• Hi there and welcome to PC Help Forum (PCHF), a more effective way to get the Tech Support you need!
    We have Experts in all areas of Tech, including Malware Removal, Crash Fixing and BSOD's , Microsoft Windows, Computer DIY and PC Hardware, Networking, Gaming, Tablets and iPads, General and Specific Software Support and so much more.

    Why not Click Here To Sign Up and start enjoying great FREE Tech Support.

    This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Solved Windows 10 Random Shutdowns/Restarts

Status
Not open for further replies.
roger hawke

roger hawke

PCHF Member
Nov 15, 2016
304
22
UK
#1
Hi,

Recently my PC has been randomly shutting down and restarting.

This morning, for example, I turned on my PC and it shut down and restarted before I could enter my password (about 15 seconds)

Over the last couple of weeks it has shutdown/restarted 3 /4 times whilst I was using the PC.

Is this common for Win 10?

Would be grateful for any comments/assistance please
 
#2
If the computer is a desktop can you post the brand and model name or number of the power supply (PSU).

Download then run Speccy (free) and post the resultant url for us, details here, this will provide us with information about your computer hardware + any software that you have installed that may explain the present issue/s.

To publish a Speccy profile to the Web:

In Speccy, click File, and then click Publish Snapshot.

In the Publish Snapshot dialog box, click Yes to enable Speccy to proceed.

Speccy publishes the profile and displays a second Publish Snapshot. You can open the URL in your default browser, copy it to the clipboard, or close the dialog box.
 
#4
Only two things of note in Speccy, Windows is out of date and there is something going on with the RAM, neither are likely to cause the computer to re start, something that is though;

roger hawke said:
PSU is as follows:
OCZ STEALTHXSTREAM 600W OCZ600SXS
Click to expand...
Great PSUs years back but this model was released in 2007 so the PSU could be anywhere up to thirteen years old and has been obsolete for so long that it is no longer listed on the PSU database, this makes the PSU a strong contender as the cause of your problems as what you describe is typical of a weak/failing PSU.
 
#5
phillpower2,
Thanks again.

Windows is out of date?? - I don’t understand this as I check for updates every day.

What do you think is going on with RAM?

Any suggestions for replacement PSU?
 
#6
Apologies Roger, my eyesight must have failed me for a minute, missed the latest update, doh :oops:

Regarding the RAM, you have 8GB made up of two 4GB sticks and Speccy is saying that 37% of the RAM was being used which is high for a computer that is not under any load, couple of things can cause this, the RAM only working in single channel and too much voltage going to the memory slots, Speccy does normally tell us if the RAM is working in single or duel channel but for some reason it is not.

Can you recall which two of the four slots on the MB you have the RAM.

RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots: 4
Used memory slots: 2
Free memory slots: 2
Memory
Size: 8192 MBytes
Physical Memory
Memory Usage: 37 %

As for a replacement PSU, before replacing anything it is always recommended that if at all possible the system gets tested with an appropriate PSU first, being that we are under lock down this is obviously likely to be difficult so I`m not too sure how you wish to proceed, for the present set up a good quality 300W PSU would suffice but unfortunately they are hard to come by and normally as expensive as many 500W PSUs.
 
#7
phillpower2,

RAM is installed in the second and fourth slots from the left.
I have attached a pic to show you.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0049a.JPG
    IMG_0049a.JPG
    563.1 KB · Views: 8
#8
Correct slots so next thing to do is open Task Manager, click on the memory and processes tab, leave things for a minute or so to settle down then make a note of what is using all the RAM.
 
#9
phillpower2,

Top of the memory column shows 31%.

Main user areas as follows:
APPS
Internet Explorer - 11.5mb
Task Manager - 19mb

Background Processes
Antimalware Service executable - 131.1mb
Malwarebytes Service - 11.9mb
Microsoft Windows Search Indexer - 17.7mb
Start - 18.7mb
XTU Service (32bit) - 18mb
Zam - 10.5mb

Windows Processes
Desktop Windows Manager - 47.2mb
Windows Explorer - 71.3mb

The vast majority of the rest are probably 6 - 7mb
 
#11
phillpower2,

Apologies - I don't know where to look in BIOS to see whether RAM is in dual channel - guidance please!!
I have seen on line a piece of software called CPU-Z which will let me know whether RAM is in dual channel - do I need this?
 
