Geek Help Please

[Kate Shaw]

My new computer appears to be having seizures.

At irregular intervals, separated by several days so far, suddenly the screen goes black; I shut the computer off and restart it and it proceeds normally; however, it doesn't remember any of my passwords after this happens. So far when these events have happened the circumstances were: (1) I was not at the computer at all; (2) I was running a backup program; (3) I was peacefully listening to a YouTube gospel video.

Can anybody tell me what this is, or might be -- and what I should do about it? My BIL who gave me this computer says that it has never once done this during the time when he had it. He thinks it might be a software error of some kind, which doesn't tell me anything.

[Ben Kenobi]

What do you have for a malware scanner? I'd download malwarebytes and have it take a look.

[WheatKing]

http://www.microsoft.com/securityessentials <== free antivirus software.. works well, very unobtrusive If your not sure if your computer is 32 or 64 bit, just get the 32.

http://filehippo.com/download_malwareby ... i_malware/ <== Malware bytes.. another scanner, will find different issues.

Not sure what antivirus your running (if any at all) but i highly recommend security essentials.

Start there.

[J.B. Stone]

It's ALL Geek to me.

[virgey]

My new computer appears to be having seizures.

At irregular intervals, separated by several days so far, suddenly the screen goes black; I shut the computer off and restart it and it proceeds normally; however, it doesn't remember any of my passwords after this happens. So far when these events have happened the circumstances were: (1) I was not at the computer at all; (2) I was running a backup program; (3) I was peacefully listening to a YouTube gospel video.

Can anybody tell me what this is, or might be -- and what I should do about it? My BIL who gave me this computer says that it has never once done this during the time when he had it. He thinks it might be a software error of some kind, which doesn't tell me anything.

Are you sure the computer is not just in hibernation? When a computer is on but not receiving any input for an extended period of time, the computer will go into hibernation to conserve power.

[Narrow Back]

I have a guy at Bathurst and Dupont who I have recommended for ten years and he has never disappointed me. His rates are very good too. His business is called BCPC Technology Systems. He's at 1098 Bathurst.

[free_life2]

Boot into Safe Mode..... Return to a registry point before this happened...... install and run/scan your computer with one of the anti malware softwares already mentioned in this thread.

What is your OS? Windows version?


http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Restore

[Kate Shaw]

Boot into Safe Mode..... Return to a registry point before this happened...... install and run/scan your computer with one of the anti malware softwares already mentioned in this thread.

What is your OS? Windows version?


http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Restore

Windows Vista 7.

[free_life2]

I don't think there is a Vista 7

There is Vista

and there is Windows 7

Try this for Windows 7

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthepro ... dows-7.htm

If you can't get there boot into Safe mode first

restore to a registry point (date) that is before you had problems, if you still have problems go back to an earlier restore point.

Safe mode Windows 7

[free_life2]

Kate when you boot does it say Vista or Windows 7?

[free_life2]

Note: when you go back to an earlier Restore Point, any system changes or software installed after that Restore Point date will not work.

[Kate Shaw]

What do you have for a malware scanner? I'd download malwarebytes and have it take a look.

I did that; it didn't find anything.

I believe the computer is in fact shutting itself off when it does that. I tried looking this error up on line and it suggests that perhaps the computer is overheating, so I hve reorganized the area where it is sitting, and giving it more air, to see if that helps.

[Kate Shaw]

Kate when you boot does it say Vista or Windows 7?

Windows 7

[free_life2]

Try the earlier restore point ...viruses can do exactly what is happening to your PC.

They write to the registry and going back to earlier registry will fix that. but you still need to find virus and remove it after

[mindyrbusiness]

.

I have a guy at Bathurst and Dupont who I have recommended for ten years and he has never disappointed me. His rates are very good too. His business is called BCPC Technology Systems. He's at 1098 Bathurst.

Sounds like your new computer needs some attention.If you're in Toronto I'd take Narrow Back's advice or depending on your warranty contact either the retailer or computer's manufacturer customer support.