Why is my PC trying to restart itself and can't?

[150mph]

For the last few mornings, my work PC (a networked Dell Optiplex 745, Windows Pro 7), which I leave on every night, has been misbehaving. I’m not sure what is going on, but it seems to be restarting itself then having a problem. Now when I arrive it has a black screen with the words

Drive 4 not found: Serial ATA, SATA-4
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility

When I hit F1, I get this msg for 2-3 minutes:

Preparing to configure Windows
Do not turn off your computer

When its done, I have to log in again and it works fine.

How do I find out what has happened? I’m guessing its restarting on its own, then having trouble finding this Drive 4. Is it trying to update Windows? Virus?

I haven’t adjusted any settings before this started happening, but yesterday I tried turning off Automatically restart (Control Panel / System / System Protection / Advanced tab / Startup and Recovery / Settings / System failure: Automatically restart). This didn’t help, it still appears to be restarting. I reset it back to the default On.

Helpful advice appreciated..

 

[Eric3742]

Welcome to sevenforums

Mostly probably it is Windows Update running.

It could also auto restart the system by certain timing which after restart this message appear.

Drive 4 not found: Serial ATA, SATA-4
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility


And when you hit F1, this message appear.

Preparing to configure Windows
Do not turn off your computer


Some Windows updates do required to restart the computer, after certain timing.

Even if you are using the computer, and when windows update reached that timing, it will restart auto without warning.
The warning may appear below the task bar, and you may have overlook.

The windows will not do any shutdown, as it will remain to the state you left it, that is running.
That is windows update have completed its task,

Normal.

 

[150mph]

Thanks Eric for trying to help.

If it's a Windows update, then why is it doing the same thing over and over?

Can I turn Update off? (or is this not advised)

This is happening overnight, so I see no system notices before (or after)

 

[Megahertz07]

How many drives you have? What drive is on SATA 4?
Open Disk Manager, expand the columns and with the sniping toll take a snapshot and post here as an attachment.

 

[Eric3742]

Thanks Eric for trying to help.

If it's a Windows update, then why is it doing the same thing over and over?

Can I turn Update off? (or is this not advised)

This is happening overnight, so I see no system notices before (or after)

Windows updates do have several option on updating.

Go to open Windows update, and on the left panel, select "Change setting".

There are 4 options for you to choose.

1. "Install update automatically (recommended)" Do note that the date/time when windows update will check.
For this option, it will auto download, in the background, and execute the updating.
Mostly the updates are critical, and will run the updating process.
I opt for this as most of the time, when shutdown it will run the update before shutdown.
Only for a few (not many) critical updates, it will run the updates as soon as it is downloaded.
Most of the time when i do shutdown, it will run the updating first before shutting down the system.
A few of the updates required to run upon booting up, as in your case.

Option 1 will go to MS website to check for updates, based on your selection of day & time.

Example on me: I leave the day = everyday, and time = 3.00 am.
I am usually using the computer during this period.
When i do shutdown, on the shutdown button, it will indicate that it will do the updating before turn off.
When i do turn on the computer, only for a few occasion, this happen, not all the time;
Preparing to configure Windows
Do not turn off your computer

There is no need to actually leaving the computer overnight, as just by changing the TIME, when you are always using the computer.
It do not required to check all the time, as it may able to detect the number of days it did not check.


As for other options, it will not run the updating, as it have to run manually.
But manual updating, you may need to know which updates are necessary and which are not.

From Option 1, i do discovered that it only download and update on critical updates only.
Other updates may not be necessary, as i find that my computer is very stable, that is no BSOD &or other issues.


These options are based on your own choice.


Edit: And to add, one of my security program, SUPERAntiSpyware Pro do the updating & scan at 2.00 am
So that the timing of 2 programs are updating within the period of me using the computer.


Regards
Eric.