When I put a CD or DVD in the drive sometimes the computer restarts.
*It is inconsistent when it happens.
*It has done it with disks I have burned, both single write and re-write ones, and with store bought disks, even blank disks.

*It will do it if there is a disk in the drive when I try booting up the computer in the morning and when the computer has been on for a while.

*Most of the time it happens when I put a disk in, but has happened after 5 minutes or more, but when I'm accessing the disk.

*It doesn't always do it to the same disks. The same disk might not work today but will work tomorrow.

This I have tried:

1.      Installing a new drive

2.      Reinstalling Windows (I have XP and the latest service pack)

3.      Changing the battery (it’s a desktop. I’m referring to the little round one inside. It was dead)

4.      Scanned for viruses

5.      Changed the port the drive was plugged into

6.      Swearing, begging and bribing

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I’m at my wits end.

Thanks

power supply

you may be getting a voltage drop with the CD...

OR heat...is everythin clean inside..the CPU fan working...clean heatsink and all that?

Have you tried the repair solution that the Russian in Armageddon used?  -bashing it with a spanner?
DPH

BFH sometimes helps too

In control panel off the start menu is administration tools, Check the event log and see if the system caught anything.  I like the suggestion on the power supply fault.  It may also be a drive error if the cd drive is the same address as your boot drive. AS soon as your cd starts your boot drive goes offline . Check your drive numbers

Seriously, sounds like the power supply to me. May be a faulty cable too.

yeah...I'd go with the Power supply. Possibly it's shorting the system when accessed. The 'little battery' is for your settings (date, time, BIOS changes) to those who don't know. They go usually in a coupla years...

Without having read the above replies, my first thought was "over heating."  My old computer used to do that.

It could be power supply linked to overheating. They run less efficiently the hotter they become.

I too would go with checking the power supply.  Seems like they just don't last like they used to anymore.

Oh yeah, and be SUPER careful when you change it out....I had a loose connection last time I did it and fried my video card in the process...there was electricity popping and smoke...the whole shebang.

I had the same thing-- power supply - you need a new one.

For troubleshooting, I would agree with the other posts.  If you have spare parts. start swapping them out one at a time and see if the problem persist.  Start with the CD/DVD just in case the unit is malfunctioning.  Next borrow a power supply from someone and swap that. 

In most case, fan failure will be detected by the motherboard and you will not be allowed to boot beyond your bios.  As a last resort, check your RAM.  I had an issue with one computer where it would shut down without warning and in order to reboot, I had to unplug and replug the power supply.  After changing video card, fans,  power supply from spare parts and eventually resurrecting a spare motherboard into a new case, did I find out that 1 DDR chip had gone bad.  That took me a better part of a year to figure out.

Thanks. I'll check it out. I may have a spare power supply around. Or I can barrow the one from my son's computer. It's similar to mine.