I have a brand new computer with Windows XP. When I am not on the internet, I unplug the phone line from the back of the computer (Yes, I am stuck in the 90s with dialup). I am extremely careful about the virus software and the window’s updates – I always do them dutifully when prompted. I use the computer as an alarm clock, so it is on all night, but I turn it off during the day while I am at work.
Question #1 – Last night, in the middle of the night, I heard the computer shut down and then the startup music… so I am assuming that it spontaneously restarted. I know of no updates that needed installing. What would cause this to occur?
Question #2 – Occasionally, there is a buzzing or loud humming type noise which pulses slightly coming from the tower. This occurs even when the computer is idling, and happens about once every 2 or 3 minutes and lasts for about 15 seconds.
Thanks for your help!! 
The problem described sounds like both (or either) a virus ( I know you have been careful but…) or the motherboard.
Hopefully you have a warranty on it to pay for the diagnosis, but even if not, get thee to a computer repair center.
Oh!!!! And backup your data (files, pictures, music, etc. that you would prefer not to lose!
And do that regularly even when the computer works correctly.
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Question1: probably the power flactuated and the computer had to restart. If such case is repeated there’s something wronk with ur power supply.
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I’m not too sure about the first question. But I think the answer to your second question is that there is a fan that cools the processor in your computer. If the inside of your case has a lot of dust, it could make the fan a bit noisier. I use one of those little keyboard vacuums to clean the fan.
Take electrostatic discharge precautions when handling the inside of your computer case.
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Answer #1 – It could have been a quick power outage, you might not have noticed it if you were nodding off to sleep. Another possiblity is that if you have an external USB hard drive(s) connected to your computer for additional storage, they can sometime cause random re-booting (and sometime issues with boot-up afterwards) due to I/O conflicts. Those are two possible scenarios that could have caused your midnight reboot.
Answer #2 – This definately sounds like your computers Power Supply fan. Simply use a hose vacuum on the back of the fan and this should help. Another possibility though is that you left a CD-ROM in your computer and your virus software is accessing the drive to check it(sometimes CD’s can make a humming noise if not seated properly in the drive).
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