My girlfriend's computer will seemingly crash and forces itself to shut down or something of that nature.

It'll happen randomly and without warning.

She's given me specs before, but I'm aware that it's an alright computer and that she's got protection (exactly what escapes me, but I believe Spybot is one of them)

In her own WORDS what keeps happening tonight:

(her SN) (12:53:39 AM): it seems as the computer completely restarts it slef, like it shuts off then trys to turn back on.
(her SN) (12:53:52 AM): but if i am not siging of AIM then that cant be the case.

She also noted that:

"well, okay, even though my computer is shutting off. AIM for some reason isnt logging me off, the minute my computer rebots it self.it took like 5minutes or so why? is my computer not completey shutting off, is it more hibernating? see i am not sure. Gr. :/"

What I thought, was maybe some important process is being interrupted, or fails in some way, causing most of her computer to shut down, but not-as important programs running (like AIM or an internet browser) continue to run until the rest of the computer shuts down.

However, I'm not really computer-savvy. I know a little here and there, but nothing on a subject as this. Any help?

I'll have a lot more information if she can sign on soon, such as computer specs, protection she's got, etc.

Yet again, thank you very much

EDIT:

She's got:

Microsoft Windows Xp professional (5.1, Build 2600)
502RAM
902MB available
Intel(R) Pentium(4) CPU 3.00GHz


AVG Free for Anti-Virus
AVG Anti-Spyware & Spybot for Anti-Spyware
no Firewalls.

I'm currently having her run HJT and sending me the log in case it is necessary, lol.

As discussed in a previous topic, it appears that some programs remain running for a short time even after her computer seemingly shuts off. My thoughts on this discovery (read what she had said about AIM)  make me think some internal and very important process is crashing/failing, causing her computer to FORCE itself to shut down.

It happens randomly, sometimes she'll be offline for a few minutes, sometimes longer. Last night I think her longest was around 59 minutes and 47 seconds.

Last week her computer allowed her to be on it for hours at a time without any struggle. Weeks before, she's had trouble, and this week seems to be no different.

Yet again, any help would be graciously accepted.ok have her take the case off and clean any dust out of the computer

look at the event log and tell us what happens right before the crash happens

To open Event Viewer, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Event Viewer.
I'll be sure to have her do that once I can contact her, thank you.welcome post what she finds in the event logUmm...if the PC is rebooting, then her not getting logged out of AIM, is to do with AIM, and not her machine.

A good internal clean MIGHT help, and go easy with the hover!!!

Also, just in case, un-plug the thing before you even undo a screw.dont use a vacum.... just a can of compresed air..


try UNINSTALL aim... but i would like to see what the log says..So you think AIM might be the cause of everything?

it might be just uninstall it and see if it still does.. Will do.

About an hour or two ago she attempted to get the log saved ONTO a notepad so she could transfer the log to me, so I could attach it here, but her computer died midway and she lost it.

Upon looking for a log on Event Viewer, it requested she chose between a few things, I think IE, System, Application, and a couple others. I asked her to give me System and Application, because I thought those might be the ones we need.

Media Center was another.

I'll be seeing her in about 40 minutes though, so I'll present this to her.Right now she is with her dad (who is a truck driver) on the way to New York and then Boston, so she cannot do anything with her computer right now.

She is expected to return in 3-5 days, so I'll have more info as soon as she returns.Well, we will still be here. Be sure and bring some details with you when you get back.