Computer frequently crashes/randomly restarts.

I have a HP Compaq 6305 Pro. The details can be seen by clicking the "My Computer" button on the left side of my post. I'm running Windows 10 Version 1903 (OS build 18362.778).

For the last two weeks or so, my computer has been frequently crashing/randomly restarting. It usually happens after I've restarted the computer, frequently within 10 minutes of logging back into Windows after my restart. The screen goes black for a second or two, and then my computer is suddenly starting up (BIOS screen, Windows loading, etc).

Peculiarly, after each these random restarts, if I leave the computer running without restarting it, it won't randomly restart again, no matter how long I leave it running (even for days). But if I restart it (or power it down and start it by pressing the power button), it will usually run for 5 to 10 minutes, then randomly restart. Occasionally, the random restart will take a while to happen (a few hours or so). How much I'm using the computer doesn't matter. Whether I'm running several programs or no programs at all, the random restart will still happen.

I ran the V2 Log collector, and uploaded the resulting ZIP file to Dropbox. It found no crash dumps, as the crashes/restarts happen in such a way that no crash dumps are created (although information about the unexpected startup after the crash is recorded in the Event Viewer), but there might be other useful information to be found. You can find it at this link.

Hi hbenthow,

Please perform the following steps:

1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}

12) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

13) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings

a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread

14) Open Ccleaner > click windows tab or custom clean > scroll down to system and advanced > post an image into the thread


15) Upgrade the BIOS to the most up to date non-beta BIOS:
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard K06 v02.57, 8/16/2013
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers...-2?sku=D4D85UC

16) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)
HD Tune website
Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan

17) Run Sea Tools for Windows
long generic test
Post an image of the test result into the thread
SeaTools for Windows |
Seagate
How to use SeaTools for Windows | Seagate Support US

18) Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
This may take hours so plan to run it overnight.

a) Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

The testing is done not by time but by passes.
The more passes the better the testing conditions.
There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.
A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.
There is 8 GB of RAM on the computer.
Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM
Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.
Then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.

b) When Memtest86+ version 5.01 has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-ecc7b7ff6461
MemTest86+ - Test RAM

19) These steps / tests can be performed overnight:
a) HD Tune full error scan
b) Sea Tools for Windows long generic test
c) Memtest86+ version 5.01

20) For all steps / tests make sure images are posted into the thread:

Take Screenshot in Windows 10
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...re-screenshots
How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums

This is a partial progress update. I have not yet had time to perform all of the recommended tests (and am having trouble booting memtest86), but I am providing updates on the ones that I have done so far.

dalchina said:

Hi, this is from around 2012, so was never designed to run Win 10, so recognise you are at risk

Do you mean my computer?

Please confirm: no over-clocking, no recent hardware changes, and that it is not overheating.

I don't overclock. I haven't changed anything inside my case recently. I did get an external powered USB 3.0 hub about a month ago, but I didn't notice any correlation between the time that I began using it and the (more recent) time that the crashes began.

Check your RAM - tutorials available.Drivers: run this:Enable and Disable Driver Verifier in Windows 10HP Diagnostics:https://www8.hp.com/uk/en/campaigns/.../pc-diags.html

I haven't been able to run these yet. As I mentioned, this post is a partial status update to bring you up to speed on those that I have done so far.

zbook said:

Please perform the following steps:
1) Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:
2) sfc /scannow
3) dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
4) dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
5) sfc /scannow
6) chkdsk /scan
7) wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
8) wmic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
9) wmic recoveros get autoreboot
10) wmic recoveros get DebugInfoType
11) bcdedit /enum {badmemory}
12) When these have completed > right click on the top bar or title bar of the administrative command prompt box > left click on edit then select all > right click on the top bar again > left click on edit then copy > paste into the thread

Here are the results:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18362.778]
(c) 2019 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow


Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.


Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.


Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth


Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1


Image Version: 10.0.18362.778


[==========================100.0%==========================] No component store corruption detected.
The operation completed successfully.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth


Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.18362.1


Image Version: 10.0.18362.778


[==========================100.0%==========================] The restore operation completed successfully.
The operation completed successfully.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>sfc /scannow


Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.


Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.


Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>chkdsk /scan
The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Windows.


Stage 1: Examining basic file system structure ...
1046784 file records processed.
File verification completed.
9182 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed.


