rebooting at random

[Guest]

Hi,

I've read most of the existing threads on this problem and have followed the
good advice, but not sure where to go from here.

Here is where i'm at now:

1) Turned off "automatically restart" under system failures in the advanced
properties in My Computer

- I get no errors, PC keeps rebooting like it did before.

2) I looked through the Event Viewer and no errors listed near the times
that it reboots.

3) Scanned the HD for errors
- None

4) Found the MS RAM tester at the MS site that was mentioned in another
thread.

5) PC wouldn't boot from floppy so i went into BIOS. Oddly, the BIOS was set
to read the CD first, then HD, then CD again! So i set it to read floppy
first, then HD, then CD.

6) I noticed the CPU temp was 90 degrees, which happens to be the limit for
an alert, but BIOS has the temp alerts disabled. I cleaned the fan and vents,
but didn't help and they weren't very dirty, but the room itself is quite
warm (~90 degrees)

7) Every single time i reboot with the RAM tester on the floppy, it seems to
start the RAM test, but then the PC shuts right down with no reboot, it just
dies.

I'd like your opinions. I assume the RAM should be replaced? Any other
reason the RAM tester causes the PC to shut down?

My PC is about 2 years old now:

2.4 Ghz P4
512 RAM (1 stick)
64 Mb dual screen VCard
2 HD, 60GB each

I had it on a APC UPS until lately, but took it off to see if that might
have been the cause.

Any more clues , advice or suggestions will be apreciated

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've read most of the existing threads on this problem and have
followed the good advice, but not sure where to go from here.

Here is where i'm at now:

1) Turned off "automatically restart" under system failures in the
advanced properties in My Computer

- I get no errors, PC keeps rebooting like it did before.

2) I looked through the Event Viewer and no errors listed near the
times that it reboots.

3) Scanned the HD for errors
- None

4) Found the MS RAM tester at the MS site that was mentioned in
another thread.

5) PC wouldn't boot from floppy so i went into BIOS. Oddly, the BIOS
was set to read the CD first, then HD, then CD again! So i set it to
read floppy first, then HD, then CD.

6) I noticed the CPU temp was 90 degrees, which happens to be the
limit for an alert, but BIOS has the temp alerts disabled. I cleaned
the fan and vents, but didn't help and they weren't very dirty, but
the room itself is quite warm (~90 degrees)

7) Every single time i reboot with the RAM tester on the floppy, it
seems to start the RAM test, but then the PC shuts right down with no
reboot, it just dies.

I'd like your opinions. I assume the RAM should be replaced? Any other
reason the RAM tester causes the PC to shut down?

My PC is about 2 years old now:

2.4 Ghz P4
512 RAM (1 stick)
64 Mb dual screen VCard
2 HD, 60GB each

I had it on a APC UPS until lately, but took it off to see if that
might have been the cause.

Any more clues , advice or suggestions will be apreciated

The room temp is ~90 degrees?
Buy an inexpensive box fan.. Open the computer case, place the fan so it
blows into the computer case.

 

[Malke]

The room temp is ~90 degrees?
Buy an inexpensive box fan.. Open the computer case, place the fan so
it blows into the computer case.

I think I'd do some RAM swapping and possibly change out the power
supply. Make one change at a time, testing after each change.

Malke

 

[Guest]

The room temp is ~90 degrees?
Buy an inexpensive box fan.. Open the computer case, place the fan so it
blows into the computer case.

Thanks!

Yes, it is quite warm in there right now, but the PC also reboots at night
when it's around 70 degrees as well.

 

[jonah]

On Mon, 1 Aug 2005 15:15:01 -0700, "Greg"


snip

6) I noticed the CPU temp was 90 degrees, which happens to be the limit for
an alert, but BIOS has the temp alerts disabled. I cleaned the fan and vents,
but didn't help and they weren't very dirty, but the room itself is quite
warm (~90 degrees)

7) Every single time i reboot with the RAM tester on the floppy, it seems to
start the RAM test, but then the PC shuts right down with no reboot, it just
dies.

