what the heck is wrong with my computer?

[Blue_Roses]

It just shut-down and rebooted while I was reading a thread. Has this happened to anyone and what the heck is going on?

very erie.

[many a good man]

1. Could be lots of things

You could have a loose card or data ribbon attached poorly to your motherboard. Or a bad ribbon or IDE input. Check that everything is well-seated if you monkied around in there any lately.

[Lithos]

4. Excellent advice

I would also suggest that it might be thermal as well.

While you have the case open checking for loose ribbons and cards, make sure that all of the vents are cleaned and that you blow out any dust which may have accumulated in your system. This includes the fan and/or heatsink over the CPU.

You might buy a $4 can of compressed air and use that to help clean things.

Also make sure you unplug your system before you open your case.

L-

[atldem]

2. I had that problem

a while back and it lasted for a long time. Turns out that Lucent needed to send out updated drivers for the modem. Go to the website of the company who made your computer and check for updated drivers.

[BlueJazz]

3. Does it happen all the time ?

or just every so often ?

If all the time, you probably have a virus. Blaster..???

If not all the time....when and how often?

[NNN0LHI]

5. Ghosts? n/t

[Some Moran]

6. Virus?

Did you get some sort of operating system notice telling you that your computer was going to boot in 1 minute?

[Blue_Roses]

13. no

it just booted up all on its on.

[FlaGranny]

7. My computer re-boots on occasion

and I've figured out it is when Microsoft has an update. I have my computer set to automatically update and many of those updates require a reboot. It drove me crazy until I figured it out. I'd check my e-mail before bed, come out in the morning, and my computer would be asking me for my password. I checked my "scheduled" list and I had MS updates scheduled daily at 3 a.m. I still have it set that way, but now I know why my computer reboots itself on occasion.

[scottcsmith]

8. Probably overheated

If you have a Mac, I have no idea...but if you have a PC, with a newer P4 processor, there is circuitry that shuts down the computer when the processor overheats. Something got too hot, that's my guess.

[politicat]

9. Macs will reboot when they have a software update, though they do tell you

first.

Are you downloading and installing something in the background?

Politicat

[alfredo]

11. Not something a Mac would do. run your AV software now!

That may not be it, but if you are using Windows, infection should always be a suspect. Loose wires, including the power cord, is a good place to start. Cleaning it is always good practice.

Or maybe the cat is messing with his power strip.

A hammer and vice grips will fix most anything. If not, duct tape.

[Blue_Roses]

12. It's not a mac

n/t

[sujan]

10. four things

1. loose cable
2. faulty memory
3. power fluctuations
4. Overheating

[NNN0LHI]

14. I vote for #3. Got an APC Battery Backup devrc243? n/t