My PC will occasionally reboots out of nowhere when it is idle for an hour or so. Happens once every couple weeks.

This is not consistent but occasion my PC will reboot out of nowhere when it is idle for an hour or so. I don't know if it's a crash or something else as I was not rendering a project. This happens about once every two weeks.

I have no idea how to trouble shoot this to find out what may cause this. Suggestions (?)

GARoss said:

my PC will reboot out of nowhere when it is idle for an hour or so

Click to expand...

Sounds like a driver possibly.

I would try this...

1. Block driver updates... Option 2, step #3, here...


Then remove and reinstall the vid card driver, like this...

DDU Instructions - Nvidia
1. Get this program, here: Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) | Wagnardsoft ...get the latest version, and save it to your desktop.
2. Get the DCH/Game Ready vid card driver here, use the Manual Search: Advanced Driver Search | NVIDIA ...save this to your desktop.
Unhook the internet completely.
3. Reboot into Safe Mode and run DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) choose the "Highly Recommend Option", and just do what it tells you.
4. After it's done, reboot to normal mode, then just double click the Nvidia driver to install.
[See pics below]. If it want's to reboot, let it.
Rehook the internet.

Ghot said:

Sounds like a driver possibly.

I would try this...

1. Block driver updates... Option 2, step #3, here...

Enable or Disable Include Drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable including drivers with Windows Updates in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Windows Update will include drivers when available in Windows 11 by default. You can enable the Do not include drivers with Windows Updates policy to not include drivers...

www.elevenforum.com

Then remove and reinstall the vid card driver, like this...

DDU Instructions - Nvidia
1. Get this program, here: Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) | Wagnardsoft ...get the latest version, and save it to your desktop.
2. Get the DCH/Game Ready vid card driver here, use the Manual Search: Advanced Driver Search | NVIDIA ...save this to your desktop.
Unhook the internet completely.
3. Reboot into Safe Mode and run DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) choose the "Highly Recommend Option", and just do what it tells you.
4. After it's done, reboot to normal mode, then just double click the Nvidia driver to install.
[See pics below]. If it want's to reboot, let it.
Rehook the internet.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I'll give that a try.

Maybe your PC is rebooting after monthly updates?

Patch Tuesday is followed two weeks later by the Monthly Preview update. If your PC installing all of them, and picking an "idle time" to reboot -- that could be the reason.

Try running this PowerShell script:

What's important is if the patch install days line up with reboots.

I seriously hope that you're not telling us that you leave your PC ON 24x7!
Unless you've paid $30,000 or more for your PC, it was never designed or built with components that are spec'd for 24x7 operation.
Maybe your PC is just crying out for Help, like "Turn Me OFF!"

All electrical appliances, even personal computers, should be operated in just two states, "ON and OFF". Not asleep or in hibernation.
Plus, there is a certain amount of internal Housekeeping that a PC does, only during a power OFF reset.
That started with the BIG Mainframe computers, years ago. I once worked with an IBM 370 Mainframe Computer, that was shut down every evening after the daily backup. They called that "Bouncing the System".

So, start shutting down your PC every night, even if only for a short time, to let it do its internal Resets. I think that if you do that, your problem will go away.
I even have my Internet Modem/Phone Box on a timer, so it's shut down for several hours every night. It always works better when it comes on the next morning. And, I never have to worry about my phone ringing in the middle of the night. lol

GARoss said:

This is not consistent but occasion my PC will reboot out of nowhere when it is idle for an hour or so. I don't know if it's a crash or something else as I was not rendering a project. This happens about once every two weeks.

I have no idea how to trouble shoot this to find out what may cause this. Suggestions (?)

Click to expand...

Did you check the event log for any fatal WHEA errors?

TechnoMage2021 said:

I seriously hope that you're not telling us that you leave your PC ON 24x7!
Unless you've paid $30,000 or more for your PC, it was never designed or built with components that are spec'd for 24x7 operation.
Maybe your PC is just crying out for Help, like "Turn Me OFF!"

All electrical appliances, even personal computers, should be operated in just two states, "ON and OFF". Not asleep or in hibernation.
Plus, there is a certain amount of internal Housekeeping that a PC does, only during a power OFF reset.
That started with the BIG Mainframe computers, years ago. I once worked with an IBM 370 Mainframe Computer, that was shut down every evening after the daily backup. They called that "Bouncing the System".

So, start shutting down your PC every night, even if only for a short time, to let it do its internal Resets. I think that if you do that, your problem will go away.
I even have my Internet Modem/Phone Box on a timer, so it's shut down for several hours every night. It always works better when it comes on the next morning. And, I never have to worry about my phone ringing in the middle of the night. lol

Click to expand...

