P4C800 Random System Crashes

[M. Studer]

Hi all.

About 2 weeks ago my system started to crash randomly out of the blue.
(Before it was without any problems for about 6 month!)
Sometimes the blasted thing crashes during windows-boot, during a game,
even during shutdown etc.
I mean that there is in each case a BOD but the system is resetting to
fast to read the messages.

My system:
- ASUS P4C800 (BIOS Version 1015)
- 1GB Corsair DDR-Dimms (2x512MB) PC-3200 CL2
- Pentium IV 3GHz/800MHz
- Seagate Barracuda SATA 120GB
- Radeon 9800
- Chieftec PSU 360W (2 fans)

What I have already tested:

- Removed the RAM and used each module separately
- Installed both RAMs in Slot DIMM A2 and DIMM B2
- Manual DRAM Timing 2.5 3 3 6
- Disabled all on board devices: LAN, USB, AUDIO.
- changed the system speed to Normal (from Turbo)
- unplugged and plugged in all the cables
- reassembled the computer outside the case

The voltages and the temperatures seem to be OK (in the BIOS Hardware
Monitor section). CPU: ~41°C

I also tried to install a new copy of WinXP on an old Maxtor 40GB
harddisk to make sure it's not the S-ATA Controller or the Seagate disk
who causes the problems.
But the computer also crashed during Windows setup! I never managed to
install a complete copy of WinXP.

I noticed that the North Bridge Cooler is getting quite hot. And also
the RAM coolers.

To be done:
- deactivate hyper threading
- use of a different power supply
- ......


So I'm still lost!
I'm getting the feeling that the motherboard is maybe damaged. But why
should this happen in a closed case after 6 month?

Any ideas what I could do?

TIA

Matthias

 

[M. Studer]

sorry guys. I picked the wrong newsgroup.

but if you have a proposition - let me know anyway.

Matthias

 

[Roy Coorne]

Hi all.

Hi, Matthias,

About 2 weeks ago my system started to crash randomly out of the blue.
(Before it was without any problems for about 6 month!)
Sometimes the blasted thing crashes during windows-boot, during a game,
even during shutdown etc.
I mean that there is in each case a BOD but the system is resetting to
fast to read the messages.

Start > Control Panel > System > System Properties > Advanced >
Startup and Recovery > Settings: DISable "Automatically restart"

Then there is a message on the BSOD which you may use to consult Dr
Google or do research in the MS Knowledge Base directly.


Roy

 

[Noozer]

About 2 weeks ago my system started to crash randomly out of the blue.
Check the bottom of the mainboard for a squashed solder blob under the CPU
retainer.

 

[M. Studer]

Hi Roy,

Start > Control Panel > System > System Properties > Advanced > Startup
and Recovery > Settings: DISable "Automatically restart"

Thank you for the advice. But I think the problem must be somewhere
deeper because I can't install a new copy of WindowsXP.

I tried it anyway but the BSOD just says nothing. No driver no reason
nothing!

Matthias

 

[Ed]

In my case it was bad memory (same as yours). Get a copy of Memtest86
and run it. http://www.memtest.org/