#13
Was going to suggest CPU_Z next if the info was not in the BIOS, can you post a couple of screenshots of the memory info from CPU-Z (free version).

No worries on the other memory usage, the big hitter as you can see is IE.
 
#14
Ad,

You mentioned that the big hitter is IE - please explain??

I have attached a screenshot of CPU - Z from the memory tab - indicating the dual channel.
Also attached is a copy of the complete report (not sure if you wanted this ?)
 

Attachments

  • Untitled.jpg
    Untitled.jpg
    53.7 KB · Views: 6
  • DESKTOP-UP8ODVL.txt
    57.3 KB · Views: 4
#15
From your reply #9;

roger hawke said:
Main user areas as follows:
APPS
Internet Explorer - 11.5mb
Click to expand...
IE = Internet Explorer which you mentioned was using the most RAM so was the biggest hitter, sorry if it confused you but we often use that phrase rather than using resource hog.

RAM is all good then, thanks for the log but the dual channel pic was the main thing we needed.

Last thing that we can look at is a MTB log which should give us some info about the sudden shutting down, chances are we will see either error 41 or the sudden shut down was unexpected, we may even see both;


Download MiniToolBox and save the file to the Desktop.


Close the browser and run the tool, check the following options;

List last 10 Event Viewer Errors
List Installed Programs
List Devices (Only Problems)
List Users, Partitions and Memory size

Click on Go.

Post the resulting log in your next reply for us.
 
#16
Ad,
Just to be clear - IE was 11.5mb, whilst most of the others listed were more ??
So, as far as you can tell, there is no problem with the RAM??

Please see attached log as requested.
 

Attachments

  • MTB.txt
    15.7 KB · Views: 7
#17
Sorry, just saw the Main user part, knew I should have just asked for a screenshot :whistle: would it be possible for you to grab one and upload it for us at some point.

The RAM itself is fine but we cannot cannot confirm what voltage it is getting under load, you can do a basic check in the BIOS, the reading you are looking for is for DRAM and it should not be any more than 1.2V

Couple of unexpected shut down notifications which we expected to see but there are also multiple instances of problems with the two items listed below;

Faulting module name: zlib1.dll, version: 1.2.8.0, time stamp: 0x5190dfa0

Description: The Digital Wave Update Service service terminated unexpectedly.

Do you know what is and how Digital Wave got on your computer.
 
#18
Ad,

Apologies - What do you need a screenshot of please??

Checked DRAM in Bios - fluctuated a little but never more than 1.2V.

Don't know about zlib.dll, please see (https://www.file.net/process/zlib.dll.html)

The Digital Wave Update Service is associated with Free Studio by DVD Videosoft, (I have parts of DVD Videosoft installed) please see (https://www.file.net/process/app_updater.exe.html)
I suppose I could delete the process, which would mean no automatic updates (no big deal)
 
#19
Task Manager with the RAM and Processes tabs clicked as options if you would, please remember to give it a moment or two for things to settle down before taking the screenshot.

I was fully aware of what both entries were but needed to be sure that you knew they were there, malware can get hidden in such compressed files, zlib.dll is one such an example and is often associated with bitcoin mining and Playstation software, in this instance it is probably related to the Digital Wave software, we will soon know once you have disabled the automatic updates which btw you should never have for anything other than Windows and your AV protection, automatic updates are one of the most surefire ways of getting things broke at some point when a bad update gets installed.
 
#20
Ad,

I have deleted both of those files from DVD Videosoft file listing.

Apologies - But how do I do as you have requested i.e. with the RAM and Processes tabs clicked as options - there is no tab for RAM) - please guide me.
I know how to do a screenshot, but the listing is much longer than the screen.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back
Forums
Resources
Menu