Computer restarting on its own?

Question

I tend to leave my pc on for long hours, since I often download big stuff + I'm not at home for several hours each day.For a few months now, if I leave the computer turned on, but I don't do anything for some time, it simply restarts itself.If I try to put it on sleep mode, it either can't get back to normal afterwards (unless I turn it off from the button and then back on), or it restarts after some time.Also, if it stays on (not necessarily for long) and then I try to turn it off, there's a good chance that the turnoff process will take a million years.Last, but not least, if I have to restart it (or it restarts itself) after a long time of "operation", it may get stuck on the loading screen, or take a loooong time to get to the user selection.Anyone know what could be wrong?

OS is Win 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

Sara · Answer

cooupld be a few things. The first two things to come to mind for me is

1 - cpu overheating

2 - possible virus.

If your CPU is overheating the computer would shut down - not restart. 

Is it possible the computer downloads updates and then has to restart? 

As far as a possible virus - Lots of times when I suggest a virus people bark back that they don't have a virus and that they have anti-virus software and it doesn't pick up anything. Well - I've had 2 this year already and I have norton. The first one really played havoc on the computer. It would freeze and you'd have to restart it. It didn't always restart - you'd have to restart it again and hope that it would boot all the way back up. 

You need to do some troubleshooting in order to figure it out. For instance - Can you get into safemode? restart the computer and press F8 a few times - select "safemode with networking" when you are given the opportunity. Use the computer for a bit and leave it on in safemode. See if the computer shuts down by itself. If it doesn't - while you are in safemode - so ahead and run your anti-virus and malware programs. I suggest you download and run tdsskiller and malwarebytes. 

If they don't find anything - that is good. 

Do you have a graphics card? Sometimes those cause troubles - but usually while you are using it. Not while it is sitting alone. 

Shut down your computer and (I'm assuming this is a desktop cuz you didn't say...) open it up and then vaccum out the dust. Leave the side open and turn on the computer. Look and listen. Does it beep onces? Do the fans spin?

? · Answer

Hi,

I guess that your OS needs some critical update. Put the OS CD in the CD tray and press repair on launch. Everything will be fine after that.

Anonymous · Answer

Make sure it is set to never sleep or auto shutdown. 

It is good to restart from time to time or the ram fragments and causes slowdowns. 

Last time I had this problem it was my overclocked cpu.  I set it to default speeds and it stopped.

Taylor · Answer

well i had problems with my computer like that it ended up being the motherboard it smelted

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Computer restarting on its own?

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