[FLCL]

about a month ago my computer just started to shut off at random. I will be working with a few programs open and all of a sudden it turns off, like a power outage would do.

I have had the computer since 2008, I built myself, has ran perfect with no problems until now.

I thought it may have been an overheating issue so I opened her up and did a much needed dust cleaning, used a whole bottle of duster, it was kind of bad, but ive seen worse. It gave me no problems for about a week, then it happened again.

I have been keeping an eye on the CPU temp which never goes above 34C.
I notice that I can play computer games all day with no problems, and have internet browsers, vent and iTunes all running and its good. then Ill switch to work mode and open photoshop, dreamweaver, internet, and thats when it seems to shut off, sometimes 1hr into it and sometimes 20 mins. I have also noticed that after it does it 2 times and I bring it back up it doesnt seem to do it anymore for that day.

my computer stats:

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 1MB Dual-Core Socket AM2 CPU

Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS 512MB PCI Express Video Card w/DVI TV

Hard Drive:
Seagate ST3500630NS 500GB SATA/300 7200RPM 16MB HDD

PSU:
A-Power Pure Black 580W 20+4-pin ATX PSU

Motherboard:
Biostar GF7025-M2 Socket AM2 mATX MB w/VID SND & LAN

Heatsink + Fan:
AMD Socket AM2/940/939/754 Heat Sink & Fan up to 3800+

Memory:
A-Data 2GB DDR2 RAM PC2-6400 800MHz 240-Pin DIMM Major/3rd (2x2GB Sticks)

**edit** Windows XP Pro

-------
Its hard for me to think its a software issue because I have always had those same programs installed since day 1 and they never gave me a problem.

I have run kaspersky, spybot, spyware killer, reg vacuum, in which some normal spyware has been removed but no virus detected or anything critical.

PSU maybe?
I did read somewhere that my RAM could have a bad cell on it, and when usage gets to that cell it shuts off the computer? idk

any thoughts?

Thanks in Advance.

[EvanDavis]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Have you checked the event viewer to see if anythi9ng shows up there ?

[muckshifter]

My first thought is PSU, even though you have a capable PSU in terms of juice I wouldn't rule it out.

If you suspect your RAM, there are a few "testing" programs you can throw at it ... XP is one of them

Is gonna be a problematic one to pinpoint.

[FLCL]

I checked the event viewer and I saw this warning (not error, warning) it was the last entry before the shutdown.

Source: Disk
Category: None
Event ID: 51
Type: Warning
Description: An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk1\D during a paging operation.

I followed it to the MS Knowledge base and it states:

Symbolic Name: IO_WARNING_PAGING_FAILURE
Message: An error was detected on device %1 during a paging operation

Explanation
An input/output (I/O) request to a memory-mapped file failed and the operation was retried.

User Action
If these events are logged regularly on a primary system drive, replace the device. Otherwise, no user action is required.


Still a bit unclear on what it means.... hard drive has a memory problem?? causes it to crash??

@muckshifter, do you know of any links you can post to give me instructions on how to test my RAM?

Thanks for your replies!!

[muckshifter]

Yes, a HD has memory of such, it's called "cache" but I've a suspect that the error may be referring to other problems.

IT may be the case, no harmful effects are experienced. For example, event ID 51 is logged when blank media such as CDR, CDRW, DVDR, and so on, is inserted into a writable drive while a USB device is plugged in. The system logs the event even though the disc is writable, and the USB device is still usable. In these particular cases, you can safely ignore the log entries, and no additional action is required.

Simply run a check disk (CHKDSK) to make sure you got no bad sectors or other crap.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

As for RAM testing, a popular one you can run MemTest or MS's own http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp


When you restart your system after one of these "crashes" do you get any error messages, such as "windows was not shut down properly" or any others?

Turn off reboot after a crash ...

To change the recovery settings to disable automatic rebooting:
1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box.
4. Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times.
5. Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.

(System Properties may also be opened using the WinKey+Pause key combination)

The most common cause of a fatal error or BSOD is a software or driver problem, and troubleshooting these can be tricky.

The mechanism for troubleshooting, however, is pretty much the same for any problem on a PC. The first thing to look at is what's changed, what new software program or driver have you added, usually just before the problem started. This sounds easy and it often is, but if it's something you've lived with for a while, you'll often have no idea what the proximate cause is. When you do, it's a lot easier. When you don't, you need to do a bit of research to find out if there is a specific cause for the particular error message you're getting (when you have one) or a known issue with certain programs or drivers that causes the behavior you're seeing.

... then Ill switch to work mode and open photoshop, dreamweaver, internet, and thats when it seems to shut off, sometimes 1hr into it and sometimes 20 mins. I have also noticed that after it does it 2 times and I bring it back up it doesnt seem to do it anymore for that day.

So, is they up-to-date?

I have used photoshop, once, and got hooked on Dreamweaver in my early forays into website building, never had a problem with DW ... what versions?

[FLCL]

Thanks for your informative reply Muckshifter, good stuff, im going to run a chkdsk, memtest and check out http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp when I get home tonight.

I have found it very odd that I DONT get any messages such as "windows was not shut down properly" or any others when I turn the cpu back on. I can usually figure out most problems when it gives me some kind of error but this is one of the oddest crashes I have experience because of the lack of info my computer gives me (actually no info for that matter).

I run CS3 suite. I do also have CS4 which I havent loaded yet, maybe Ill try and run that and see if my computer is stable, then that may pin point or rule out a software issue. Updates are installed.

I have a very strong graphic design background with ever growing knowledge of website coding, so DW is perfect for me, I have been using DW for quite some time now and I love it, even more so after adobe took over the rights from macromedia, never had a problem with it before so im weary to think that its the case, but you never know....

Thanks again, I will run the troubleshooting suggestions later after work and post back my results, I really appreciate the responses!

**edit** it does not auto reboot after the crash, I have to manually turn it on, which I also found odd.

[muckshifter]

... it does not auto reboot after the crash, I have to manually turn it on, which I also found odd.

Then I would have changed out the PSU first ... I do appreciate most people will not have a "spare" PSU laying around, however, as you so rightly point out, MS should have moaned at next reboot.

Good luck!

[Abarbarian]

Your running this cooler

Heatsink + Fan:
AMD Socket AM2/940/939/754 Heat Sink & Fan up to 3800+

with this cpu

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 1MB Dual-Core Socket AM2 CPU

I'd download CoreTemp and set it to run and log the reults to see if you are overheating.

[FLCL]

MemTest and CHKDSK came up with no problems.

Im going to order a new PSU and try that.

Thanks for all your suggestions and help with my problem!

[FLCL]

here is my upgrade, i think it should be sufficient:

Power Supply
A-Power AK 750W 20+4-pin ATX PSU w/SATA & PCIe (Black)

Video Card
BFG Tech GeForce 9500GT 1GB DDR2 PCI Express (PCIe) Dual DVI Video Card w/TV-Out & HDCP Support

Heat Sink & Fan
Deep Cool Socket 754/939/940/AM2 Aluminum Heat Sink & 3" Hydro Bearing Fan w/3-Pin Connector up to 5600+


Abarbarian pointed out my fan was up to 3600 and im running a 5600 chip, so upgrading the HS&Fan would be smart - Thanks man!

And since I was buying parts and spending a shipping fee I decided to throw in a new Video Card, lol. I cant wait.

$105 + $10 shipping, not bad at all.