectedly

My computer restarting unexpectedly when I'm trying to scan for viruses... My IE and WMP is not working now. I tried to do online virus scan but most of online virus scanner only accepts IE. I installed Netscape and tried to use Trend Micro Housecall. I downloaded the program to use it and my computer restarting unexpectedly again. Everytime I tried to scan for virus or playing online games, my computer will restarting unexpectedly. My computer works fine surfing online, download music or games, but it prevents me to use virus scanner. I tried to back up my files but I afraid my computer will restart again when I'm burning my important files. Please help me.

I'm using Windows XP. Pentium 1.5GHZ, 128 mb ram, geforce 2 mx video card.

Have you tried rebooting into safe mode with networking to do an online scan? And do you have an antivirus already installed? Why not use that first in safe mode and then use the online option?

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Originally posted here by MsMittens
Have you tried rebooting into safe mode with networking to do an online scan? And do you have an antivirus already installed? Why not use that first in safe mode and then use the online option?

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Yes I agree with MsMittens, try this first.
Sir, we still need more details, Did you install something before your pc starts acting like that,
or did you change your hardware configuration. We need more details pls.

all i can say is scan your pc at safemode and then try on normal and online scan,
if no detected virus, it might be your hardware, I think check your HD capacity it might be full
already that's the possible cause why your pc restarts or crashes,

thats all i can say.

post you later!!!

Hello,
I tried to scan virus in safe mode, but my computer restarting again. Before that problem happends, I haven't install anything... I just leave my computer to download some movies and when I came back, my computer restarted and I got this problem. Till now, I can't check any virus >.<

Well you may have a malware problem, and you have been advised what to do.

Your most obvious problem to me is trying to run Win XP with 128Mb of RAM! I just isn't enough for intensive tasks like online gaming and probably virus scanning. This could well be the cause of the instability you are experiencing.

You really need to get more memory.

Good luck

could Sasser be the problem here? go to MS and dowload the patch for sasser

I Don't think so Tex. He says:

Everytime I tried to scan for virus or playing online games, my computer will restarting unexpectedly. My computer works fine surfing online,

If it were Sasser it should kill him anyway? This sounds very much like a resource issue. I would be inclined to run AdAware SE and Spybot Search & Destroy in safe mode. Then try the AV, also in safe mode.

I have known systems become very unstable because they were choked with spyware & adware.

i had the same problem with my comp restarting all the time when playing quake/starcraft etc. but
i did some research and found out that norton system security 2002 + 2003 i believe its called was the problem. you cant uninstall it regularly, you have to have a bloody tool to do it. after i uninstalled norton2003 the restarts never occured again. norton was aware of the problem and never released a patch. instead they made a new version that you had to buy, which is why i wont buy norton again.

i agree with nihil with this one
128 memory its just not enough for running xp.
you didnt write which motherboard you have, but some motherboard like asus have little utility which will show you how much memory is in use(asusprobe)
i had even problems when i played games with 256memory so i think buying extra couple stick(or try friends just to make sure-it takes just few minutes to test it.
good luck.
i would add for gaming video card is little bit old for a newer games:)

Well I got a system that runs on XP 128 SDRAM and never had such crashups ok but Trend Micro Pc cillin 2000 had some problems.Do these in order
1.Boot Up In Safa Mode
2.Get Rid Of Your Current Antivvirus
3.Get Norton Av 2004
4.Get The latest Updates form Other Pc/Internet(dont connect yours, you will have a pool of virus without av on ur pc)
5.Boot in normal mode
6.Press Ctrl+alt+del and see which process is consuming more memory ,end task for that
7.Start the scan

If still problem persists contact The Forum -post a message we will be there.
Note: The problem might be also for Ram but my Pc runs fine
config
p4 1.5ghz
128 SDRAM
40 Gb Hdd
Ge force 2 mx Agp(64Mb Mem)
And
Kobian p4m266 NDFX Mtherboard
Thank You

It could always be the Fan :)

games and virii scans can increase your MB and/or CPU's temprature, causing the system to shutdown unexpectedly.
Use some temprature monitoring package (most of the latest MB's have a bundled software for same), and check if all your fans are working properly. To me it seems like a hardware error.

If all is fine here then my next suspect is your GeForce.

Heronekki,

Have you recently installed XP SP2? It has a built in firewall that is "on" by default, and can affect internet activities such as games. Please check this list to see if you are running any software with known SP2 compatibility issues:

http://www.myriad-online.com/cgi-bin...num=1092643472

Do you have a resident antivirus and firewall? if so, what?

I would not run Norton as it is a resource hog. Run AdAware and SpyBot first, in safe mode. Then try to run your AV.

I am not so sure about the hardware theory. I would expect your machine to freeze or switch off, NOT to restart. I would suggest that you eliminate the malware and software conflict possibilities first.

I would also suggest that you go into your BIOS and Power Management (Control Panel) and switch OFF all power management options. Set the machine to allways on.

And you do need more memory.............all I am doing is browsing this site and I am using 335Mb!

Good luck

Id say that if you start in safe mode and your computer crashes when scanning for virus's

(at what point does ytour computer restart, is it randomly? on start up or when you try to run programs. If it happens when you try to run programs, what programs trigger the crash (if any).

common sence says that ure programs are running on a system that cant handle them (as nihil pointed out) try a different O/S would be my suggestion.

Yes,

P4 1.5GHz
128Mb RAM
40Gb HDD

That box almost certainly shipped with Win ME. To take it to XP without a memory upgrade is not a good idea. I would have upgraded it to Windows 2000 (NT5) OK, no good if you want to play old DOS games, but neither is XP. If you really want to run DOS Apps, go back to Win98SE ;) and dual boot Win2000 or a linux distro?

I would not like to run XP with less than 384Mb. I don't know his local prices Konshuss, but over here you would go to Crucial and get some more RAM............much better value than changing the OS?

The problem might be that it is RAMBUS RDRAM.............now that is not cheap!............like Dell tried to charge me just under £1,000 for a Gig of it! He should be able to get it second hand/used though............I since got 512Mb for £84 (a slight difference :D ) You have to fit them in matched pairs as well :( I would guess there are plenty of 128Mb strips around?

just a thought