Windows XP restarts unexpectedly or restarts when you shut down the computer (320299)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q320299 SYMPTOMS
If you shut down your Windows XP-based computer, your computer may restart instead of shutting down. The computer may also restart unexpectedly while you are using the computer to perform certain tasks. An error message may appear on a blue screen when the computer restarts.
CAUSE
This behavior may occur if Windows stops responding during a typical operation or during the shutdown process. By default, the computer is configured to automatically restart when Windows stops responding. To view this setting, follow these steps: - Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
- Under System Failure, view the Automatically restart check box. If the Automatically restart check box is selected, Windows automatically restarts if the computer stops unexpectedly.
RESOLUTION
If your computer constantly restarts while you are using it, or if you are trying to shut down the computer after it has stopped unexpectedly, click to clear the Automatically restart check box. If you clear this check box, you receive an error message when the computer stops responding. This error message may describe the cause of the problem. You can also review the system log in Event Viewer to view the critical stop error that occurs when the computer restarts.
For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
308427
HOW TO: View and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
To configure the way that Windows responds when the computer stops unexpectedly, follow these steps. Note:
You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may prevent you from completing this procedure.
- Log on to the host computer as either an administrator or the owner.
- Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
- Under Pick a category, click Performance and Maintenance.
- Under the or pick a Control Panel icon section, click System.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
- Click to select any one of the following check boxes under System Failure:
- Write an event to the system log
- Send an administrative alert
- Automatically restart
STATUSThis behavior is by design.
Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 1/13/2006 |
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Keywords: | kbEventLog kbenv kbprb KB320299 |
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