Avast restarts my new PC with XP Pro service pack 3, Asus mobo

[wvrick1958]

I hope this can save someone the problems I've had over the past three weeks. I built my #15 PC, I have never had a problem with them. I finished my Asus P5QL Pro and Q6600 PC, after I started installing software, after the OS and drivers, the first thing I install is Firewall and Anti-Virus. Everytime I used a web browser or lanched a game it restarted, no BSOD just restart. I called tech support and they said it sounded like a memory (RAM) problem or could be the memory handling hardware on the motherboard (mobo). Since I had 4Gb ( 4 x 1Gb sticks ) I pulled all but one and tested by starting my new PC, then swapped that stick for another to test all. I found one stick would not even start XP. But all single sticks restarted with the same problem. I contacted tech support with what I found. They said both mobo and ram were bad. I returned them, waiting on RMA's, UPS to run it to and from, Ended up having to take a refund from being out of stock, and waiting on fund transfers back to my bank account. I got my New P5Q Pro and RAM after three weeks. Put it together and the same thing happen again. There was no way I got another bad Mobo and RAM. I then started checking other problems like the power supply. Then software, first disabled the firewall, it still rashed, then the Avast anti-virus. It never crashed, I restarted the anti-virus and it crashed when I started almost any program. After three or four times of this off and on with the anti-virus. I uninstalled it, after downloading another AVG. I installed it and my problems are over. I really hope they get it fixed because I really like their software. If the problem gets fixed, I'd love to go back to Avast.. Been using it forever and would have never changed if this had not happen.

[Vladimyr]

I've never seen a problem like this but then I've rarely used other than Windows Firewall with XP so my firewall experience is limited. 
Which Firewall is installed?

Did you try unchecking "Automatically Restart" in Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings, to stop the restarts?

[wvrick1958]

Zone Alarm, It was like hitting the restart icon, no saving setting or anything, just log in to a web site, then black screen, restart...just like hitting the reset switch on the case of the pc. I could turn avast off, it was fine then turn it on and it was like cocking the hammer on a gun. it was automatic. I really want to go back to avast, I told my friend at work, I would gadly buy the retail version, buy I was afraid it would crash.

[Vladimyr]

I know how frustrating restarts are, but did you try unchecking "Automatically Restart" in Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings?

Did it still restart with avast! installed but ZoneAlarm (exactly which ZA product?) completely uninstalled, not just disabled?

[TedNelly]

Zone Alarm Privacy setting have caused problems with Avast for a long time now.
Try turning ZA privacy settings Off first to see if this helps with the problem.

If this helps try ZA Privacy setting at medium rather than High.

HTH

[wvrick1958]

no, i never turned off auto-restarts. What would cos this to happen? I had zone alarm turned off when I was trying avast. it restarted xp with it on, but not with avast off.

also I just checked and seen that there is a log? where could I fine it?  I would love to fix the problem and go back to avast.

[Vladimyr]

General (very) explanation.
Auto-restarts most commonly happen when the PSU is unable to deliver sufficient stable power to the other hardware, because of a fault or incompatibility between one or more hardware components or the inadequacy of the PSU itself.
Software might trigger this sort of behaviour by making specific demands on a system, e.g. (off the top of my head) video drivers caching/buffering in system RAM or scanning "empty" RAM for polymorphic code might reveal a fault or incompatibility that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Anyway, the restart makes it very hard to "see' what's happening. I.e. a BSOD may give you more info.

The Windows "Event Viewer" is at:  Control Panel > System > Administrative Tools> Event Viewer

[wvrick1958]

I use the PC for mostly gaming, and it never crashed during a game with the replacement mobo and ram. But by turning the anti-virus off and on, with it on it reset using other than games, every web accessing apps. restarted it with anti-virus on. Since I removed avast and started using another free anti-virus is has not restarted.

I found the error codes but tryed to search them, it this helps.

Event Type:   Error
Event Source:   System Error
Event Category:   (102)
Event ID:   1003
Date:      12/23/2008
Time:      5:46:07 PM
User:      N/A
Computer:   USER
Description:
Error code 100000c5, parameter1 00000004, parameter2 00000002, parameter3 00000001, parameter4 8054bfd2.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 45   System E
0008: 72 72 6f 72 20 20 45 72   rror  Er
0010: 72 6f 72 20 63 6f 64 65   ror code
0018: 20 31 30 30 30 30 30 63    100000c
0020: 35 20 20 50 61 72 61 6d   5  Param
0028: 65 74 65 72 73 20 30 30   eters 00
0030: 30 30 30 30 30 34 2c 20   000004,
0038: 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 32   00000002
0040: 2c 20 30 30 30 30 30 30   , 000000
0048: 30 31 2c 20 38 30 35 34   01, 8054
0050: 62 66 64 32               bfd2   

[Vladimyr]

What we know.
There's conflict when avast!, XP SP3 and possibly ZoneAlarm or other software (if you haven't completely uninstalled it rather than turning it off) co-exist on the particular hardware you've got.

Speculation.
Something in the BIOS is not fully compatible with XP SP3? When avast! calls a particular procedure or command, the BIOS triggers Event ID 1003 and a hardware reset results.

Is there an upgraded BIOS for this board?
Anyone else having the same problem?
Anyone had the same problem with the same hardware but with Vista?

[wvrick1958]

I have the latest bios updated, and also a guy I work with had the same problem in vista but he got the BSOD