New windows 7 dell pc restarts, no error or bsod

[nate1232]

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 Doing some research on google for this kernel-power error brought up many different answers - from outdated drivers to disabling sleep mode to possible hardware issues.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!

 

[pebbly]

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 Doing some research on google for this kernel-power error brought up many different answers - from outdated drivers to disabling sleep mode to possible hardware issues.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

 

[Ryan2320]

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..

 

[Carl Lawrence]

Could it be overheating?

 

[thefabe]

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

 

[nate1232]

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

 

[pebbly]

as a last resort you could always try a system restore prior to when you started having problems http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html , when you ran the system file checker did you follow the "rules" http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[nate1232]

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

 

[pebbly]

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

 

[nate1232]

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?

 

[zigzag3143]

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?

I wouldnt un till you resolve whatever issues you currently have. You might make things worse. so what is the current status. Is the problem still there?

 

[gregrocker]

I personally would do a clean install with Dell's OS disk to rid yourself of factory bloatware which is itself corrupting.

It's possible you have one of the useless Dell utilities half-disabled in msconfig causing the problem.

When you get ready to clean reinstall, use the drivers in the WIN7 installer and those newer ones which arrive quickly via optional Windows Updates. Only use drivers from Dell if any are missing, or performance dictates. Win7 rules with drivers, unlike XP or Vista.

Be sure to research ahead where to get favorite apps (drivers/apps disk or website?) you might want to keep, and also waht tools you might want to keep that are on one of the partitions, although I personally wipe them all to get the cleanest possible slate.

 

[nate1232]

So I dunno if this is gonna help, but checking event viewer again it seems my pc rebooted itself around 11am this morning. Here is the event log

Log Name: System
Source: Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power
Date: 09/05/2010 11:57:33 AM
Event ID: 41
Task Category: (63)
Level: Critical
Keywords: (2)
User: SYSTEM
Computer: Nates-PC
Description:
The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331C3B3A-2005-44C2-AC5E-77220C37D6B4}" />
<EventID>41</EventID>
<Version>2</Version>
<Level>1</Level>
<Task>63</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000002</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-05-09T15:57:33.516815800Z" />
<EventRecordID>9860</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />
<Channel>System</Channel>
<Computer>Nates-PC</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>
<Data Name="SleepInProgress">false</Data>
<Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

 

[pebbly]

nate1232, I myself personally would follow zigzag and gregrockers advice and do a clean install , and dont mess around with services this time !

 

[nate1232]

I didn't disable any dell services or windows services, cause I kinda figured they are essential. Its hard to say if the problem is still here, as it doesn't happen too often, its usually once in a day or two. If it happens again I guess I'll just call up dell and see what they say

 

[nate1232]

So I just talked to Dell and they tried updating my bios. They say that should solve it, but I'm thinking it didn't do anything as when he pressed update, it said my version is the same or a newer version than the one he was updating it to so I don't think it did anything at all. Waiting for a call back tomorrow, lets see if this issue still exists. Had a restart earlier yesterday too

 

[pebbly]

So I just talked to Dell and they tried updating my bios. They say that should solve it, but I'm thinking it didn't do anything as when he pressed update, it said my version is the same or a newer version than the one he was updating it to so I don't think it did anything at all. Waiting for a call back tomorrow, lets see if this issue still exists. Had a restart earlier yesterday too

thanks for the update nate1232, keep us informed what happens tomorrow and if you still have no joy we will see what we can do for you

 

[gregrocker]

I decided to try a factory restore on a Dell here since there are many reports that it is a worthwhile endeavor, and may not require the clean reinstall using just the OS disk.

I should say in advance that I am a clean reinstall guy and normally scoff at factory reinstalls, so mainly tried this to see how it works for myself and whether it really only takes 10 minutes as rumoured. I got my stick ready with Revo Uninstaller to remove McAf---ed AV before it starts up, if possible.

I hold Control down at restart and tap F11 key and immediately get the Norton recovery utility. It really does only take 10 minutes and starts up quickly and already seems peppier on this XPS M140. I get McAfrick uninstalled by Revo in Moderate mode with about 34,000 registry keys and 800+ files removed, swap in MSE and am off to the races.

I decided to leave all but the silliest bloatware as owner uses Ofc 2003, Quickbooks, and needs a CD burner. But Sonic was causing update issues so I Revo'd its updater. Glad to see AOL, Itunes already pre-installed. Lots of Dell add-ins are not bloatware but custom orders so this is another good reason to try Factory Recovery first.

Installed Windows Defender to use its Software Explorer for user-friendly Startup edit, remove all but AOL.exe for faster start, MSE and XP userinit and explorer. This disables all the Dell phone-home junk.

After SP3 and 70+ updates there is some sluggish creep seen in XP startup progress bar taking 9 revolutions instead of 5 after recovery. This bothers me and makes me wonder if clean OS reinstall woudl remedy it or if it is solely an Updates issue. The office updates are a monstrous pile and tempt me to not do them, but then I leave owner without a "Complete" Ofc?

CCleaner finds half gig of temp files, Auslogics defragger takes nearly an hour (normally a few minutes). It is must faster than it was before, almost spry, but still lacks the crisp feel of a clean reinstall. Maybe it is those damn office updates? Still, a lot less work.

 

[pebbly]

thats a very informative post greg ,i think a lot of the bloatware is country specific Dell laptops in the UK come relitively free of bloatware although it is available on seperate discs , on the whole i have been very impressed and happy with my Dells and as you pointed out the factory reinstall is incredibly fast to implement

 

[alphanumeric]

Hit the "Windows" key and the Pause/Break key to open your system properties. Then go to Advanced system settings and look under the advanced tab for "Startup and Recovery". Click the settings button and if there is a check mark next to "Automatically Restart" in the System failure section, remove it. Then if it happens again you should get an error message or BSOD. Hopefully that will help you nail down the problem.