What computer do you have?
Blaster worm and it's variants.
Time for a ReFormat? I usually reformat every year or so, if not because of junk like you're experiencing, then because Windows is only good for a year or so.
Fill us in. What version of Windows? Let me guess - W95 or W98 or Millenium? How old is it? What cards do you have in it? Reason I ask is because a while back I had that problem and I believe it was resolved by either replacing the Power Supply 'cause the video card (ATI ALL-In-Wonder) and the other cards were finally taxing it too much or bad device drivers. I forget.
Format and reinstall. Easy as 3.1415926535897932384626433832795.
free online virus scan/remover:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
if it's a laptop, check the fans before you spend money on software. Laptops shut down if they're overheating, one of my friends had the same random issue show up, and two weeks of service calls later it turned out to be a fan issue.
It could be a case of the computer running hot, and shuts down automatically to protect itself.
Real men don't whine.
The restarting could be due to a setting in the BIOS. Get into the BIOS and check to see if there is a setting that restarts or shuts down the system when a serious error is detected. Turn it off then you should be able to get in and troubleshoot the virus.
Boot to safemode (F8) at startup, install and run Adaware or Spybot (search google) .
If you're able to to get the computer to boot from there, install Zonealarm, go to windowsupdate.com and install all necessary updates, the install Microsoft's antispyware tool. THis will give him a safeguard in the future.
However, if the computer is old or low quality, there could also be a hardware failure causing the poweroffs. (Most likely RAM or powersupply)
I use Firefox PR1 and IMHO, beats the sox off MS Explorer. Life is good with tabs. Click the link and give it a try. sounds to me like it is more likely a power supply about to take a complete dump. I've seen them do exactly what you have described.
you have to bite the bullet and get norton and make a boot disk
you have to bite the bullet and get norton and make a boot disk
Assuming Windows...
Go to Start> Run and type "shutdown -r" (no " marks) and click "ok". This will prevent your machine from shutting itself down while you try to solve the real problem (the virus).
Despite what a lot of people have been telling you, the problem you describe is (98% of the time) your power supply crow barring. Not much you can do about it but replace the power supply. They aren't that expensive.
You may have a faulty power supply, not a virus. If you can, get someone to let you borrow their power supply to check it out.
A replacement would cost you about $50.