The computer has long become not only a working tool, but also a means of communication, and a favorite form of recreation for many owners. It is clear that the incorrect operation of this device leads to both material losses and a spoiled mood.
Computer restarts when turned on
Usually, a restart immediately after turning on is caused by problems with the power supply - it may be out of order or its capacity is not enough to provide energy to all components. The technical documentation and the manufacturers' websites indicate how much power the device uses in normal mode and at peak loads. Check the operation of the computer with a new power supply unit, the rated power of which is sufficient to power all components of the system unit.
When the computer is turned on, before the operating system is loaded, POST is launched, a self-test firmware that assesses the state of devices in the system unit. If the test was successful, the BIOS reports this with a short single beep and gives the command to load the operating system. Incorrect operation of any of the devices is reported by a combination of long and short signals. If your computer restarts immediately after turning it on, try using the POST decryption table for your motherboard. This way you will be able to identify the faulty device.
If the beeps indicate RAM, check the motherboard manufacturer's website to see if your motherboard supports this device. If so, carefully remove the RAM modules from the slots and wipe the contacts with a regular eraser. Insert the modules one at a time and check the operation of the computer to identify the faulty RAM card if the problem is with it. If there is only one module, insert it one by one into different slots. Be careful not to damage the PCB. If possible, test the computer with known good memory.
In the same way, check the operation of the video card if POST signals its malfunction. Clean the contacts of your card and ask your friends for another card for a while, if this operation did not help.
Another source of trouble can be a dead battery that powers the ROM chip on the motherboard. Replace it and check the operation of the computer.
Computer restarts while running
A very common reason for reboots, besides a faulty power supply, is overheating of components. Check the temperature of the processor, north and south bridge, video card using special programs (AIDA, EVEREST) or tactilely, immediately after shutdown. Disconnect the computer from the network, remove the side panel of the system unit and blow well from the dust with a vacuum cleaner.
The thermal grease on the processor heatsink may have dried out. If you are confident in your abilities, remove the heatsink, clean the bottom of the heatsink and the surface of the processor chip from the old paste with alcohol. Then apply a very small amount (literally from a match head) of fresh thermal paste to the cleaned radiator and spread it thoroughly over the surface with an even layer. When installing the radiator, make sure that it is level, without distortions, otherwise the processor may fail due to uneven overheating. If you doubt that you will do everything correctly, it is better to contact the service department.
Restarts can be caused by software or incorrectly installed drivers. Right-click on the "My Computer" icon, select the "Properties" option, go to the "Advanced" tab and click "Options" in the "Startup and Recovery" section. In the "System Failure" section, uncheck the box next to "Perform automatic restart". Now, when a critical situation occurs, the computer will not restart, but will go into the blue screen of death with an error message. On the Microsoft support site, you can find the reason for the error code by the error code.
