Windows 7: New windows 7 dell pc restarts, no error or bsod

So my computer is less than a month old and it seems to restart at random with no pattern I've noticed. It does it when I'm browsing, or with nothing open and just at the desktop. I checked the event logs and found 5 critical messages - one for every time it restarted. That all said kernel-power was the source. There is no minidump folder and searches for memory.dpm came up empty. Doing some research on google for this kernel-power error brought up many different answers - from outdated drivers to disabling sleep mode to possible hardware issues.



I would really appreciate some help, brand new computers shouldn't do this!

hi nate1232, welcome to the forums the first thing to do is check the wiring and cards to make certain they are tightly connected and not loose then run the system file checker, sfc /scannow to make certain you have no corrupted system files

In addition to what Pebbly said,

Have you done any updates with Dell or Microsoft?

When did this start happending?

This might do with Drivers or hardware...
Try running the computer in safe mode for a while..

To do that, restart your computer, and before the Windows Loading screen comes up press F8.

and Choose Safe Mode, If you want to access the internet, choose Safe Mode with Networking.

Let's us know the results..

Could it be overheating?

Welcome to Seven Forums. Being that it is new I can't imagine it's heat related but it could possibly be a poorly seated heatsink and fan. Try using a temp program to check the CPU temps. I like core temp but their are others. Core Temp DL http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ Please post back with temps. Thanks. Fabe

Wow, thanks all for the quick replies!

@Pebbly
There was an issue with wire connection actually... My card reader wasn't even attached! I had to attach it myself. I tried running sfc just now and a small window popped up and disappeared quickly, and nothing more happened.

@Ryan
The only updates I have done are microsoft automatic updates. This issue started about 2 weeks after I got the computer. The last restart issue I had was a couple days ago, haven't seen it since. I'll try running in safe mode for a while, and let you guys know what happens.

@Love Windows 7
I just downloaded speed fan to check my temperatures. I Don't think its an overheating problem as it isn't in an enclosed area and I almost never hear the fans running, but here is the report.

Temp1: 31C
Temp2: 38C
Temp3: -64C
Core0: 36C
Core1: 36C
Core2: 40C
Core3: 40C

as a last resort you could always try a system restore prior to when you started having problems System Restore , when you ran the system file checker did you follow the "rules" SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Hehe... I didn't follow those rules Running it now! yes I guess I could do a system restore, and if it comes down to it I did get an OS disc from dell to reformat... I'm backing up some files now just incase I have to, but like you said thats a last resort thing. I want to rule out it being a hardware problem before I do that.

I did disable a whole lot of services and programs on startup from msconfig. When I did, I checked hide all microsoft services so I didn't disable something I need... But is it possible I screwed up something by doing this?

Oh and @pebbly I checked all the connections and they seemed pretty solid to me. The sfc scan didn't find anything

there is a possibility by stopping services you could have stopped something you need , go back through msconfig and double check just in case, even restarting everything and closing and testing one at a time

There aren't any important startup programs I disabled. It doesn't look like I disabled any important services either. Right now I'm on dell's site downloading the "urgent" drivers. I'm going off the idea that the site somehow knows what version I have, and if it says urgent, it means I don't have it and I should probably download and install. Should I go ahead with this?