Stage 2: Examining file name linkage ...
2776 reparse records processed.
1415084 index entries processed.
Index verification completed.
0 unindexed files scanned.
0 unindexed files recovered to lost and found.
2776 reparse records processed.


Stage 3: Examining security descriptors ...
Security descriptor verification completed.
184151 data files processed.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
62150320 USN bytes processed.
Usn Journal verification completed.


Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
No further action is required.


975279853 KB total disk space.
178471260 KB in 742909 files.
444064 KB in 184152 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
1218205 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
795146324 KB available on disk.


4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
243819963 total allocation units on disk.
198786581 allocation units available on disk.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>wmic recoveros set autoreboot = false
Updating property(s) of '\\WINDOWS-SJ9IF72\ROOT\CIMV2:Win32_OSRecoveryConfiguration.Name="Microsoft Windows 10 Pro|C:\\WINDOWS|\\Device\\Harddisk0\\Partition2"'
Property(s) update successful.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>mic recoveros set DebugInfoType = 7
'mic' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>wmic recoveros get autoreboot
AutoReboot
FALSE




C:\WINDOWS\system32>mic recoveros get DebugInfoType
'mic' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.


C:\WINDOWS\system32>bcdedit /enum {badmemory}


RAM Defects
-----------
identifier {badmemory}


C:\WINDOWS\system32>

And here are the results as a TXT file:

Tests.txt

13) In the left lower corner search type: system or system control > open system control panel > on the left pane click advanced system settings
a) > on the advanced tab under startup and recovery > click settings > post an image of the startup and recovery window into the thread

b) > on the advanced tab under performance > click on settings > on the performance options window > click on the advanced tab > under virtual memory > click on change > post an image of the virtual memory window into the thread

14) Open Ccleaner > click windows tab or custom clean > scroll down to system and advanced > post an image into the thread

15) Upgrade the BIOS to the most up to date non-beta BIOS:
BIOS Version/Date Hewlett-Packard K06 v02.57, 8/16/2013

I already have it.

16) Run HD Tune (free version) (all drives)

HD Tune website

Post images into the thread for results on these tabs:
a) Health
b) Benchmark
c) Full error scan

I ran it on both of my internal drives (my OS drive, which is a 1TB WD drive, and my secondary drive, which is a 2TB Seagate drive that I use to store files). It wouldn't work with my external ones, probably because they are SATA drives in USB enclosures.

Here are the results for my OS drive:


And my secondary drive:

17) Run Sea Tools for Windows long generic test

Post an image of the test result into the thread

I haven't gotten around to this step yet.

18) Run memtest86+ version 5.01 for at least 8 passes.

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

This may take hours so plan to run it overnight.

a) Please make sure you use the Memtest86+ version 5.01 with the link below.

Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool

The testing is done not by time but by passes.

The more passes the better the testing conditions.

There are a significant number of false negatives if fewer than 8 passes are made.

A false negative is a test pass when there is malfunctioning RAM.

There is 8 GB of RAM on the computer.

Memtest86+ version 5.01 testing takes approximately 1 - 2 hours /GB RAM

Just 1 error is a fail and you can abort testing.

Then test 1 RAM module at a time in the same DIMM each for 8 or more passes.

b) When Memtest86+ version 5.01 has completed 8 or more passes use a camera or smart phone camera to take a picture and post an image into the thread.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-ecc7b7ff6461
MemTest86+ - Test RAM

I tried to run memtest86 5.01 on a flash drive last night, but it wouldn't boot up. I looked up the memtest86 website, where I found out that version 5.01 is not compatible with computers that have BIOS, and that BIOC computers require version 4. I installed version 4 on a flash drive, but again, it wouldn't boot up. My guess is that my BIOS boot order has something to do with it.

I could install it on a DVD (which owuld probably work, as I'm able to boot Macrium discs all the time), but I don't want to put a lot of wear on my optical drive by running an intensive program off of it all night.

1) For Ccleaner uncheck:
a) Memory Dumps
b) Windws Log Files

2) When available please post Sea Tools long generic test results for each drive.

