system rebooting help

Hi All, this is driving me crazy. my machine keeps rebooting and i don't know how to stop it. i made sure the automatic shutdown is unchecked, but it still does it. i will give you a couple examples. first, it sometimes reboot when i click on a folder. one time it actually rebooted because i scrolled down on my mouse. also, alot of the time, when it reboots, it will get past the start up screens and then reboot even before windows actually starts. my config is below.

P4 2.4ghz
768mb ram
geforce 4ti 4200
soudblaster audigy platimun ex
Abit SG-71 m/b
3 hdds
-20gb
-40gb
-80gb
Abit SG-71 m/b

 

Have you added any new drivers recently, new programs? First two guesses.. mouse or video drivers. Also check monitor settings, could be set to high. For better follow up questions, did this just start, is this a fresh build, OS re-install?

 

By default, XP executes an automatic restart in the event of a system failure. Therefore, more or less anything compromising the operating system during the shutdown process could force this reboot. Disabling the restart on system failure feature may permit the exact cause to be isolated:
Right-click on My Computer, click Properties, click the Advanced tab. Under Startup & Recovery, click Settings. Under System Failure, uncheck the box in front of System reboot.

This may allow the capture of an error that can be better understood. There should be memory *.dmp files somewhere on harddrive [don't remember where but I used Xp's help function to in an attempt to understand this service] that DR Watson is supposed to be able to let you have a peek into.

Have you checked your Administator: Advent Viewer? It may offer some clue as to what is going on.

 

HI, how do i access the advent viewer?

 

I'm sorry, I meant the event viewer. This is a snap-in console for MMC or the "Computer Management Console ". Are you familiar with this tool? Ala "Administrative Tools "

See:
http://www.theeldergeek.com/microsoft_management_console.htm

I think it was always accessible from the control panel but I have always had it set up to be shown from my startmenu. Or you can just make shortcuts to the individual components or *.msc. In this case the eventvwr.msc. You can also open these from run line.

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To add to the startmenu:
*right click the startbutton and choose properties
*On the "startmenu" tab click the "customize button "> "adavanced tab
*scroll to the category "System Adminstartive tools "
*Pick where you want it/them displayed or accessible from.
*My preference "All Programs and startmenu "

*been awhile but I think I added my own shortcuts to the individual *.msc modules I use most often. I prefer the individual snap-ins rather than a whole customized console.

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This link looks like it may be useful:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Q_20843172.html

 

well, i got my machine working, it was my power supply. i installed a new one and it hasn't rebooted on its own since. thanks to everyone for their help.

 

Thanks for the update. I'm sorry it wasn't one of the simpiler software problems. I figured that link I passed on covered enough of the issues and supplied additional useful sublinks that your answer would be in there somewhere.

There are so many root causes it was kind of nice to find a link that saves my typing fingers as well.

I'm glad you can put this behind you and your most welcome.