I never have run my PC 24-7. It's off when I am done for the day.

garlin said:

Maybe your PC is rebooting after monthly updates?

Patch Tuesday is followed two weeks later by the Monthly Preview update. If your PC installing all of them, and picking an "idle time" to reboot -- that could be the reason.

Try running this PowerShell script:

Code:

powershell -nop -ep bypass -f RebootHistory.ps1

Date                    Event Reason
----                    ----- ------
08/07/2023 15:19:08      1074 winlogon.exe (MINWINPC) has restarted computer WIN-QEKG0M30CNJ on behalf of user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM for reason: Operating System: Upgrade (Planned)...
08/07/2023 19:54:15 Succeeded Installed 2023-07 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5028185)
08/07/2023 19:58:46 Succeeded Installed 2023-07 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 22H2 for x64 (KB5028851)
08/08/2023 00:27:05      1074 RuntimeBroker.exe has initiated the power off of computer Y50-70 on behalf of user Y50-70\GARLIN for reason: Other (Unplanned)...
08/08/2023 08:08:18      1074 RuntimeBroker.exe has restarted computer Y50-70 on behalf of user Y50-70\GARLIN for reason: Other (Unplanned)...
08/08/2023 08:14:40      1074 servicing\TrustedInstaller.exe has restarted computer Y50-70 on behalf of user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM for reason: Operating System: Upgrade (Planned)...
08/08/2023 08:59:37 Succeeded Installed 2023-07 Cumulative Update Preview for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5028254)
08/08/2023 12:38:57      1074 RuntimeBroker.exe has restarted computer Y50-70 on behalf of user Y50-70\GARLIN for reason: Other (Unplanned)...
08/08/2023 12:43:57      1074 servicing\TrustedInstaller.exe has restarted computer Y50-70 on behalf of user NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM for reason: Operating System: Upgrade (Planned)...

What's important is if the patch install days line up with reboots.

Click to expand...

Critical @2:23 PM. That is the time frame I was away from my PC.
Kernal-Power on August 8

Kernel power Event 41 is normally triggered by:
- inadequate power (bad power supply, graphics card taking too much)
- failed battery if this is a laptop
- bad drivers

I had a situation where a pc would reboot when something on the same circuit (a garbage disposal in this case) was started which drew a substantial amount of power. The surge caused the reboot to happen. I moved the pc to another location and a different circuit.

Sounds like a Power supply issue

Anyone with power issues, is a good candidate for a UPS. (Uninterruptable Power Supply) or also called a "Battery Backup" System.
I started using one back in the early nineties. I bought my first one directly from APC, at a consumer electronics show. Since then no PC of mine has ever been plugged into an unprotected wall outlet. I have four of them here in my house, today.
I've tried other brands over the years, but APC is the only one where I can replace the internal Gel Cell with an external Lead Acid battery, for hours of service instead of just minutes. The little lawn tractor batteries from Walmart work great! And the UPS itself keeps them well charged.

This is just one example, of an APC UPS with external battery. And, yes, it's protected with an in-line fuse.
At the wall, is a 'Panamax Surge Protector'.

Cheers Mates!
TM

I suspect it's an ongoing issue that has been in existence, since at least Windows 10, when hybrid-sleep is enabled. I saw this with a fresh 10 installation back in '20 and never again, after I ran powercfg to disable auto-sleep. Running powercfg -h off possibly will solve the problem.
(Run that command, then reboot Windows and relogin)

Please run the V2 log collector and post share links into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.

In this guide, we will be discussing the reasons for computer randomly restarting and tips for troubleshooting a PC that keeps restarting.

zbook said:

Please run the V2 log collector and post share links into this thread using one drive, drop box, or google drive.

BSOD - Posting Instructions

BSOD - Posting Instructions This will show you how to help provide needed information about your system and dump files. It will not contain any personal or sensitive information about you or your data. To get better help with your Windows BSOD issue, please read these instructions and follow...

www.elevenforum.com

Click to expand...

For the record, I have been present only once when a restart has occurred and there was never a warning, my PC just rebooted to a blue Windows login screen. Most of the time the restart happened while I was away from the PC 30 minutes or so.
Find the V2 log attached.

TechnoMage2021 said:

I seriously hope that you're not telling us that you leave your PC ON 24x7!

Click to expand...

LOL. I have several machines that are on 24 x 7, only being shut down for maintenance or briefly when a wicked electrical storm is in the area.

More than one of those machines are over 5 years old, with my primary data / Plex server running 24 x 7 since 2014, again with some rare exceptions for maintenance and upgrades (adding bigger HDDs and such).

