I purchased a HP computer (12 months ago) & it came with Windows XP installed.
My problem is that it keeps turning itself off,then restarts.
I have downloaded Windows Defender to try & see what is wrong,it shows that the computer is working correctly?

How do I rectify this problem please

Baldy

You might pop the case open and just peek to see if your heat sink on the CPU is clogged with dust bunnies...or take it in. If the CPU is over heating it will shut down and sometimes restart. Your board utilities might have a teperature panel to check the temp....Just a thought....
--Melanie

You may have some sort of virus - recent tests on Windows Defender showed that it isn't very effective at finding viruses so you should be using other measures to keep your computer secure. What antivirus are you running if any? I recommend Kaspersky (paid antivirus) or at least AVG Free edition.

When exactly does it turn itself off - e.g. at startup or just randomly?

You could try using System Restore to go back several weeks or however long it's been going on for - particularly if you've installed something recently or downloaded an .exe file.

Many thanks to those replied to my question.
I am running AVG professional updated every day
The computer decides to turn itself off & then back on again at random

I have spent the last 2 days going through all my downloads & cannot see any thing downloaded EXE;have also reinstalled windows from the pre-installed hold in "D: drive

I do however agree that Windows Defender is not worth the time of installing it.

I also have a mate who purchased a new computer last Thursday with Vista pre-installed,the same thing is happening with it,it has Windows Defender already loaded as well


"You may have some sort of virus - recent tests on Windows Defender showed that it isn't very effective at finding viruses so you should be using other measures to keep your computer secure. What antivirus are you running if any? I recommend Kaspersky (paid antivirus) or at least AVG Free edition.

When exactly does it turn itself off - e.g. at startup or just randomly?

You could try using System Restore to go back several weeks or however long it's been going on for - particularly if you've installed something recently or downloaded an .exe file."

Again thanks to all
Baldy

It could be that your RAM has gone bad.
Or it also could be a bad battery on the Motherboard.

Driver conflict is also probable. My suggestion would be to run a full system scan to eliminate the possibility that this is viral based. The next step is to ensure all of your drivers are functioning correctly (there are free scanning utilities out there). The last thing to check is hardware issues. For that you should take your computer to a professional as I do no recommend troubleshooting hardware without knowing what you are doing.

Ok while all these things could quite likely be it,

I got a keyboard which was a fancy one with loads of buttons and stuff, and was blue and see throu looks cool but anyways.
it was a pain in the ***, every time i seemed to type it would reboot my pc, at first i couldnt figure it out, but its only when i use the keyboard, im not sure what it is that i press which causes it, but anyway, are you using a something like a keyboard which could have some kind of in built shortcut or something which isnt set right.

just a idea

I once had what appeared to be a virus every time I plugged the printer in and started typing - the letters that came out were not what I typed and were completely random. I tried plugging it into the other USB port though and it was fine - I'm not exactly sure what the problem was but I think it might have been related to plugging a USB 2.0 into a USB port. Since you haven't mentioned about plugging any hardware in, what I've just been typing is probably not that helpful

if possible i would suggest, unplugging everything other than a bog standard wired keyboard and mouse, and have a go, and then plug all ur bits in and if u happens u know its got to be something to do with that

Originally Posted by dansgalaxy

if possible i would suggest, unplugging everything other than a bog standard wired keyboard and mouse, and have a go, and then plug all ur bits in and if u happens u know its got to be something to do with that

If that's directed at me which I'm presuming it is, then I've already done something similar to that at the time and I discovered it was the printer, and I believe, a USB relate issue (it works fine in the other USB port)

it wasnt directed at you. you just reminded me

It sounds like a worm/virus similar to that blaster worm.
Go into safe mode and run some tools from http://www.crapcontrol.com/ from their download section if all else fails
I would Format and reinstall.

maybe the system is overheating, have a look into the BIOS to see the system temperature. Maybe the HS has seen better days.

late reply again...try cleaning your registry sometimes we always install and uninstall programs. partly of this programs still stays at our computer and eventually your system will have bad sectors

you would think after 11 MONTHS this problem isnt relevent and there for your necroposting is TOTALLY POINTLESS! grr

This is most likely corrupted or bad RAM. Run memory diagnostics on it. Goto http://www.simmtester.com/, download the tester, create boot disk and run diagnostics on it. Not uncommon symptom.

did you scan for a virus in your pc?did you also check if the sleep timer is on?

This type of problems are mostly associated with RAM, check out is our RAM working properly

I'm gonna lay down power supply... that's my card

If it is shutting down before windows fully starts up, it is most likely a ram issue. If it doesn't post, then it is a power supply or motherboard issue. If it posts and doesn't go into windows, it is a hard drive issue. If windows fully starts up and turns off during work, then it is a virus or bad memory sector.

Hope this helps