Computer help - XP Shutdown/Restart

[Mike Gillmore]

I'm pretty much a computer illiterate, and I'm seeking help from any computer geeks out there who may have run into this before. Any ideas would be appreciated.

I just picked up a new "used" IBM P4 computer - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 SP3. A local university was upgrading all of their classroom computers and this was one of the lot they were replacing.

Everything is working just fine but I can't seem to figure out why the computer automatically restarts every time I shut down. I've checked everywhere I know to look to make sure the settings are correct and have found nothing. I've been holding in the power button to get it to shut down, but there has to be something I can do to change the auto restart.

Any ideas ????

[Joseph Clemens]

Have you checked your BIOS settings for any "Wake-on" settings?

[Mike Gillmore]

No, I haven't tried that yet. For me that would be uncharted territory. Don't want to be the bull in the china shop. :o

Any tips on how to check it and what to look for?

[Joseph Clemens]

Usually when a PC starts to boot, you will see a message, for a brief moment, that tells you to hit a key or key combination to enter BIOS setup, or sometimes it is just called setup. Once setup loads you can follow the on-screen directions to navigate throughout the BIOS looking for setting that say things like, "Wake-on LAN", which would prompt the PC to start up automatically if it senses a network signal on its network adapter.

[Bodo]

A brief internet search:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311806


Your computer may be having a BSoD (blue screen of death) and rebooting itself as it is shutting down.

try: You have "automatically restart" selected. (Press WinKey-Break, or (Start/Run/Sysdm.cpl), Advanced Tab, Start Up and Recovery/Settings/System Failure/Unmark "Automatically Restart"/Ok/Ok.

[Mike Gillmore]

OK Joseph, I found it as you described and the Wake On LAN is set to "Automatic". The other two options are "Disabled" or "Primary". Which setting should it be on?

The PCI Wake Up is set to "Primary"

[Joseph Clemens]

Disabled

[Mike Gillmore]

Well, I appreciate your help guys but no cigar yet. Wake On LAN is disabled and it still restarts automatically.

Bodo, I followed your instructions too and found the Auto Restart was already unchecked.

This was used in a classroom environment, could there be any remote or network settings that need to be changed? I'm stumped.

[TwT]

when I have any problems I go straight to the Pro's, I have been a member of the site below for about 6-7 years now, they will help you for sure about any computer problems, most are programmers and script writer's for tech companies.
safe site and you will get all the help you need...

http://forums.pcper.com/

[Mike Gillmore]

Thanks for the link Ted! I'll let you know how I make out.

[drobbins]

>>I've been holding in the power button to get it to shut down,

why are you doing this??
tell windows to shutdown normally and I think your problem may go away
"Start" menu thingy
"Turn Off Compter"
Then click "Shutdown" not "Reboot"

Dave

[Mike Gillmore]

Thanks Dave. Man I wish that would do it, but it appears to be more complicated than that. The problem is when I shut down normally, going to start - turn off computer, it will shut down just fine. But a few seconds later it automatically reboots. It's acting just like a restart. If I try to shut down again it will reboot again. The only way to shut down is to hold in the power button after a reboot.

I found other people at Ted's site with the same problem. I've tried everything suggested within my understanding but was unsuccessful. Sounds like it could possibly be a driver issue. Their advanced troubleshooting tips go way beyond anything I"m willing to try - it's Greek to me.

[Joseph Clemens]

Mike,
When you changed the BIOS wake-on LAN setting to disabled, did you save those changes before you exited the BIOS setup? Usually this is done by pressing F10 and choosing to have the changes saved.

[Mike Gillmore]

Good point Joseph. Yes, I did save it with F10 and then went back after restarting and checked to find that the setting was in fact changed.

[eri]

University computer classroom computer -- could be a number of things that were set to accommodate that environment. If there is any way you can contact anyone on the system administrator staff, best to ask him/her about the setup. University computers are usually controlled by networked centralized server commands that don't work or do weird things when the computer is removed from the university network. They drive me crazy ;)

[Bizzybee]

Put it in a box, ship it to me. I'll fix it and send it back. ;)

[eri]

Put it in a box, ship it to me. I'll fix it and send it back. ;)

OS clean install, comin' right up :)

[Bizzybee]

Oh heavens no!! There would be no challenge in that!! :D

[Mike Gillmore]

Thank you all very much for your help.

I finally gave up and called the company I purchased the computer from. They told me to bring it in and they would be happy to take a look at it - 90 day warranty, thank goodness. The technician worked on it for about 2 minutes and it worked correctly on the first shut down. :doh:

I tried my best to get him to tell me what he did to fix it and he just said he changed some settings back to default. That's all I could get out of him.... trade secrets I suppose.

Bizzy, I was just about ready to box it up and send it off to you. ;)

[MapMan]

Likely, the technician looked into the Startup and Recovery settings, and toggled the "Automatically Restart" checkbox off.

Sometimes with XP when you shut down the computer, a glitch causes it to indicate that it was a system failure, and if you have the "Automatically Restart" box checked, it will restart. You can check the System Log file (if it is toggled to write the file) to see if that is the case.

To get to the setting: My Computer--> Properties--> Advanced tab --> Settings under Startup and Recovery


MM

You need administrator privileges to change