How to get Cyclone IV GX dev board to auto-load user design?

Thanks for responding Nial. Unfortunately I don't see any kind of watchdog on that board. Also, if I use the pushbuttons to force the board to load my design it loads and runs just fine without the weird reboot and my design doesn't connect to any external watchdog. It is only a power-up condition. I've been checking for a brownout condition on one of the power rails but so far those all look just fine too. It appears that I'll have to over-write the factory load to make it reliably power-up to my load.