WinXP "shut down" reboots instead

[funcrew]

AMD2400 AthlonXP
512MB PC2700 RAM
Windows XP Home

Problem started a month after building this PC: When shutting down from the start menu or task manager, "turn off computer" reboots instead. Neither of my front panel power/restart buttons appear to be stuck. When machine was first built, it powered down fine.

There is an error msg upon booting up: "could not find file 'c:\windows\system32\tools\delfolders.exe'. Don't know if this is related.

Any ideas? Further info needed from me?

Thanks!

[bazcor]

Frequently there is a fault during shutdown which would result in a BSOD which would at least give you something to work with. If you right click 'my computer', click 'properties', 'advanced startup and recovery 'settings' then untick 'automatically restart' the blue screen error may appear.

That's if you haven't already changed this ridiculous default setting!

good luck ... Barry

[funcrew]

I did uncheck "automatic restart" per Barry's suggestion - no improvement, however I did not have the blue screen of death before or after. The unit simply acts as though I clicked the "restart" option when I actually click the "turn off" option. I have reset the entire BIOS to default, which did not help.

Any other ideas?