Computer keeps resetting/power down. How can I diagnose what the issue is? - Computer Technical Help

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Computer keeps resetting/power down. How can I diagnose what the issue is?

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04-19-2025 , 10:54 PM

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

My computer randomly resets itself, but rarely. None of my other electronics are affected and the power strip it's connected to isn't registering any problems. What can I do to diagnose the cause of the resets/shutdowns? Is there any background programs I should keep open all the time?

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04-21-2025 , 03:28 PM

MSchu18

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 21,242

how old is the system?
are you running windows? if so, you may try a reinstall of that OS.
she may be slowly dying.

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04-22-2025 , 08:09 AM

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,276

DisRuptive1 - is there anything that you notice in connection with the resets? Is it under heavy load? Is it a laptop or a desktop?

There are some update services (eg, Windows Update) that will restart your PC - could it be that?

You haven't given much info to help us to diagnose the issue.

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04-22-2025 , 09:58 AM

mesmerized

help me decide

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,167

i guess check what OS you are using, windows 10 / 11 ?

then check event logs (Windows 10 ) windows key + R and type eventvwr

go to windows logs then system

not the easiest to translate meanings of them sometimes but u should be able to find time stamp and share here

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04-24-2025 , 11:33 AM

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSchu18

how old is the system?
are you running windows? if so, you may try a reinstall of that OS.
she may be slowly dying.

Built it shortly after the pandemic. Within the last year added a new video card and NVMe SSD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josem

DisRuptive1 - is there anything that you notice in connection with the resets? Is it under heavy load? Is it a laptop or a desktop

Desktop, windows 10, happens during internet browsing (never while gaming).

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesmerized

then check event logs (Windows 10 ) windows key + R and type eventvwr

not the easiest to translate meanings of them sometimes but u should be able to find time stamp and share here

The only error is Event ID 7023: "The System Guard Runtime Monitor Broker service terminated with the following error:
%%3489660935"

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04-24-2025 , 11:56 AM

MSchu18

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 21,242

firstly, do a fresh reinstall of windows...

is the RAM or CPU undervolted and/or overclocked?

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04-28-2025 , 07:32 PM

mesmerized

help me decide

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,167

as above fresh install is probably quickest resoluton to your problem without indentifying the problem

if it happens again then lets continue actual troubleshooting

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04-29-2025 , 06:20 PM

potibytu

newbie

Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisRuptive1

A good place to start would be checking the Windows Event Viewer for critical errors around the time of the resets—look under “System” logs for kernel-power or hardware-related issues.
You could also try running a memory test (like MemTest86) and monitor temperatures with something like HWMonitor to rule out overheating.
It might be rare, but even a flaky PSU or faulty RAM can cause random resets.

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05-05-2025 , 11:20 PM

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

Reinstalled Windows (kept my files intact) and it just reset on its own. I was only browsing Firefox (6 tabs open).

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05-06-2025 , 04:01 AM

#10

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,276

I suspect there's something wrong with your power supply or other mechanics, probably not a software issue given your current description.

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05-06-2025 , 04:34 AM

#11

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

Just ran the memory diagnostics tool and it says it passed in the Event Viewer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josem

I suspect there's something wrong with your power supply or other mechanics, probably not a software issue given your current description.

How would I be able to tell though? I don't want to go buy another power supply only to find out it's not the problem.

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05-06-2025 , 05:29 AM

#12

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,276

Given what you describe here, I suggest contacting a local computer shop or two, and getting a quote from them to inspect/evaluate/test it.

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05-09-2025 , 02:20 AM

#13

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

One more thing is that it only ever happens when I'm browsing Reddit on Firefox. Never when I'm watching YouTube, never when I'm gaming, never when Firefox is closed and my computer is just idling.

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05-09-2025 , 04:03 AM

#14

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,276

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisRuptive1

One more thing is that it only ever happens when I'm browsing Reddit on Firefox. Never when I'm watching YouTube, never when I'm gaming, never when Firefox is closed and my computer is just idling.

This is useful information!

Is it essential that you do this? How about using Chrome or Edge to browse Reddit?

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05-10-2025 , 12:53 AM

#15

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josem

Given what you describe here, I suggest contacting a local computer shop or two, and getting a quote from them to inspect/evaluate/test it.

What can they do that I cannot? It's not the same as something like a car mechanic that can put my car on a lift and yeet it 10 feet into the air.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josem

How about using Chrome or Edge to browse Reddit?

No.

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05-20-2025 , 12:04 PM

#16

mesmerized

help me decide

Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,167

out of curiosity

you did a clean install of windows but did you save bookmarks/extensions for firefox? It might bea rogue extension.

I think trying Reddit in another browser is a good start, then u can at least rule out reddit and whittle it down to firefox. then check what settings extensions you might be using on it

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05-24-2025 , 05:18 AM

#17

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

I've done a full reinstall of my graphics driver (I'm upgraded from an Nvidia card to an AMD) and haven't had any resets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mesmerized

you did a clean install of windows but did you save bookmarks/extensions for firefox? It might be a rogue extension.

If it happens again, I'll probably do a clean install of Firefox.

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06-27-2025 , 01:33 AM

#18

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

Ok I think I figured it out. Reinstalled Firefox which didn't help and even deleted a GameInput service based on some Googling I found which didn't help. Computer would still reset when browsing Reddit and reading through the comments of YouTube.

After more research, I ended up having to go into my BIOS and turning off "Global C-State Control." Apparently when I wasn't doing anything intensive with my computer (it never reset watching videos or playing games), my CPU would go into some kind of powered-down mode and that was causing some errors and causing the computer to freeze or reset.

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06-27-2025 , 05:13 AM

#19

Josem

human chemical weapon

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 18,276

a) Glad you fixed it

b) Super big thanks for sharing the solution, this will help others with similar problems in the future

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06-27-2025 , 11:45 AM

#20

MSchu18

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 21,242

that sounds oddly suspicious... going into eco mode should not shut down a computer.

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09-04-2025 , 02:13 PM

#21

DisRuptive1

adept

Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,123

This will be my final update just in case anybody Googling this problem ends up in this thread.

I haven't had a single problem since my last post when I turned off "Global C-State Control" in the BIOS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSchu18

that sounds oddly suspicious... going into eco mode should not shut down a computer.

The specific problem was low voltage according to the error logs in the Event Viewer.