SL sometimes restarts my system

This problem has happend about 15 times now I'd say.

I'll be playing SL, then all of a sudden, my screen will go black, then there's my boot screen and windows will load up again.

This isn't good for my system, or any system.
No idea why it has a reason to do this either.
I get serious windows error messages sometimes when I get back onto my desktop also.

My specs are

Windows XP
2.52ghz
Radeon x800xl 256mb AGP
2gb 3200 ram


It's happend TWICE tonight in the space of 3 hours or so, and being restarted for no reason is most annoying.

This sounds like a hardware issue, possiably ram. Go to www.memtest86.com and post back your results, this will test not only your CPU but RAM also. Another test, this one is good for your video card can be found at www.3dmark.com Also please post what Watt your power supply is.

I think my power supply is 150w, althought i'm not entirely sure

According to ATI's website, the card you have requires a minimum of 300 watts

http://www.ati.com/products/radeonx800/radeonx800series/

looks like this is probably your issue

So the game is overloading my power supply basically?

Exactly, and when the videocard cant get enough juice from the powersupply then it will crash and or restart the computer.

I'd buy a new PSU, but i'll be damned if I know how to install one

Replacing a powersupply isnt that major of a deal. These days all the wiring is done though (supposedly ) idiot proof connectors that only go in one way. Its just a matter of unscrewing all the screws near it until the old PS falls out ... lol

Most computer shops though can replace a PS in a few mins (or should be able to)

Probably is relatively simple, but I just get annoyed if something goes wrong / stops working

Mostr probably that is the problem, I wonder where did you find 150W power supply for that computer of yours I thought many ppl today use 450W... Try putting your hand near the power supply area to see if its overheating, avoid getting burned too?

If you´re using Windows, theres an option you can turn on so it wont reset right away, i thing is automatically restart after error or something in the control panel. But probably youll receive BSOD. The resetting thing might be RAM memory with problem, Video Card conflict or CPU overheating (some systems shut down when it overheats, since we´re talking bout SL overheating might be a cause)

I used to have the BSOD option, but the BSOD scared me so a quick restart seemed more pleasing.


My 150w PSU came with my PC, which I got in 2002

3rd time lucky this night, PC will be dead next week at this rate