It is not uncommon for registry enties to get corrupted or deleted even by accident. If system restore does not correct the problem, then the only recourse is a full format and re-install. Attempting to repair it probably will not owrk, as the registry values change as programs are added or removed.
Generally, XP has a stable registry, and some registry scanners and even Anti-virus programs, will see registry entries as an attack and either quarentine, 'clean', or delete them.

Reinstall is a little premature and extreme at this point. When you say connect the net, what exactly do you mean? When you plug in the network cable or when you try to use a web browser? If the later which web browser are you using?

So here I am playing a game and got to level 15 all proud of my character and suddenly my computer shuts off.

The lights to my house is still on

the world hasn't stopped

I don't hear war sirens going off

so what happened

my computer just said "Okay I am taking a coffee break?"

so here I am red face upset that I didn't save my game sitting there looking at a black screen.


Any clue why my computer "that has no virus" just decided to shut itself off?

Does it turn back on? Could be overheating. Make sure it plenty of room for air to circulate into and out of the case.

yes it turns back on

I looked at the back of the computer and it looks good to me, although I am no computer expert, but it sounds and looks good.

There is plenty of space for the computer.

Isn't it weird though? I will never understand this. Maybe it is alive and said "Hold on!" I am taking a coffee break rather you like it or not!

Might be your system is set to auto reboot on BSD. Or might be one of the following hardware issues.

1) Bad power supply which spiked on the 12V rail which is typically for the CPU which fell out of the range of operational quality.

2) Bad motherboard which has a loose connection, or a blown capacitor, and the other capacitors can handle a normal load, but when you run your game they give up the ghost.

3) Over heating, this is most likely the case, you run your game, the heat increases, perhaps you have a loose heat sink, or fan is dead, cool enough outside the game, but when the system heats up more due to graphic processing then bam it eats dust when the temp gets critical.

Questions for you to answer to help me understand the issue.

1 )Do you have it on a power strip?

2) Does it have the latest graphics drivers?

3) Has it happened again? If so is there a consistency with when it happens?

*If its a heats issue it could be happening at times when your house is at its warmest. Try to make some observations as to when it happens what you are running and the temp of the room.

If its a power issue it may be that the normal fluctuation in the power frequency in the lines is effecting an old power supply unit, or one that is slowly dying, or its the capacitor theory. Its a power supplies job to smooth out the bumps in the frequencies of the power straight from the tap, it conditions (and converts to various rails) the power so that it does not fry your board, when power supplies start to go, this behavior can start to happen.

Also if it happens when the system goes down look at the clock and right down the time it happened.

Then start the PC back up.

Right click on "My Computer"

Select "Manage"

Then expand "event Viewer" from "system tools" and view the system logs that correlate to the time you wrote down, paste the error text in here (if there is an error that correlates to the time)

This looks like more work then my cars maintenance

All this just to play my game!

yet thanks alot for the tips. I am going through each step you indicated and see what it is.

I keep my house cool though with the air conditioner on all year round. Mind you I live in Miami so it never gets cold here.

Graphics are well beyond the requirement for this simple game I am playing.

Okay well thanks for the great advice again

Hey np, I normally do not offer help online, but I like you . . . hehe.

Does the sun come through a window and hit the PC? Sometimes it can still be a heat issue even if the room is cool, also fans in the PC, air flow, and heat sinks all play a big roll. It can be perfectly chilly in a room and still too hot in the computer.

BTW what game is it?

My computer is in a slot that these computer desks come with. I pulled it out and looked in the back. I dusted it a bit, wiped it with a wet cloth.

The machine sounds fine and it is not exposed to sunlight at all. The houses temperature is always around 65 yo 70 all day long.

The game is Diablo 2. I thought I play this game first before deciding to buy Diablo 3.

It is fun and addicting, yet dissappointing when your computer takes a sudden coffee break on you.

Thanks for the help.

I mean it only happened once. So probably no biggie. I just have to repeat a level as a human barbarian who carries a 50 health potions and a mighty two handed axe

Gotcha.