Preventing computer restarts to avoid losing customers

Don't you hate it? You're halfway through an important report or urgent email when, suddenly, your computer restarts without warning. It's enough to make you want to take an axe to it or throw it out the window.

But before you blow a fuse, take a breath. According to Craig Cottle from PC Emergency, computer restarts are usually caused by simple errors that are easy to fix. The tricky bit is working out just what the culprit is.

"Finding the cause of a computer restarting problem is usually a process of elimination," he says. "It could be a bug in an application you're using or a hardware issue. We'd usually have to take your computer away because it can take time to get to the source of the problem."

Troubleshooting computer restarts

While Craig recommends calling in an IT professional if your computer is unexpectedly restarting on a regular basis, he says there are some simple things you can check first to help speed up the investigation.

• Is your power source reliable? The problem may not be your computer at all. Check plugs and power leads first, to ensure they're firmly in place and free from wandering toes and chair legs that might pull them loose. Also make sure you're not overloading sockets and power boards.

• Is your computer overheating? Many computers today are designed to reboot if they overheat. If you hear strange noises coming from your hard drive, such as a high-pitched squeal, it may indicate that a fan isn't working correctly. If this is the case, call in a professional. 

• Could your computer have a virus? Viruses can account for all manner of computer problems, and a computer restarting unexpectedly is no exception. Run a scan at least once a week and make sure your anti-virus software is up to date.

• What are you doing when the restart happens? Make a note of what you're doing when the computer restarts - you may find it only happens when running a particular program, in which case issues like faulty drivers or video cards could be the culprit.

• Is your computer set to automatically restart? Windows XP is designed to automatically restart each time an error occurs. If this is happening often, you may wish to change your settings to disable this action - instead, an error message will come up, allowing you to identify the bug and report it.

• Could it be a hardware issue? Any failing hardware component could cause random computer restarts. If you've recently added a new hardware device, try removing it to see if that fixes the problem.

Of course, these are just some of the preliminary checks you can undertake to isolate the problem, but there are literally dozens of potential causes of computer restarting issues. If in doubt, pick up the phone and speak to a professional.