Random Restarts, especially in Games

First off Ill start off with my specs.

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: INTELR
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 299MB used, 3644MB available
DirectxVersion: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Card name: RADEON 9600 SERIES (9600XT I think 256mb)
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Mobo Model: 865PE-ICH5, Chipset: i865P/PE/G/i848P
HDD: 2x 90 Gig (One of them isnt formatted yet, spare hard drive basically)

^ Part of this is a DX Diagnostic file, I dont know why it says 2 CPU's, I didnt think I had 2 :P


This is a double edged problem.

First off startup. I had a similar problem 3 months back when my computer just kept Looping at startup. First it would load up to the Windows loading screen, then reboot. Before reboot the monitor will make like its going on standby and the keyboard will reset (all buttons flash caps lock, numlock etc.) then thats my reboot. Then I'd get the error message saying that windows gives you a number of options to choose from (start up normally, safe mode, last known config). During this time, no matter what I chose they all ended up going to a loading screen then rebooting. I even left it on for a day, and when I came home it was STILL looping. I gave it a further 3 more days, trying safe mode, checking bios for temp and what not, opening the case and putting another fan.. EVERYTHING and still had the problem. I eventually reformatted and it was all good.. until now.

Basically Im at the point where Ive already almost depleted my first HD 90gig to about 23 gig or so. I think my PSU or something cannot handle startups so easily, however I just let it loop a few times then its fine and dandy. If it still persists, I go into safe mode then do a system restore, or Ive found restarting it manually in safe mode also fixes it. But even now that is starting to stop working (not booting into safe mode), I only manged to get into it today because I let it loop for about 10 mins.

The second part of this problem is random restarts while playing something that requires a lot of power or memory, say games like Company of Heroes, World of Warcraft and Battlefield 2142. While using the computer normally (watching vids, music, going on net, doing work) it NEVER randomly restarts as it did 3 months ago. Back to the games, the time it takes for the game to randomly reboot is varied, sometimes it takes a mere 5 seconds in game to restart, 10 minutes, even 2 hours. I dont think its a cooling issue, because even straight after a restart its still at a stable temp, 32degress celcius for system, and 40 for CPU, shutdown is 70. Anyway when Im in game and it does one of these random restarts, the screen will go immediately black, no sound can be heard and it is indeed a reboot. The monitor will go into what seems a hibernate mode where it is actually infact, restarting with the comp. During this time it seems as if the computer's noises are going as if nothing happened.

Ive checked for viruses and spyware via Nod32 and Adaware SE, deleted a few things but still the problem is there. Before, I didn't realise, but I was actually running my ATI Catalyst Control centre at 5.7, but never had any problems until recently. I upgraded to 6.8 and it still does not work.

Help?

EDIT: I found a similar thread to this with blackscreens and the stuff, but it didnt mention startup issues or the like. Plus Not sure if this is the write forum section, but I chose here anyway.

Hi Kikujiro and welcome to Dev Shed.

Can you try running MemTest against your RAM - this will check it's validity.

How long have you been playing the game/s for before the machine reboots ?