System Error?

System Error?

A few times this week my computer shuts down and re-starts. I send the error report to microsoft (tells me to do so because the system has recovered from a seriour error) and the report tells me that I have a hardware issue, but it does not tell me what it is. Does anyone know of any software that could diagnose my system and tell me what the problem may be. Thanks in advance.

Solution:-Ok, with this type of situation you have to start small and then gradually work your way up. You shouldn't just bite the bullet and buy a new hard drive because the problem may be very simple. FIRST, make sure your electric cable is OK, is it plugged in securly? take it out, plug it in somewhere else and try it out, maybe replace the plug. SECOND, How old is the computer? From the DOS prompt, run a chkdsk (check disk). Don't know how to get to the DOS prompt? here's how: Click START-RUN, then type CMD and hit enter... there's your DOS window, now type CHKDSK... let it run, it'll give you some good info... If it is still shutting down and restarting, you may even have some virus acting on your hardddrive, work to remove it with Spybot S&D and/or Lavasoft Adaware Personal. If this doesn't work, get your copy of XP and try to do a repair by starting the computer with the XP disk in it. If this reinstallation of XP doesn't "TAKE" then you may indeed need a new harddrive. Take your harddrive out, read the small print on it and see who made it... whomever made it will usually have some utility on their website that can WRITE ZEROS TO THE DISK, to fully re-write it, I have done this before and of course it takes long (several hours) but the harddrive will be like brand new. HOpe this helps.