When I reboot my computerit is usually because I have an infection. I do not even bother to remove the
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infection, but instead restore the operating system using an image that I keep up to date. Using Norton Ghost or Partimage it only takes about ten minutes to completely restore my computer back to a known good configuration. If I do not restore the computer the virus usually returns because of a down-loader that the anti-virus program missed. I love the convenience that an image utility provides, because I know I am never without my computer for more than a few minutes.
Computer Reboots
When my computer reboots all by itself it usually means we have a computer overheating problem. Sometimes virus infections can cause a computer reboot, but usually on warm days the computer will overheat and begin random reboots. There are thermal monitors on the motherboard below the CPU that will trigger a shutdown if the temperature gets to high. This over heat feature protects the CPU and the motherboard from heat damage that could otherwise occur. You can adjust the temperature limits either higher or lower from the BIOS setup program. To get to the BIOS setup program you need to restart the computer and press and hold the delete key (some computers might have you press a different key and there is usually a message displayed when the computer first starts as to what key you need to press) until you see the BIOS setup screen. You will need to hunt around the BIOS setup to find the CPU temperature adjustments. You will also find a warning limit that you can set. The CPU fans usually have a speed control that can also help regulate the temperature. If you cannot reduce the heat to a safe level you can add additional fans to the back of the case or possibly add a better CPU cooler. There are many different types of CPU coolers available. There is even water cooled and heat pumps that can be installed if you are over clocking and need additional cooling.
The Reboot Computer website has additional information that you might find useful.
