How to get hardware error messages?

I've done this before but can't remember how

[MatthewHSE]

On a Windows 2000 computer that's having random shutdowns due to hardware failures, how is it that you get it to show the error message instead of automatically restarting? I've done this before but can't remember how to get to that option.

[BertieB]

This isn't exactly what you asked for, but it should help, or amount to roughly the same thing:

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Event Viewer

Check the system log (and the application and security logs too if you are so inclined) - that should contain the pertinent information.

[larryhatch]

McAfee anti-virus has a warning out about some medium risk virus
that makes the computer reboot, over and over. You might explore that angle. -Larry

[2oddSox]

You can stop the restart by going into the Systems applet (press the windows key along with the pause button, or Control Panel > System). Go to 'Advanced' and 'Start up and recovery'. Uncheck the 'Automatically reboot'.

As bertie says, then check the system logs.

[MatthewHSE]

Thanks guys, I knew about the Event Viewer but for some odd reason hadn't thought to look at it in this case. That other option was the one I was looking for. I'll be watching over the next few days to see what happens and what the Event Viewer has to say about it.

I don't think this is a virus, although I guess I should check. The computer has only rebooted twice like this, although I was only present for one (and at that time learned that "reboot" is the wrong word since it really just turns off without notice).

From a low kind of whine that emits from the computer when this happens, I'm guessing there's an error with the CPU or a hard drive. I don't like either answer, but I can't think of anything else that might make a noise like that.

[celgins]

I had a similar problem (with a whining sound before shutdown) that had to do with a defective CPU fan.

The fan wasn't cooling the CPU and shut the system down.

Have you checked that?

[Philosopher]

Yeah...that does sound like a fan problem. I've run into that twice now with the same symptoms.

[MatthewHSE]

Could be. The fan is running most of the time but maybe it quits intermittently. How would I check on that? That sure wouldn't show in the Event Viewer.

I guess I could take the side cover off the case and have the person look quickly the next time this happens.

[celgins]

Yes, you could do that.

I would either take off the side cover and watch it until it shuts down, or locate one of the motherboard software programs that monitor the temperature of your CPU.

If it's shutting down really fast, you may not have enough time to install and run the motherboard monitoring program.