Computer Randomly Restarts: Causes and Solutions for 2023

How to Fix Computer Randomly Restarts in 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

Have you ever experienced the frustration of your computer randomly restarting without any warning or error message? If so, you are not alone. Many Windows 10 and 11 users have reported this issue, which can be annoying and potentially damaging to your work and data.

Computer random restarts can be caused by various factors, such as overheating, faulty hardware components, outdated drivers, malware infections, power supply issues, and more. This guide will explain the common causes of random restarts and how to fix them with effective solutions. We will also provide some tips on how to prevent this issue from happening again in the future.

By following this guide, you will be able to troubleshoot and resolve the problem of the computer randomly restarting in 2023 and beyond. Let’s get started!

What Causes Computer Randomly Restarts?

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s first understand what causes the computer to randomly restarts. There are several possible reasons for this issue, but here are the most common ones:

Overheating: This is one of the major causes of random restarts, especially for older or unserviced computers. When the processor or other components get too hot, they can trigger a safety mechanism that shuts down the system to prevent damage. Overheating can be caused by inadequate cooling systems, blocked vents, dust accumulation, power supply problems, hardware malfunctions, or malicious software infections.

Faulty hardware components: This can occur when the processor or other core pieces of hardware are defective or malfunctioning, leading to system instability or shutdown events. Commonly faulty hardware components that cause this issue include overheating/dying processors, defective memory sticks, failing hard drives, malfunctioning motherboards or video cards, and power supply malfunctions.

Outdated drivers: Drivers are software codes that control how a piece of hardware and software interact. When an operating system update is released or when new hardware components are added without updated driver versions, compatibility issues can occur which lead to system instability and cause unexpected shutdowns. Installing the latest version of compatible drivers is important to ensure that all devices in your computer work effectively and efficiently.

Malware infections: Malware is any software code or program that is designed to harm a computer system or its users. Malware can cause various issues with system stability and performance and can make a PC randomly restart without any warnings or error messages. Malware can be spread in many ways, such as through legitimate downloads that contain potentially unwanted software or even opening attachments from unknown emails.

Source –

Overheating: Microsoft: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/cpu-overheating-causing-pc-to-shut-down.3601112/

Faulty hardware components: Avast: https://superuser.com/questions/825499/pc-restarts-randomly-for-unknown-reasons-possibly-hardware-issue-what-could-be

Outdated drivers: PCMag: https://superuser.com/questions/1297489/how-to-diagnose-a-faulty-driver-causing-random-restarts

How to Fix Computer Randomly Restarts in 2023

Now that you know the possible causes of computer random restarts, let’s look at some solutions that can help you fix this issue. Depending on the cause of your problem, you may need to try different methods until you find the one that works for you. Here are some steps that you can follow:

Step 1: Disable Automatic Restart Feature

The first thing that you should do is disable the automatic restart feature on Windows 10 or 11. This feature is designed to reboot your system automatically after a crash, but it can also prevent you from seeing any error messages or codes that can help you identify the cause of the problem.

To disable the automatic restart feature on Windows 10 or 11, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings.

Click on the Advanced tab and then click on Settings under Startup and Recovery.

Under System failure, uncheck the box next to Automatically restart and click OK.

This will stop your computer from restarting automatically after a crash and allow you to see any error messages or codes that may appear on a blue screen of death (BSOD).

Step 2: Check Power Connection

The next thing that you should do is check your power connection and make sure that it is not loose or faulty. Sometimes, a simple power cord issue can cause your computer to restart randomly.

To check your power connection, follow these steps:

Make sure that your power cord is firmly plugged into both your PC and the power source (wall outlet, surge protector, battery backup device, etc.).

Examine the power outlet that delivers power to your computer and see if there are any signs of damage or malfunction. Also, pay attention to other devices connected to the same outlet and see if they also lose power when your computer restarts.

Try plugging your computer into a different power outlet or using a different power cord and see if the problem persists.

If you find any problems with your power connection, replace the faulty components as soon as possible.

Step 3: Look for Signs of Overheating

Another common cause of random restarts is overheating. If your computer gets too hot, it can trigger a safety mechanism that shuts down the system to prevent damage. Overheating can be caused by various factors, such as inadequate cooling systems, blocked vents, dust accumulation, power supply problems, hardware malfunctions, or malicious software infections.