In fact, there is a whole school of thought held by many people that it is actually better to run a system continuously because that eliminates or minimizes the sudden power surges when a system is first turned on. Supposedly, the moment of power on is a stress on the system due to the initial inrush of current.

They will cite an incandescent lightbulb as an example. Have you ever noticed that those bulbs most often burn out the moment you first turn on the power?

Bottom line: Running a PC should not be a cause for concern unless you are using some really sketchy hardware

Wrong! All motherboards are made with ample surge protection so they are designed to be turned on and off. Except maybe for a brand or two that I won't even name here.
Sketchy hardware? What do you call hardware made in China with the cheapest hobby grade components possible? That's what goes into PC's.
I call it names I can't even post here! POS is a good short name!

I used to design and build electronics with components that were graded one step above NASA Grade. So I know something about component quality. You might be lucky enough to get by with leaving a PC on 24x7, but it's not good operating practices.
Do it if you must, but please refrain from recommending it to the untrained, who come here for GOOD advice.

A server, in a business, that must provide service 24x7 would be the only exception to my rule.

My own PC, the one I'm on now, is plugged into a Surge suppressed power strip, which is plugged into an APC UPS, also with good Surge Suppressors. All through my house are more surge suppressors, adding to the total of Surge Suppression for the whole house.
For 40+ years, all my electronics have been shut off when I'm not using them, and unplugged when a lightning storm is shaking the house.

When I'm done using my PC, and I click on the Quick Shutdown icon in my Task Bar, windows goes through its own Shutdown procedure, and when the lights go out, and the fans stop turning, then I shut off the power at the power strip. That removes the power from the PC, monitor, speakers and the Printer.

Stay safe, stay healthy and stay happy!
TM

With a look back of the prior thirty days there were two unexpected shutdowns and restarts.

There were no BSOD or Live Kernel events.

There were multiple corrected hardware errors.

If the unexpected shutdowns and restarts (07/27 and 08/08) continue then consider swap testing the PSU.



Please post share links with the event viewer log files:

@TechnoMage2021,

From one Hardware Design Engineer to another, I'll just point out that if you go back and read my post, I was very careful to note that this is one school of thought. Yes, I personally do leave systems on continuously myself because my own personal opinion is a mix of the two and I didn't go into that level of detail. I think there is one aspect that you may have not taken into account in my response. Let me explain....

There is a huge difference between how purely electronic equipment reacts to being left on continuously vs mechanical devices. We could probably both discuss the aging characteristics of various components such as capacitors, but I am in particular talking about rotating media (HDDs) and considering those as a weak point in a system. HDDs do FAR better when left on continuously. BY FAR the greatest time of failure on such devices is after they have been shut down and then powered back on again after a period of rest. That point is not even up for debate. I am stating this as a 100% etched in stone fact. I cannot tell you how many times I had a data center loose power, getting an alert, and then when power came back on having to ship literally dozens of replacement HDDs to my clients. After failure analysis, we would sometimes discover very specific causes of failure on this model or the other, but even the very best drives showed a distinct dislike of power cycling, mainly after being in service for an extended period of time. In fact, it was our official position that these systems should remain running 24 x 7 whenever possible. Again, the chance of the electronics failing from being left on was miniscule compared to HDD failures from power cycling.

Note that in my own case I cited having a server running 24 x 7. This is because that server has many HDDs and I simply know that they will serve me better left running continuously. Am I possibly shortening the life of the electronics? Absolutely! However, this effect is negligible when compared to HDD rate of failure. There are also a lot of things that can be done to minimize the aging of the electronics. As a Hardware Design Engineer, you well know how HUGE an impact heat has on the aging of electronics. As a result, I always make sure to provide what might be considered overkill in cooling. Also, investing in a high-quality PSU is a must in my opinion. When I referenced "sketchy hardware" the PSU is the very first thing that comes to my mind.

I hope that this helps to clarify my comments a little bit, and maybe I could have expanded upon my original answer a bit further to make these points.

BTW, not that this is a competition, but I just realized that I have a computer that has been running continuously for FAR longer than my Windows based PCs. I have a little Radio Shack PC-2 pocket computer running off of an AC adapter for which I designed my own external monitoring circuit, and I wrote the software to interface with it in assembly language. That little PC has been running mostly non-stop since about 1983 or 1984 (I can't recall at exactly what point I put it into continuous service). There were some breaks for a couple months here and there when I moved a few times over the years, one of those breaks may have been as long as 6 months. But other than that, it runs non-stop for decades. This may well be an outlier, but like the Voyager probes, this little device just keeps on going