Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

PC Crashing > Once a Day, OK to Boot Up Again After 60 Sec.

Dec 10, 2013 5:26AM PST

For the last week, we've been having a problem -- not sure what is causing it at all.

The PC, running XP, will crash out of nowhere, often more than once a day (usually toward the end of the day, but sometimes earlier on as well), turning itself off completely. It then will stay off for about 60 seconds, never longer, never shorter. If you press the power button to try to restart it within those 60 seconds, it will start turning on for about two-three seconds, then shut off again. But after about a minute, it will allow itself to start up fully.

There were no warning signs prior to this happening. Today it's been happening all day. Tried CCleaner, hasn't helped. Any ideas?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
The delay is a sign.
Dec 10, 2013 5:33AM PST

Given the light story my thought is it's time to get out the canned air and do the bi-monthly maintenance.
Bob

- Collapse -
Canned Air? Where and How?
Dec 10, 2013 5:35AM PST

Can you be more specific? You definitely think this is a hardware problem? What might need cleaning?

- Collapse -
Your story is light.
Dec 10, 2013 5:45AM PST

The clues are XP (that's old!) and the delay. Google this.

How to clean my (desktop/laptop) with canned air?

Bob

- Collapse -
Use canned air to blow out the dust
Dec 10, 2013 5:47AM PST

When Bob mentions canned air, he's talking about the fact that inside any computer dust builds up, traps heat, causes circuits to overheat, and this can cause the symptoms you describe. Since you didn't say whether you have a laptop or desktop, and my dog broke my crystal ball, I can't be more specific.
In case you haven't gotten the word, MS is going to pull the plug on the last of the XP support in April. If you haven't made plans to move to Windows 7 or 8, it's time to do so.

- Collapse -
It's a Desktop
Dec 10, 2013 9:12AM PST

"Since you didn't say whether you have a laptop or desktop, and my dog broke my crystal ball, I can't be more specific."

If you want clarification, please just ask -- minus the baseless sarcasm.

- Collapse -
Try reading before posting
Dec 10, 2013 11:22PM PST

Next time you post here, try reading the red text that is shown before your very eyes. You'll be amazed.
Personally I'm amazed that some folks who obviously can write, apparently can't read. Sad

- Collapse -
I'm also amazed
Dec 11, 2013 8:46AM PST

I'm also amazed at how indignant people get at a free service. Even if they didn't know it was primarily staffed by volunteers, what are they out exactly? A few minutes of their time?

- Collapse -
And the most indignant are the usually those who don't read.
Dec 11, 2013 9:56AM PST

Of course when you count heads, you have to remember that for every post you or I make, Bob makes 10, so he counts for a lot more than 1 person. Happy I used to think he never sleeps, but now I think he does sleep - he was just born one of 5 identical quintuplets, so at any one time 3 or 4 of them are signed on with his ID. Grin

- Collapse -
Answer
Also Tried Malwarebytes
Dec 10, 2013 5:34AM PST

Just to add, we also tried running Malwarebytes. It found about a dozen registry problems, all from the same program, nothing else. We cleaned them up and still the problem persists. And indeed we have had no other erratic behavior from the PC or signs of infection, just the PC shutting itself off, then staying off for about one minute.

- Collapse -
Answer
Windows XP forum: PC Crashing > Once a Day, OK to Boot Up Ag
Dec 10, 2013 4:49PM PST

Hi,

You are facing problem with your motherboard or snps.
My first suggestion is reinstall complete windows. open this link to know more how to install windows.
http://www.wikihow.com/Reinstall-Windows-XP.
If not solve than check motherboard.

Thanks