aquaboy1976
Technical User
I'm trying to find out if this happened to anyone else?
I would like to try and avoid a reimage please.
Thanks in advance!
I would like to try and avoid a reimage please.
Thanks in advance!
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Windows 2000 restarts for no reason. 4
- Thread starter aquaboy1976
- Start date
- Status
You need to give more details (like your machine's spec, when it started doing this/has it always done this, anything that changed before it started this etc).
Common cause is hardware (eg, bad memory, underpowered PSU, failing expansion card etc) or bad drivers.
Common cause is hardware (eg, bad memory, underpowered PSU, failing expansion card etc) or bad drivers.
- Thread starter
- #3
aquaboy1976
Technical User
The computer is a Dell GX110, with a Pentium 3, 700mhz processor and 128MB of RAM. It is running Windows 2000.
I was talking with one of my co-workers about it and he suggested hardware. I'm not so sure it's hardware, but I could be wrong. What happens is, after the screen saver comes up, it locks his computer. He goes to log back in, it hangs, then it shuts down. It shows the screen that says "it is now safe to turn off your computer"
I was talking with one of my co-workers about it and he suggested hardware. I'm not so sure it's hardware, but I could be wrong. What happens is, after the screen saver comes up, it locks his computer. He goes to log back in, it hangs, then it shuts down. It shows the screen that says "it is now safe to turn off your computer"
We have a gazillion GX100 & GX110's with 128MB running W2k and none have the problem you mention. If it was a hardware problem it probably wouldn't be nice enough to shutdown to the "power off" screen. Is there anything in the event logs?
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." - Groucho
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3
- #5
michigan
IS-IT--Management
- Jul 3, 2001
- 281
Hi spalzitch -
Like 'yawnbob', we too have many Dell GX's - and haven't seen that behavior.
I would suggest the following:
First, have him/her turn the screen saver off. Ensure their not using a 3D GL, or other type of downloaded screen saver that could cause issues w/the card freezing up. I had an issue a while back where one of our VPs just had to install some golf-course screen saver. EVERY TIME that thing started it froze the system.
Second, Power Stuggles.
It's possible that during the screen savers running time, the power management may be kicking in (attempting to idle the hard drive, etc...) Just from experience, if you change your PC's power management to "Always On" you'll be much happier in the long run. Especially with Win2k wanting "Total Power Control" and those Dell BIOS power settings unwilling to give it up! Even when you change the BIOS power settings to OFF, I swear those things hold a grudge! Trust me on that one!
** Right when the screen saver begins, and you try to use the PC immediately after, does it freeze? Or, will it only happen once the screen saver has been running a while? Have you tried another Windows standard screen saver?**
Third - What have you done to me lately?
Many times, the user have installed something they don't like to mention. Just take a look around to see if they have any new programs running, or active desktops w/streaming content. . . that type of stuff.
Fourth - possible Hardware failures.
Usually, when your hardware starts failing there isn't a freeze/option to shut down. That sucker just turns off. When that happens, most of the time the power supply is going bad, memory has a burnt Q sector or the CPU fan has stopped working.
Hope that helps you at least start looking at possibilities. Good Luck!
Like 'yawnbob', we too have many Dell GX's - and haven't seen that behavior.
I would suggest the following:
First, have him/her turn the screen saver off. Ensure their not using a 3D GL, or other type of downloaded screen saver that could cause issues w/the card freezing up. I had an issue a while back where one of our VPs just had to install some golf-course screen saver. EVERY TIME that thing started it froze the system.
Second, Power Stuggles.
It's possible that during the screen savers running time, the power management may be kicking in (attempting to idle the hard drive, etc...) Just from experience, if you change your PC's power management to "Always On" you'll be much happier in the long run. Especially with Win2k wanting "Total Power Control" and those Dell BIOS power settings unwilling to give it up! Even when you change the BIOS power settings to OFF, I swear those things hold a grudge! Trust me on that one!
** Right when the screen saver begins, and you try to use the PC immediately after, does it freeze? Or, will it only happen once the screen saver has been running a while? Have you tried another Windows standard screen saver?**
Third - What have you done to me lately?
Many times, the user have installed something they don't like to mention. Just take a look around to see if they have any new programs running, or active desktops w/streaming content. . . that type of stuff.
Fourth - possible Hardware failures.
Usually, when your hardware starts failing there isn't a freeze/option to shut down. That sucker just turns off. When that happens, most of the time the power supply is going bad, memory has a burnt Q sector or the CPU fan has stopped working.
Hope that helps you at least start looking at possibilities. Good Luck!
- Thread starter
- #6
aquaboy1976
Technical User
Thank you for your responses. They are very helpful. I actually went into the Event Logs and found a couple errors I found solutions for those errors. I tried them and I will see what happens next. Once again, thanks for the help!
robertpobjoy
IS-IT--Management
Is it a new dell or not? Did the computer come with 2OOO Pro?
If NOT have you tried going to It may not support 2000pro which sounds rediculous!
If NOT have you tried going to It may not support 2000pro which sounds rediculous!
- Thread starter
- #8
aquaboy1976
Technical User
it supports 2000, we have plenty of this model of dell that run 2000. thanks for your info though!
- Thread starter
- #10
aquaboy1976
Technical User
It doesn't have a 3D screensaver, thanks for the suggestion though!
- Thread starter
- #12
aquaboy1976
Technical User
No, I didn't try to turn off the screensaver. We have tons of GX110s that run the screensaver that don't have this problem at all. I tried some fixed for certain events that were in the event log that may have caused this. I'm gonna wait and see what happens. Thanks!
- Thread starter
- #14
aquaboy1976
Technical User
he says it happens every few days so we'll see. thanks again!
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1
- #15
Several things are being missed here.
First and foremost update your Bios. Dell likes to change them a lot. They tend to help.
Secondly the machine is restarting because it has detected and error and it is trying to fix itself. Unfortunately, "all" w2k and wxp machines are set to do this by default. Although we do not like to receive the BSOD it can contain some very useful information. But if the system automatically reboots you do not get the BSOD. To correct this right mouse click my computer, go to properties, click the advanced tab, go to Startup and Recovery and "Uncheck" automatically reboot.
The next time the machine crashes you will get the BSOD and you should be able to identify the culprit.
First and foremost update your Bios. Dell likes to change them a lot. They tend to help.
Secondly the machine is restarting because it has detected and error and it is trying to fix itself. Unfortunately, "all" w2k and wxp machines are set to do this by default. Although we do not like to receive the BSOD it can contain some very useful information. But if the system automatically reboots you do not get the BSOD. To correct this right mouse click my computer, go to properties, click the advanced tab, go to Startup and Recovery and "Uncheck" automatically reboot.
The next time the machine crashes you will get the BSOD and you should be able to identify the culprit.
- Thread starter
- #16
aquaboy1976
Technical User
I didn't think of that VPNing. I'll try that. Thanks!
- Thread starter
- #17
aquaboy1976
Technical User
Sorry I haven't posted anything about this. I ran all kinds of Windows updates including SP3. I also found some kind of registry edit (which I don't remember what it was).
I haven't heard anything since, so I think that solved the issues. It's been like 2 or 3 weeks.
I haven't heard anything since, so I think that solved the issues. It's been like 2 or 3 weeks.
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