To look for signs of overheating, follow these steps:

Check the temperature of your computer case and see if it feels unusually hot to the touch. Also, listen for any unusual noises from your fans or other components.

Use a software tool to monitor your CPU temperature in real-time. There are many free tools that you can use for this purpose, such as HWMonitor, Core Temp, or SpeedFan. Ideally, your CPU temperature should be below 70°C (158°F) under normal usage and below 80°C (176°F) under heavy load. If your CPU temperature exceeds these thresholds, it can cause your computer to restart randomly.

Clean your computer case and remove any dust or debris that may block the airflow and cause overheating. You can use a can of compressed air or a soft brush to gently blow away the dust from your fans, vents, and other components. Be careful not to damage any delicate parts or cause static electricity.

Check your cooling system and make sure that it is working properly. If you have a fan-based cooling system, make sure that all the fans are spinning and not making any strange noises. If you have a liquid-based cooling system, make sure that there are no leaks or clogs in the pipes or pumps. You may also want to replace the thermal paste between your CPU and heatsink if it is old or dried out.

Adjust your power settings and reduce the workload on your CPU. You can do this by going to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings and choosing a power plan that suits your needs. You can also customize your power plan by clicking on Change Plan Settings and then Change Advanced Power Settings. Here, you can tweak various settings related to your CPU performance, such as minimum and maximum processor state, system cooling policy, processor power management, etc.

Step 4: Update Your Drivers

Drivers are software codes that control how a piece of hardware and software interact. When an operating system update is released or when new hardware components are added without updated driver versions, compatibility issues can occur which lead to system instability and cause unexpected shutdowns.

To update your drivers on Windows 10 or 11, follow these steps:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click on Check for updates. This will automatically download and install the latest drivers for your devices from Microsoft’s servers.

Go to Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting it from the menu. Here, you can see all the devices connected to your computer and their driver status. If you see any yellow exclamation marks or red crosses next to any device, it means that there is a problem with its driver. To update the driver manually, right-click on the device and select Update driver. Then, choose Search automatically for updated driver software and follow the instructions.

Visit the manufacturer’s website of your devices and download the latest drivers from there. This is especially important for devices that are not supported by Microsoft’s servers, such as graphics cards, sound cards, printers, scanners, etc. Make sure that you download the correct drivers for your device model and operating system version.

Step 5: Scan Your Computer for Malware

Malware is any software code or program that is designed to harm a computer system or its users. Malware can cause various issues with system stability and performance and can make a PC randomly restart without any warnings or error messages.

To scan your computer for malware on Windows 10 or 11, follow these steps:

Use Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus program on Windows 10 and 11. To do this, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus & Threat Protection and click on Scan options. Then, choose a scan type (quick scan, full scan, custom scan, or Microsoft Defender Offline scan) and click on Scan Now.

Use a dedicated antivirus program from a reputable vendor, such as Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, etc. These programs offer more features and protection than Windows Defender, such as real-time scanning, firewall, VPN, password manager, etc. However, they may also consume more resources and slow down your computer. Make sure that you only use one antivirus program at a time to avoid conflicts and performance issues.

Use a malware removal tool from a reputable vendor, such as Malwarebytes, Spybot,

Source –

Overheating: Microsoft: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/cpu-overheating-causing-pc-to-shut-down.3601112/

Faulty hardware components: Avast: https://superuser.com/questions/825499/pc-restarts-randomly-for-unknown-reasons-possibly-hardware-issue-what-could-be

Malware infections: Malwarebytes: https://www.quora.com/Why-would-your-computer-randomly-restart-Is-it-because-of-a-virus-How-can-you-get-rid-of-it

Update Your Drivers: Microsoft: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/update-drivers-manually-in-windows-ec62f46c-ff14-c91d-eead-d7126dc1f7b6

Scan Your Computer for Malware: Microsoft: https://www.theverge.com/22705042/how-to-scan-microsoft-windows-pc-malware-security-antivirus-defender

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you fix the issue of the computer randomly restarting in 2023. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the problem and enjoy a stable and smooth system performance. If you still encounter this issue after trying these solutions, you may need to contact a professional technician or service center for further assistance.

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