Random unexpected restarts!

[Mistrette1985]

I've got another issue with my Pavilion 570-p017c: unexpected restarts. It seems that after upgrading my BIOS version to F.25, the PC suddenly would go black at random. To make more matters worse, I can't even restore the BIOS back to the previous version which is F.24. Is there any other way for me to fix this situation?

[mdklassen]

Just in case that the BIOS-update was *NOT* the cause of the symptoms:

* turn off your computer,

* turn on your computer, and immediately press the ESC key,

* press the listed key to launch the HP Hardware Diagnostics,

* run the tests on the motherboard and the disk-drive, and the "short" (a few minutes) test of the RAM.

Any "fail" reports?

When was the most-recent time that a technician opened-up your computer, and cleaned-out all the accumulated dust?

Too much dust can cause overheating, which leads to other symptoms.

[Mistrette1985]

Sorry, but I meant to say the Intel ME Firmware. I do believe that is the source of the problem.

[mdklassen]

>  I meant to say the Intel ME Firmware. I do believe that is the source of the problem.

I disagree with your assessment. 

That firmware is active only when a remote computer-administrator is in full control of your computer, "managing" it, as one computer living in a "corporate network" environment -- not your "home-computer" setup.

So, I doubt that it is the cause of your symptoms.

[Mistrette1985]

Well, if it's not the Intel ME, then the REAL cause of this, I believe, is an overheated CPU. Is there a way to replace it?

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

---

@Mistrette1985 wrote:

Well, if it's not the Intel ME, then the REAL cause of this, I believe, is an overheated CPU. Is there a way to replace it?

---

Google-search for "download free SPECCY".

Download, install, and run it, to report:

* temperature of the processor,

* temperature of the motherboard,

* temperature of the disk-drive,

* speed of fan(s)

Run it after powering-on the computer, to get "baseline" results.

Run it every 15 minutes, and record the current values.

You may not need to replace the processor.

For a desktop computer, there is "heat-paste" between the processor and the radiator/fan on top of the processor.

Remove the radiator/fan, and remove all the existing heat-paste from it and from the processor, and put down a fresh layer.  The job of the heat-paste is to transmit heat from the processor to the radiator, for dispersal.

[Mistrette1985]

That could be the way! I’ll be working on it right away. Thanks for all your assistance!