Electronics

[qualityshopper]

I have a desktop computer that runs Windows 8.1 and which, until very recently, ran perfectly. When not using my computer, I always have it turned off (not sleeping). Well, the other day, I was standing by the tower, reaching for something, and accidentally touched the power button. I immediately pressed and held it again to shut the computer off--and that's when my problems started.

Every time I get on it now, I always have to restart it at some point. Sometimes I have to do it as soon as I get on the internet; other times, it will let me be on for a while before having to restart. In case of any malware, I've run Norton and Malwarebytes. No issues. I ran an SFC scan and found corrupted files, and then used the DISM tool to fix those files. Still having the constant restart problem however. Would any of you experts have any other suggestions to fix this problem? I know I'll probably have to take it somewhere to be fixed, but I'm trying to save the money. Thanks.

[FranandZoe]

Are you talking about having to restart it because it shuts off?  If not what do you mean by having to restart it and why?

I occasionally can't get on the internet and restarting from the start button fixes it for awhile.  My laptop is going on 10 years old so I think that's my problem.  I have Windows 7.

Try unplugging your router for 30 seconds then plug it back in.  

[ValuSkr]

I don't understand why, when you accidentally touched the power button, you proceeded to immediately press & hold restart.  May have nothing to do with your problem, but I'm hung up on that.

[gardenman]

Okay, to begin with, you pretty much never have to take a computer someplace to be fixed. You should be able to do anything that needs doing yourself. By and large computers (at least since Windows 95) are pretty resilient and will handle unexpected shutdowns/crashes without major hiccups.

If I'm reading your post correctly, what you did was inadvertently start your computer by hitting the power button, then before it was fully started you forced it to shut down by pressing and holding the power button. Is that correct? If that happens again, let the computer fully start then shut it down properly.

My best guess as to what happened is you interrupted the PC in it's power on mode while it was loading Windows. Computers do a lot of stuff in that time period, much of it involving the registry. They look for what's connected and what's not. They compare what's in the registry to what they find now and adjust some settings. My best guess is you've got a situation where instead of one registry value for something you've got multiple registry values for something. The computer then finds the multiple values and doesn't know what to do and you have to restart it.

I see two fairly easy options. option one is to simply rollback your computer to a date before you hit the power button. That should restore the old settings and have you back to where you were. Here's a link to a handy-dandy guide on how to do that in windows 8.

https://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-8/rolling-back-to-a-restore-point-in-win...

If that doesn't work then I'd probably go with a registry cleaner like CCLeaner and give that a try to find and fix any registry errors. There are always registry errors, so don't freak out if you get a long list of them. Just save your existing registry settings when prompted in case anything goes disastrously wrong, but it typically doesn't go disastrously wrong and delete what they suggest to delete. 

Those two options should fix it, if not a repair install of Windows 8 would be the next option. If you still have the Windows 8 install disc, it's a pretty easy thing to do, just be sure you back up your information first.

It's also very possible the issue has nothing to do with your hitting the power button and the issue is just coincidental. In the summertime overheating can become an issue. If it's been a while since you cleaned the computer, and especially the CPU cooler, (look for junk between the fins of the cooler) then a good cleaning might be all that's necessary to get things back to normal. An overheating CPU will slow down and even shut down and it becomes pretty common in the hotter summer months. If none of that works, feel free to post back and we'll see what else we can try. 

[Peaches McPhee]

@gardenman , this is pretty much the best answer to any question I've seen on this board. Kudos to you.

[NYCLatinaMe]

@qualityshopper  @gardenman gave you a great answer if you have a real problem, which I am not sure you do have.  What happens when you state you have to restart your computer?  Have you tried shutting it down completely, unplugging, waiting a couple of seconds, replugging.  doing the same with your modem, and restarting your computer?  I think that fixes most problems.  Don't ask me why, I am not real technical.  But I would be concerned about taking drastic fixes that may create more problems.  I would try simple first.  Never had a real problem with my computers except for physically breaking them (oops!) or pouring liquid on they keyboard (oops!)  only replaced PCs to get better speed.  I have been a mac user for a few years and love that much better.  Less hardware upgrades needed.

[SilleeMee]

The re-start or power on/off problem could be a symptom of a the main hard drive going out. This means you need to make sure you have all of your files backed up as soon as possible if you haven't done it already. I hope the problem isn't that but it could be. Run a disk check to see if that's the problem. @qualityshopper 

[qualityshopper]

@gardenman --"if I'm reading your post correctly, what you did was inadvertently start your computer by hitting the power button, then before it was fully started you forced it to shut down by pressing and holding the power button. Is that correct?"  Yes, that's correct. You understood exactly what happened. And, I've had it on many times since then, so it's been shut down properly each of those times.

I forgot to mention that, as you suggested, I did try to restore it to a previous date, but got a message when done stating that the restore was unsuccessful (something to do with a Native Images file?). That's when I ran the SFC scan and used the DISM tool to fix the corrupted files. I also considered resetting it back to the factory settings, just want to see if I can remedy the situation before taking that step. Haven't tried a registry cleaner--guess I'm a little nervous about doing that, but may give that a go. As far as overheating, I keep the house rather cool, but of course, that doesn't mean the computer isn't still overheating. It's just that this problem started immediately the very first time I got on the internet after powering the computer down the way I did.

I'm going to try restoring it to an earlier date once more and, if that doesn't help, I'll try the registry cleaner. Just want to say a big thanks to you for taking the time to provide me with all of this information and help.

[gardenman]

"Something to do with a Native Images file." Not what I'd like to see. Native Images are machine code created specifically for your CPU by a program. We typically see programming languages (Basic, C-Plus, Python, etc.) as words/phrases strung together, machine code is just ones and zeros that the CPU can read directly. Machine code takes the words phrases used to program in "normal" programming languages and translates them into machine code that the CPU can understand. We're getting out of my depth when you run into problems with Native Images files. 

[qualityshopper]

Way, way out of my depth, too. I was lucky I even knew how to do a system scan and figure out how to run the DISM tool. I have a feeling my best bet is just to do a factory reset. Thanks for all the help. Really nice of you.