Computer Crashes and Restarts

I am not sure where in the forum this belongs. I am sorry if I placed it wrong, and a mod moves it, I will be grateful.

I have windows xp pro, pentium 4 cpu and 1.50 GB of ram. I am not sure what other system info to post.

A problem had developed where when trying to use windows movie maker, way towards the end of saving a project, computer would crash and restart.

I stopped using WMM and didn't seem to have a problem with anything else. The same thing started happening with some other .avi to dvd programs.

But now recently, I noticed that when I try to do a McAfee virus scan, it crashes 1-2 hrs later, just prior to completion. System crashes and restarts.
This I need to correct, now that it is interfering with security.

I do have and run Malewarebytes Anti-Malware and Webroot SpySweeper, and I haven't had a problem with them yet.

I do have and run CCleaner frequently. I also run Disk Cleanup and the IE cleanup in the control panel frequently.

I keep the computer updated with microsoft. I believe that all of my drivers are well maintained as well.

How can I tell what is causing this condition?

Please keep in mind that I am from an older, non technical generation, and that these steps that are easy and second nature for you are major accomplishments for me. Some times the terms and language that you use everyday are like me learning a second language. But I am trying to learn.

Thank You

Overheating maybe?

Download, install and run Everest Free Edition 2.20, (http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html). In Everest's left column, click the "+" to the left of "Computer", the click the "Sensor" link. In the right pane, how hot is the CPU (in Centigrade)?

You also might try leaving Everest open, run something else that causes it to crash while keeping an eye on the CPU temp. How hot is it getting right before it crashes?

Go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>Startup & Recovery>Settings and uncheck "Automatically restart". The next time it happens you'll most likely get a Stop error, which is much easier to troubleshoot. Post back what it says. If it still continues to reboot after that then it points to a hardware problem.

Thank you both for those answers.

I deselected Automatic Restart, and will watch for it.

I will now download, install and try Everest.

Thank you again.

I ran Everest, and here are all results:

MB 42*
CPU 44*
Aux 51*
HD1 34*
HD2 33*


CPU Fan 3375 rpm

Those temps are good.

How much free space do you have on the hard drive, the "C:" partition?

Be interesting to see what the stop error is ...

Disk that I have for c: is used 37.9 gb free 73.8 gb cap 111 gb

Disk that I use for d: is used 99.5 gb free 133 gb cap 232 gb

Plenty of free space.

Let us know what the stop error is ...

Better yet...

Download BlueScreenView
No installation required.
Double click on BlueScreenView.exe file to run the program.
When scanning is done, go Edit>Select All.
Go File>Save Selected Items, and save the report as BSOD.txt.
Open BSOD.txt in Notepad, copy all content, and paste it into your next reply.

Hi

I just dl'd and ran blue screen viewer and it isn't listing any crashes to report.
Ohh, the madness !!!

I have looked at that event viewer, and am not finding any errors listed. I do find some info and some warnings, but not errors.

I have unchecked automatic restart in the system properties, to try to get the bluescreen with errors on it, but system still crashes and restarts.

I just installed another program, that causes this condition as well.

Is there any way to force my computer to at least "tell" me/us what is happening?

Make sure, you have correct setting.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel (Start>Control Panel in Vista).
2. Double-click System.
3. Click (Advanced system settings link in Vista, then --->)the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
4. Make sure, there is a checkmark in Write an event to the system log.
5. In the Write debugging information list, click Small memory dump (64k).

Yes, have double checked this.

Under the small dump selection there is a "dump directory", it has %systemroot%\minidump

Thank you for your help btw

If the system crashes for some other reason, like overheating, it won't produce any BSODs.
Is it desktop?

Yes Desktop
Here is random everest report:

Temperatures:
Motherboard 42 °C (108 °F)
CPU 44 °C (111 °F)
Aux 55 °C (131 °F)
Seagate ST3120814A 35 °C (95 °F)
WDC WD2500AVJB-63J5A0 33 °C (91 °F)

I just changed the property setting to C:\WINDOWS\Minidump as opposed to %systemroot%\minidump maybe now when it happens again, I can find it.

Those temps look OK.