Computer shuts down and restarts

[Ddpalmer]

Hi I have  Toshiba Satellite A25-S279 runs windows xp.  When I turn it on it only stays on for about a minute before shutting down and restarting itself, never  letting me get into the computer itself. I will do this over and over and over again until I stop it. I've tried safe mode, I've tried configuring to an earlier date, nothing seems to work. I tried system restore and it opens it up and when I confirm I want o restore the system "WRONG MACHINE" appears n the screen. Don't really know what to do here. I'm not the computer savvy so if you guys could dumb it down for me that would be awesome.


THANKS,   
DANIELLE

[sierobin]

Probably your processor heatsink. How old is the laptop?

If it's significantly old (I'd say 2+ years or so) then the heatsink could be loaded with dust. If the heatsink isn't dissipating enough heat it will heat up and shut off. The only way to fix this would be to open the laptop and use some compressed air to clean out the heatsink.

I've had this happen on more than one occasion to different PCs.