Computer Restarts when Shutting down

Based on my own experience with more than on PC and laptop, it's not always the same reason for this is error to occur, but to start troubleshooting it correctly, you should try lower gaps in testing, Specifically, it's either a Hardware problem or Software problem that causes this restarting.

Let's try the first step to reduce the gap and make sure it's not a software problem (Windows, Linux, Mac..or whatever)

Hardware Test:

If your computer was working just fine with no Sudden restart or even showing Blue Screen and then restarting

1- Go ahead make a quick boot using

HirenCD  http://www.hirensbootcd.org/files/Hirens.BootCD.15.2.zip 

Download load it, then extract it and burn it. Boot up your PC or Laptop from that CD/DVD Then Follow the pictures as below. Once the MininXp is loaded and started as a normal windows, go to start and select shutdown. If the computer Shutdown and then Restarted again by itself  then it's a Hardware Error or Bios Power Option that needs modification.

2- My suggestion now is to try to load Bios Default Settings. You double check the Power On option on your Bios setup page, by pressing any of these key For hp use F10, Dell use F2 or F12 sometimes,  Or Delete with most of the other vendors. Find Power management or Power Option Tap and Change the state power failure action to Off.  It's Better to Reset it or Restore Default Bios Settings.

Look at the following pictures of help. (These are different images for power options of different Bios versions from many Vendors)

3- The Last Hardware solution - applicable to PCs only- that worked out for me with  HP Compaq 8100 Elite CMT, was the hard reset of bios.


Disconnect all external devices first (USB Removables, Any attached Mouse or even Keyboards especially PS2 -usually causing some problems-, External AGB cards).

• Remove AC power and the battery
• Press and hold power button for at least 30 seconds
• Reinstall only AC power for first startup
• Power on - Log in
• Next time you shut down the system, reinstall battery.
• Reinstall keyboard and try log in to windows, if things are going good, continue adding other devices one by one till you catch the defected device.

 My problem was solved when I removed PS2 Keyboard and External AGP and  Reset Bios settings then reinstalled them back again.

The Software Solution.

 Now we should be kind of sure it's a software issue, especially if you tried the first Hardware test using Minixp and your computer shutdown with no restart.

The first common software issue that causes this problem is the "Automatically Restart on System Failure" this option is already checked on, Remove the check mark as shown in pictures below. Right click on MyComputer >> Properties >> Advanced System settings.

On windows 8 Specifically,
Go to  Control Panel > Power Options (Change what the power buttons do) >
Change settings that are currently unavailable > *DISABLE* - Turn on fast start-up.

Also make sure the option of allowing specific device to power on the PC is turned off, this option is available on Network Card, Mouse and other devices, do that By Right clicking on My Computer and Select Manage>>Device Manager >> as listed below

 Don't tell me, it's not solved yet....Okay then, Finally you can try this:

 Hit the Start menu.....type CMD when it shows up Right Click on it and choose Run as Administrator

Copy and paste this line  SFC /SCANNOW

That should trigger a Windows System File Check....Hopefully it will do fix.

Hope that have been a helpful.

Mikha