Thread: System restarts during Virus Scan pls help

Not sure what is happening. I am facing this for a very long period. Every time when i perform a full system scan, my system restarts. During last 4 months, i might have reinstalled windows a minimum 6 times (with format C). Still it is happening. Today i tried a system scan with Ad Aware Free Anniversary edition. I tried more than 3 times. within a few seconds (2 times) and 5 miniutes ( once) restart happened.

Earlier, i used Symantec, it was a total disaster. Every time i try a scan, somewhere in C or D system restarts. Then i had AVG 8.0 Free. It was better, but it happened sometimes. Now i use avira and comodo ( still to check them).

were you able to identify the issue? Please let me know. I don't remember the last time i performed a full system scan ( when i installed comodo antivirus + firewall, initial scan showed ok. Smart scan seem to be alright in Ad Aware)

Originally Posted by meetdilip

Every time when i perform a full system scan, my system restarts.

I don't know but it seems to be small problem or i would say negligence..
Most of the antivirus have this option to restart the machine after full system scan..You can disable it..... Just look for this option...

P.S
Which AntiVirus you use?

Sorry i might missed something... Does your system restarts during virus scan or after scan is completed ???

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

I don't know but it seems to be small problem or i would say negligence..
Most of the antivirus have this option to restart the machine after full system scan..You can disable it..... Just look for this option...


[/B]

You misunderstood me. I cannot finish the scan. Sometimes, cannot even go beyond c drive. It will be nice if you read the query properly.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

It will be nice if you read the query properly.

I misread it that's why i put P.S after my post..Take a look..

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

Sorry i might missed something... Does your system restarts during virus scan or after scan is completed ???

Now coming back to the problem... I specifically need to know some thing...

1. Which antivirus currently you're using..
2. Are you using any spyware? Along with antivirus (If yes which).
3. Does your system restart normally(Just like you press click restart) or it restart after BSOD.

I use Avira Antivir personal -free + AdAware (now). Still to scan using Avira. But tried AdAware last day. I chose full system scan. Just after a few seconds (after initiating the scan), the system restarts. Everything else is normal. It restarts and i can use my system as i normally do. Sorry i don't understand BSOD.

Smart scan in Ad Aware seems to be ok.

I reinstalled windows 3 days back. Then i had comodo antivirus +Firewall and Avira. While installing, comodo made a scan ( a quick one) and there was no problem.Earlier I used symantec, which used to restart system somewhere between C and D drives. Then is shifted to AVG. It was better, but sometimes, that too was causing restart.

And please feel free to ask questions.

BSOD means "Blue Screen of death".. In layman language "System ne Dump maar diya"....
Does Blue Screen comes just before your system restarts?

No, the restart seems to be normal. But i used to have this BSOD problem (not during scan). Sometimes, my system will end up in a blue screen (some physical dump memory or something). The i need to reinstall windows. Recently it didn't happen.

Hmmmm.. The problem could be anything.. Virus, trojans, Rootkits,System Restore, Heating.. etc.. It's hard to say...

But as you mentioned you've reinstall windows so many times but the problem occurs.. So i'm pretty sure that some driver must be creating the problem.. For that you need to check for that driver...

Well question is how you check it...

1. When your system start dumping i.e BSOD.. You need to check the driver name which must be on bottom of blue screen.. If it doesn't give you time to check then "Automatically Restart" option must be enabled in computer property.. Uncheck that button.. For that you need to right click to "My computer", go to "Properties", go to advance tab, look for "Startup and Recovery", Click on setting button, You will see "Automatically Restart" under "System Failure", you need to uncheck that.
So whenever BSOD happen it'll wait and you need to notedown the defective driver.


2. If any case if your computer keep on restarting and BSOD also doesn't come after above procedure. Follow these steps..
Go to "Run" type "eventvwr", Check some faulty entry under application or security tabs. Note down that faulty services or application name, Rectify it.

Hope that helps..
Keep me updated..


P.S
Did you try to scan in safe mode?? Also download gmer application and scan with that also... Just google gmer..

Also any antivirus maintains a log file of everything it scans..Same thing must be with avira...Try to find it, it must be under avira folder...It would be good if you attach those log file here..That will narrow my thinking towards problem...

BSOD is very rare in my case and it is not associated with virus scan. As you have mentioned may be a driver conflict. I checked the event viewer. There is only one error entry for Lavasoft. Please find the screen shot attached. May be that will give some details.

i might have reinstalled windows a minimum 6 times (with format C)

Your OS XP updated to SP2 &SP3 ?
after above actions ?
If you had reloaded the Applications/files from backup
some could be creating the problem.
Scan each application separately.

You could also try this. the XP OS CD needed.
sfc /scannow

Try using a different XP installation disc , it seems like an OS Problem since no antivirus/antispyware is able to do a system scan completely.
( it also may be a hardware problem if u have an assembled pc & not a branded one)

Originally Posted by essbebe

Your OS XP updated to SP2 &SP3 ?
after above actions ?
If you had reloaded the Applications/files from backup
some could be creating the problem.
Scan each application separately.

I am using XP SP2 (same CD) for a very long time. I have done nothing but format C and reinstalled windows.

Originally Posted by essbebe

You could also try this. the XP OS CD needed.
sfc /scannow

Please tell me how to do it. Do i need to restart and boot from CD?

