XP restarting on its own...help needed

Hi there,

First time I've been on this forum, so I hope someone on here can help me.

Basically, XP Pro keeps restarting itself, but only when I'm connected to the net. Sometimes it will allow me on for 2hrs, other times only 2 minutes. When the PC restarts it also disables the 'Auto-Protect' facility on Norton 2004 Pro.

Apologies if this question has already been answered on previous threads, but I have very little precious time on the net, and it could throw me out any minute.

I hope someone out there can help me.

Many thanks
Cheryl

 

Hi cheryl74

Welcome to Wilders.

Sounds to me like u have some kind of infection as when your comp reboots your Nortons Auto Protect is disabled.

Have u done a scan with Nortons to see if u have an infection?

Here are some free online scans,

http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Best to rule out any Malware causing this problem first.



snowbound

 

Hi Cheryl

No need for apologies. You could have a worminfection, have you got a firewall installed? if not consider doing this, it will make you less vulnerable to attack's from the net,there is actualy a basic one in xp. Look here
Microsoft on sasserworm. Step 2. is about stopping shutdown's, step 5. how to enable windowsfirewall.

When you have done this, then i would personaly use one (or all three) of these online scanner's like Panda Activescan Trendmicro Housecall F-secure, they take about 10 minute's each.

Hopefully this will get you back to normal.

Regards

 

Have tried TrendMicro and it found nothing. I've run Norton across all drives, again finding nothing. I have the XP firewall switched on, think I may install ZoneAlarm too.

I've give the SasserWorm details a read see if they help.

Cheers
Cheryl

 

dear cheryl74, sounds a lot like worm infection as Don already mentioned. in this case it should give you a prior warning before reboot. if so then run this command from command line "shutdown -a". the reboot timer will be stopped. make sure your XP is updated with all those security patches. still if it doesn't work, which is very unlikely, you should note down which service is causing this error and configure the same service to restart itself ( not the computer ) in case of any error. you'll have to do it by running SERVICES.MSC from command line.

 

Cheryl,

You can try reading through these solutions and see which one works ...

http://computercops.biz/postt37816.html

or

http://ouchmybrainhurts.com/Mamblog/Technology/How_To_Fix_"Windows_XP_Keeps_Rebooting"_Problem/1/

or

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_restart.htm


Please let us know which one works.

with kind regards,
Dan

 

Can you take the following steps:

Step 1. Install Zone Alarm (free) – Firewall with visual outgoing alerts to see what is trying to access the internet.
http://www.zonelabs.com

Step 2. Install update and run Spybot Search and Destroy (free) – Spyware removal and protection, with registry monitor.
http://beam.to/spybotsd

Step 3. Install update and run Adaware (free) – Spyware removal. What Spybot Search and Destroy doesn’t pick up, this will.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Step 4. Install and run CWShredder available here:
https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=14086

Step 5. Download Stinger available here: do NOT run this YET
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Step 6. Turn OFF system restore by doing the following:

Instructions for Windows XP

1. Right click on the "My Computer" icon on the Windows desktop
2. Click "Properties"
3. Click on the "System Restore"
4. Place a tick in "Turn off System Restore on all Drives"
5. Click OK
6. Close and restart the system.

7. Restart your system again in “Safe Mode” by pressing/tapping F8 while booting
8. Run a scan with “Stinger” the program you downloaded above.

When everything is clean, it is recommended that you turn System Restore back on by unticking the "Disable system restore" that you did above.

When your system is clean you may want to take a look here for further discussion on security:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=45284&page=1&pp=25

and here for more:

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=43117

Hope this helps…

Let us know how you go…

Cheers