Computer does automatic reboot to black screen and spinning dots

davron94 · 15 Nov 2016

Hello all,

My computer just started doing a very weird thing. I've had Windows 10 on a Dell XPS 8100 for about 3 months now. Just recently, after it sits idle for about an hour or so, it will shut down and reboot on its own. It will go to the Windows 10 splash screen, the blue window, and then go straight to a black screen with the circle of white dots spinning in the lower middle of the screen. It will just stay like this with no way to get past it. I've tried looking up this issue, but cannot find anyone with the exact same problem. If I do a hard reboot, the OS will boot up properly. Please help!!!

Hearsepilot · 15 Nov 2016

The first thing to try would be a repair install, the second would be to check the cooling fans on the computer.

Compcon · 15 Nov 2016

You could also try air dusting the power supply and fans. Sometimes you get dust clogged in the vents and it won't allow your computer to cool as it should.

davron94 · 15 Nov 2016

My computer cleanliness is not an issue. There is something going on with the OS or Bios causing the system to randomly reboot, and then lock up while loading.

cottonball · 15 Nov 2016

davron94,

Please try shutting down the computer pressing the Power button. You may have to press it for 15-20 seconds until it eventually shuts down.
Now, press the Power button to turn on the PC, and, just as Windows starts to load (round dots rotating), press and hold the power button down until it turns off.

Repeat the same actions two more times, and, on the third (sometimes fourth) try, instead of the round dots, the PC should boot into recovery mode trying to do a fix. This usually fails, and then you are given recovery/repair options in the Windows Recovery Environment.

In the Windows Recovery Environment, on the Choose an option screen, click: Troubleshoot > next window click: Advanced Options, and at the next window click: Automatic Repair

Give it a whirl and let us know what develops.