Originally Posted by Jaganathsamal

Try using a different XP installation disc , it seems like an OS Problem since no antivirus/antispyware is able to do a system scan completely.
( it also may be a hardware problem if u have an assembled pc & not a branded one)

My pc is assembled and will be around 2 years old.

can u please post your full system config

esp.
1.power supply rating
2. processor model

Originally Posted by newprouser

can u please post your full system config

esp.
1.power supply rating
2. processor model

1. I use Back -UPS ES 500
2. AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3000+
2.01 GHz, 704 MB of RAM (512+256 MB)
3. Microsoft Windows XP Professional, version 2002, SP2
4. 80 GB SATA Hard disk

Please let me know if you need anything other details.

Yep.. I need the power supply rating... its usually like 400 Watts... also called SMPS.

the reason... sometimes if u add a lot of hardware to ur computer without increasing the power supply, it may not be able to handle heavy load/stress.

so its possible that during scanning all hardware components like hard disk,processor, memory are fully utilized, and so the system restarts.

another possiblity is that the extra ram maybe causing a mis match...

Originally Posted by newprouser

Yep.. I need the power supply rating... its usually like 400 Watts... also called SMPS.

the reason... sometimes if u add a lot of hardware to ur computer without increasing the power supply, it may not be able to handle heavy load/stress.

so its possible that during scanning all hardware components like hard disk,processor, memory are fully utilized, and so the system restarts.

another possiblity is that the extra ram maybe causing a mis match...

Mercury 300W ,Model: KOB AP4300XA. Extra hardware is a TV Tuner from Pixel view. RAM is a recent addition (2 months max). Not sure about that possibility.

@meetdilip
Start run type sfc /scannow ((note space after sfc)

1.When you have reinstalled the OS Xp2 six times after formatting C : drive, what is the need for Antivirus program scan ? or Antispy program or anti malware search ? or even sfc /scannow!

2.You have not answered how you restored
other applications and programs&
the backed up data etc from another drive/hard disk /memory stick etc.

3.The tendency to reply piecemeal prevents any possible
solution to your problem.

4. Download a fresh copy of Anti virus program

5.. Check the applications at start up, which appear in the TaskBar and uncheck all.

6. Run AV scan Offline. selecting files in batches.

Para two:

I am using XP SP2 (same CD)

XP with SP2. Did you create a new CD ?

7.

another possiblity is that the extra ram maybe causing a mis match...

they should be same type.
Do you know how to check ?

Originally Posted by essbebe

@meetdilip
Start run type sfc /scannow ((note space after sfc)

Thanks

2.You have not answered how you restored
other applications and programs&
the backed up data etc from another drive/hard disk /memory stick etc.

Originally Posted by meetdilip

I am using XP SP2 (same CD) for a very long time. I have done nothing but format C and reinstalled windows.

I installed all applications one by one. Nothing restored. Since i format only C other drives are intact.


I format only C, now some virus dump files not only in C but other drives also. So it will be wise to check other drives.

4. Download a fresh copy of Anti virus program

Ok. i will try.

5.. Check the applications at start up, which appear in the TaskBar and uncheck all.

I always clear start up with tune up utilities.

6. Run AV scan Offline. selecting files in batches.

Yes. But that is what i do most of the time. batches? sorry i didn't follow.

. XP with SP2. Did you create a new CD ?

I am using the same Cd for last one year or so.

7. RAM should be same type.
Do you know how to check ?

No. please tell me, i will try.

God you're doing so many thing..As npro said it could be the problem of heating..Check that also... Please keep us updated..

BTW

1. Did you check that "Automatically Restart" option???
2. I would like to see virus scan log file. (Plz attach).
3. Go to command prompt, Write attrib after drive name and press enter, Do this for every drive in your computer, whatever result comes just post the screenshot.
4. Did you scan in safe mode?

Also i don't think Lavasoft is creating problem, But you can scan after stopping "Lavasoft Adware service"..
For stopping service, Go to run type services.msc, look for "Lavasoft Adware Service", Right click to it and stop it..

P.S

I strongly recommend to download gmer from Here.. It's probably the case of rootkit. Do this before doing anything..Give this HIGH PRIORITY

Originally Posted by newprouser

so its possible that during scanning all hardware components like hard disk,processor, memory are fully utilized, and so the system restarts.

If so, How to rectify this issue?

Originally Posted by meetdilip

1. I use Back -UPS ES 500
2. AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3000+
2.01 GHz, 704 MB of RAM (512+256 MB)
3. Microsoft Windows XP Professional, version 2002, SP2
4. 80 GB SATA Hard disk

Please let me know if you need anything other details.

Run ur antivirus scan with only one Ram... i.e. 512 MB... If it restarts... check it with 256 MB.... I've a feeling that either one of ur RAM is faulty or their speed isn't identical... For example, if one of ur RAM is 400 Mhz, the other should be of 400 MHz too...

Originally Posted by itsmemad

Run ur antivirus scan with only one Ram... i.e. 512 MB... If it restarts... check it with 256 MB.... I've a feeling that either one of ur RAM is faulty or their speed isn't identical... For example, if one of ur RAM is 400 Mhz, the other should be of 400 MHz too...

That's a good idea.. You can try this...

Originally Posted by gothic_coder

3. Go to command prompt, Write attrib after drive name and press enter, Do this for every drive in your computer, whatever result comes just post the screenshot.

Pls check the screen shot. downloading gmer.

Compare your Ram speeds by trying CPUZ... See if they are identical!

Originally Posted by meetdilip

Pls check the screen shot. downloading gmer.

Oooppss....Not like that brother...Say you're in D drive, then write attrib only not the drive name press enter and then show me the result.. Take a look (I've done with C and D).. You need to do with every drive and atach all the screen shots..