XP Automatically Restarts After I Shut it Down

Does your Windows based computer sometimes appear to have a mind of its own? There are a few reasons why Windows may do something other than what you command. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, there may be a simple fix for your computer issue:

• Does your computer automatically restart when you prompt it to shut down?
• Does your computer unexpectedly restart when you ask it to perform certain tasks?
• Do you get an error message or a blue screen when the computer automatically restarts?

Windows operating systems are typically configured by default to automatically restart when a program stops responding. The first step is to check your settings. To do this, follow these instructions:

• Click on Start
• Right click on My Computer
• Click on Properties
• Click on the Advanced tab
• Under Startup and Recovery click Settings
• Under System Failure look at to see if the box that says automatically Restart is checked.
• You can change the setting by unchecking the Automatically Restart box. This should stop your computer from automatically fix the issue with your computer continuing to restart.

When the box is unchecked and the system encounters a problem you will receive an error message rather than an automatic restart. When and if you receive an error message you can research the message to see what type of error you have and how to correct it.

If you do receive continuous error messages it is a clue to you, the user that a critical error or issue needs further resolution. In this event you should research the error message and complete steps to correct the problem.

Operating System Not Found

You can encounter the frustrating error of “Operating System Not Found” as soon as your machine starts up. It can also appear as “Missing Operating System” or “Setup did not find any hard drives installed on your computer.“ Often, it will not allow you to interface at all with any of the operating system functions. This means there is little that you can do as a user to correct the problem.

This usually happens to machines that have Windows XP installed. The error appears at the start up and does not allow further interaction with the interface of the machine. Users can take some relief that this error is likely not caused by something they did.

When this error appears, it means that there has been a problem with the firmware of the machine. Firmware is a type of electronic and computing system that in some ways could be thought of as software, but is typically much simpler and more integral to the operation of a machine than other software.

Setting the time on a microwave is a user interacting with firmware; the firmware of the microwave. The firmware tells the machine how long to operate for. However, it might be a stretch to call the time settings on a microwave “software.” In computing, the line between these two programming systems often blurs, but computers do have many programs that are clearly defined as software. For our purposes, we can think of software as a program where a change does not affect hardware. Any changes to firmware, however, can and often do affect the hardware.

All PCs have a protocol called a BIOS, which stands for “basic input output system.” The BIOS is part of the firmware of your PC. When you start your machine, you may see the Windows logo and status bars that indicate to you the machine is starting up. Inside the machine, however, is a very different story. This BIOS is connecting the hard disk where your information is stored to Windows XP, so you can access it.
The “Operating System Not Found” error can mean one of the following things:

• The basic input/output system (BIOS) does not detect the hard disk.
• The hard disk is damaged.
• Your hard drive has a malformed master boot record, meaning that there has been a problem with the processes of your computer booting up.

Unfortunately, as this is an issue with the firmware, which can affect the hardware, some extensive physical repairs may need to be done. Check the physical state of your machine to make sure no liquids or dents are in the casing. Check for any exposed components, which may have become damaged. It may be necessary to contact the actual manufacturer of your machine instead of Microsoft and take it to one of their repair centers. Hardware damage can cause irreparable data loss, so back up often!

USB Device Error Code 10 in Windows XP

Plugging a USB storage device into your computer can often result in either nothing or an error code; both being frustrating for the user. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus which is a way for a computer to establish a communication link between a device, such as a memory stick or flash drive, and the host computer.

Portable storage devices are small and can be purchased with different amounts of memory on them. Many people use portable storage devices to store information that they can easily transfer from one computer system quickly and easily. As with any computer equipment, you have to be prepared that systems, devices and connections don’t always work as they are intended. USB error codes do occur and usually in a few steps, problems with the device or the USB port can be easily remedied.

If you get any type of USB error code, you first want to ensure that the device itself is working. Plug the USB flash drive into the USB port on another system and see if you have any problems. If not, the device is not the problem; rather it is the configuration of the computer that would not accept the device. As with other errors, different codes mean different things. For instance, the code 10 error indicates that the device cannot start.

If you are using Windows XP and have encountered a USB error code, the best way to resolve it is to remove and re-install all of the USB controllers:

• Click on Start
• Right click on My computer
• Click on Properties
• Click the Hardware tab
• Expand the Universal Serial Bus Controllers Section
• Right click the devices under the USB controllers and click Uninstall to remove them one at a time
• Restart the computer, which will allow the computer to reinstall the USB controllers
• Plug in the removable USB storage device
• Test your USB device to see that this has resolved the issue and the error code 10

If you continue to have problems with USB error codes you should first contact Microsoft Support or your local computer repair shop for further assistance, as this could actually be a faulty connection in the computer hardware itself.

Windows XP - The Stop 0x0000007B Error

Windows XP has been commonly known to produce some unusually long numbered errors such as the Stop 0x0000007B error. It is specific to only Windows XP and commonly appears when you start your computer using the Windows XP operating system.

There are a few reasons why this error message may appear. Boot sector viruses, device driver issues and hardware installation problems are among a few of the common root causes of this stop error. While these may seem like difficult problems you have with your computer, it is possible to repair the error yourself.

If you receive the general Stop 0x0000007B, you can try one of the two followings options to resolve it. These may or may not work, but if they don’t they will not do any damage to your system. These options are not in any particular order.

• Run your virus scan software to see if a virus may be the cause of the error. The anti-virus program should take care of the potential virus and rectify the situation if this is the cause of the stop error. You will know if this was the cause if the computer runs effectively following the scan. A virus that causes this type of error message is called a boot sector virus. As with any virus, an effective virus program can detect and hopefully remove a harmful virus from your computer, but if problems persist, it is best to seek advanced computer repair or support to ensure that your system is free from problems or the threat of reoccurrence.
• Internal device drivers sometimes become corrupted and/or interfere with new hardware. If this is the case, it will cause a stop error at the time of startup. There is no way to determine with 100% accuracy that this is the cause of a stop error, but it can’t hurt to try this step. If you have installed new devices, it could be that these devices are the cause of the stop error. You can remove or reconfigure any new hardware that you have installed recently, such as a printer or a scanner. Disconnect and then reconnect the hardware and try restarting your computer again. If the stop error continues to appear, obviously you have not gotten to the root of the issue.

As mentioned earlier, this error can be caused by a number of malfunctions, some are internal and difficult to diagnose. It is best to start with the things that may be most evident and can be completed by a computer user with basic knowledge. It is difficult to determine if a virus or new hardware is the cause of the error, but trying these options in the hope of eliminating the issue is worth a shot. If nothing more, you will be able to eliminate a few potential problems and possibly save a few dollars when you bring your computer to the shop for repair.

If your stop error lists one or more of the following: parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 or parameter4, directly after the STOP: 0x0000007B error message, this is a sign of a fatal error meaning you will not be able to continue startup. You can try to shut the computer down and start it up again and see if anything has changed. If this type of error is not resolved by restarting the computer, it will require a complex system check that should be completed by a computer technician.