3) Run Crystal Disk standard edition: (all drives)
CrystalDiskInfo – Crystal Dew World

4) Run HD Sentinel: (free or trial edition)
Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring
Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring
Post images of each of these tabs into the thread:
Overview tab
Temperature
SMART
Disk performance


5) Methods to use Memtest86+ when initial attempts fail:


Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials:
Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC

If you have fast boot or ultra fast boot enabled in your UEFI firmware settings, then you will need to temporarily disable fast boot or ultra fast boot to be able to boot from a USB.
How to Enable Fast Boot or Ultra Fast Boot in UEFI Firmware Settings for Windows:
Enable or Disable Fast Boot in UEFI Firmware Settings for Windows


1. Try another USB stick
2. Try all USB ports (2.0 and 3.0)
3. Maybe when using UEFI Bios you have to temporarily switch to Legacy in BIOS settings
4. Turn off temporarily fast boot, secure boot, CSM if enabled

zbook said:

1) For Ccleaner uncheck:
a) Memory Dumps
b) Windws Log Files

Here's the new snapshot with those options unchecked:

2) When available please post Sea Tools long generic test results for each drive.

I haven't gotten the time to do that yet.

3) Run Crystal Disk standard edition: (all drives)

CrystalDiskInfo – Crystal Dew World

4) Run HD Sentinel: (free or trial edition)

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring

Hard Disk Sentinel - HDD health and temperature monitoring

Post images of each of these tabs into the thread:
Overview tab
Temperature
SMART
Disk performance

OS Drive:



Secondary internal SATA drive:



External USB 3.0 drive:



External USB 2.0 drive:

5) Methods to use Memtest86+ when initial attempts fail:

Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials:

Boot from USB Drive on Windows 10 PC

If you have fast boot or ultra fast boot enabled in your UEFI firmware settings, then you will need to temporarily disable fast boot or ultra fast boot to be able to boot from a USB.

How to Enable Fast Boot or Ultra Fast Boot in UEFI Firmware Settings for Windows:

Enable or Disable Fast Boot in UEFI Firmware Settings for Windows

1. Try another USB stick
2. Try all USB ports (2.0 and 3.0)
3. Maybe when using UEFI Bios you have to temporarily switch to Legacy in BIOS settings
4. Turn off temporarily fast boot, secure boot, CSM if enabled

I finally found a way to boot from the flash drive by selecting it in the BIOS.

Unfortunately, the flash drive with memtest86 5.01 still wouldn't boot, but when I tried again with memtest86 version 4 installed instead, it did boot and work (I didn't run it for long, just long enough to confirm that the program worked).

Would using version 4 tonight and letting it run for 8 scans overnight, then posting a photo of the results be acceptable? It seems that version 5.01 just isn't compatible with my BIOS.

This is different software but has a similar name.
It used to have eight passes for free and since January 2019 it's been only four passes for free.
A total of eight or more passes are needed to reduce the false negative test results.

Run Memtest86 version 8.4 (or newer version if available) for four passes.
Repeat the test so that eight passes are performed.

MemTest86 - Official Site of the x86 Memory Testing Tool

Use a camera or smart phone camera to take pictures and post images into the thread.
In case there are any problems uploading images use share links (one drive, drop box, or google drive)

Memtest86 has a feature to produce a text report.
Please post this in addition to the images.

These tests can be ran overnight:
Sea Tools for Windows long generic test
Memtest86 version 8.4

zbook said:

Run Memtest86 version 8.4 (or newer version if available) for four passes.
Repeat the test so that eight passes are performed.

Does the second round of four passes need to be performed directly after the first, or can it wait several hours? The reason that I ask is that if I leave it to run overnight, the four passes will probably be over well before I wake up in the morning and can start the second round of passes.

Also, I tested Memtest86 8.4 for a few minutes to see if it would boot. It did, but when I tested it functionality, it appears that the ability to save the results as a text report is not available in the free version. Whenever I would select the option, I would get a message saying that it's only available in the premium version.

Would it be better to run an older version (from prior to January 2019), so all eight passes could happen simultaneously? It turns out that the version 4 that I mentioned I was able to successfully boot is an earlier version of this Memtest86, not the one that has a version 5.01 (which is from a different company). Would it be better to run version 4, or 8.4?

Please run Memtest86 version 8.4 for two free tests (4 passes for each test).
The tests do not need to immediately follow each other.

There may be a free log if there is no longer a final free report.

Screenshots from first round of four tests:



Second round:



Report files:

Dropbox - MemTest86-Report-20200513-100627.html - Simplify your life

Dropbox - MemTest86-Report-20200513-033534.html - Simplify your life

Dropbox - MemTest86.log - Simplify your life