How to stop the computer from rebooting by itself hourly or so?

Frequent automatic restarts are usually caused by hardware problems, driver issues, or serious system errors (blue/black screen stop code errors). Use these steps to narrow it down and reduce the hourly reboots:

1. Check for blue/black screen stop codes

• When the screen goes black and the PC restarts, watch for a brief message like “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart” with a stop code (for example, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT or PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA).
• If a stop code appears repeatedly, it indicates a recurring hardware/driver/software problem.

2. Do basic Windows 10/11 troubleshooting Follow the basic steps for repeated blue/black screens and unexpected restarts:

1. Remove any new hardware

• If any new hardware (RAM, GPU, USB devices, etc.) was added just before the issue started, shut down the PC, remove that hardware, and test if the restarts stop.

2. Start in Safe Mode

• If restarts make normal use difficult, start Windows in Safe Mode and see if it still reboots:
  • Windows 11: See Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 11.
  • Windows 10: See Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10.
• If the PC is stable in Safe Mode, the cause is likely a driver or third‑party software.

3. Check Device Manager for driver issues

• Right‑click Start > Device Manager.
• Look for devices with a yellow exclamation mark (!).
• For each such device:
  • Right‑click > Update driver.
  • If that doesn’t help, try disabling or uninstalling the device and see if stability improves.

4. Ensure enough free disk space

• Make sure the system drive (usually C:) has at least 10–15% free space so Windows can create swap files and logs.
• If the disk is nearly full, free space by removing large or unneeded files and apps.

5. Install the latest Windows updates

• Windows 11: Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates.
• Windows 10: Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Windows updates.
• Install all important and recommended updates, then monitor if the hourly restarts stop.

6. Use recovery options if needed

• If the problem persists, use Windows recovery options (such as System Restore or Reset this PC) to roll back to a stable state. See:
  • Recovery options in Windows 11
  • Recovery options in Windows 10

3. Check for hardware-related unexpected shutdowns If the PC simply goes black and restarts without a visible stop code, Windows logs Event ID 41 (“The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first”). This often points to hardware or power issues.

For repeated unexpected restarts:

1. Disable overclocking

• If CPU, GPU, or RAM overclocking is enabled in BIOS/UEFI or via tuning software, return everything to default/stock settings.
• Verify if the hourly restarts stop when running at standard speeds.

2. Check memory (RAM)

• Use a memory checker to verify RAM health and configuration.
• Ensure all memory modules run at the same speed and are correctly configured.

3. Check the power supply and power source

• Confirm the power supply has enough wattage for all installed components.
• If new hardware was added (more drives, newer GPU/CPU, extra RAM), the existing PSU might be underpowered.
• If there are power interruptions (loose power cable, unstable outlet, or power outages), consider using an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

4. Check for overheating

• Monitor internal temperatures (CPU, GPU, system) using hardware monitoring tools.
• Ensure fans are working, vents are not blocked, and dust is cleaned out.
• Overheating can cause sudden restarts without clear error messages.

5. Check Event Viewer for related events

• After a restart, open Event Viewer and look for:
  • System log: Event ID 41 (Kernel‑Power) and any events just before it.
  • Application log: any critical or error events around the same time.
• If Event ID 41 shows all zero values and there is an Event ID 46 from volmgr (“Crash dump initialization failed!”), check pagefile configuration as described in Event ID 46 when you start a computer.

4. If the problem persists

• If all the above checks (drivers, updates, hardware, overheating, power) do not resolve the issue, return the system to its default configuration (no overclocking, minimal hardware, default BIOS/UEFI settings) and test again.
• If the PC still restarts hourly even in this default state, the root cause is likely a failing hardware component (such as PSU, motherboard, CPU, or RAM), and hardware diagnostics or professional service may be required.

References:

• Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop code errors
• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"
• Startup issue with WIN 11 - Microsoft Q&A
• Recurring "LiveKernelEvent 1b8" hardware error (Watchdog Timeout) - Microsoft Q&A
• Trying to figure out this Windows Error Reporting 1001 event (Event Name: Bluescreen) - Microsoft Q&A
• Constant BSOD - Microsoft Q&A
• Plethora of issues relating to windows and possibly security. - Microsoft Q&A