I'd like your opinions. I assume the RAM should be replaced? Any other
reason the RAM tester causes the PC to shut down?

My PC is about 2 years old now:

2.4 Ghz P4
512 RAM (1 stick)
64 Mb dual screen VCard
2 HD, 60GB each

I had it on a APC UPS until lately, but took it off to see if that might
have been the cause.

Any more clues , advice or suggestions will be apreciated

I would be very suspicious of the PSU breaking down under load. Taking
it off the UPS don't actually prove anything - ecxept its not the UPS
it does not mean your PSU is OK.

Cooling and RAM are issues that may or may not need fixing, 90 degrees
is pretty hot but I think you should start with making sure you have a
good PSU and work from there.

Jonah

 

[D.Currie]

Hi,

I've read most of the existing threads on this problem and have followed
the
good advice, but not sure where to go from here.

Here is where i'm at now:

1) Turned off "automatically restart" under system failures in the
advanced
properties in My Computer

- I get no errors, PC keeps rebooting like it did before.

2) I looked through the Event Viewer and no errors listed near the times
that it reboots.

3) Scanned the HD for errors
- None

4) Found the MS RAM tester at the MS site that was mentioned in another
thread.

5) PC wouldn't boot from floppy so i went into BIOS. Oddly, the BIOS was
set
to read the CD first, then HD, then CD again! So i set it to read floppy
first, then HD, then CD.

6) I noticed the CPU temp was 90 degrees, which happens to be the limit
for
an alert, but BIOS has the temp alerts disabled. I cleaned the fan and
vents,
but didn't help and they weren't very dirty, but the room itself is quite
warm (~90 degrees)

7) Every single time i reboot with the RAM tester on the floppy, it seems
to
start the RAM test, but then the PC shuts right down with no reboot, it
just
dies.

I'd like your opinions. I assume the RAM should be replaced? Any other
reason the RAM tester causes the PC to shut down?

My PC is about 2 years old now:

2.4 Ghz P4
512 RAM (1 stick)
64 Mb dual screen VCard
2 HD, 60GB each

I had it on a APC UPS until lately, but took it off to see if that might
have been the cause.

Any more clues , advice or suggestions will be apreciated

Check that CPU temp again. It's set for a warning at 90 C; it's not running
at 90F or anywhere near your room temp, you're close to 200 F. It's
overheating.

 

[Guest]

Check that CPU temp again. It's set for a warning at 90 C; it's not running
at 90F or anywhere near your room temp, you're close to 200 F. It's
overheating.

Yes, of course your right, i just went into BIOS again and the CPU is at
90C, and my room is about 27C. I obviously got the 2 mixed up. That 90C is at
the top of the warning level, so yes, it looks like it's overheating.

I noticed in the BIOS it lists a "system" fan as well as the CPU fan, and it
shows the RPM's of the system fan is 0. The fan on the back is running fine,
so i'm not sure what the system fan is.

My motherboard is a fairly new 8X AGP, and the fans, vents and heat fins are
clean, i don't overclock, so i'm not sure why it's overheating. Any ideas?

Thank you everyone

 

[NotMe]

The system fan may or may not be plugged into the right power port on the
motherboard; and/or it may not have a built in RPM indicator.
If that is the case, it won't report speed in BIOS no matter what.
You are sure the CPU fan is spinning? Is it at full speed?
90° for a CPU is awfully hot; even with my room at 95°F my CPU is seldom
hotter than 50-60°C.
I have my CPU overheat alarm set at 65°C and shutdown at 72°C.

--
A Professional Amatuer...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!

Yes, of course your right, i just went into BIOS again and the CPU is at
90C, and my room is about 27C. I obviously got the 2 mixed up. That 90C is
at
the top of the warning level, so yes, it looks like it's overheating.

 

[Guest]

Yes, i'm positive the CPU fan is spinning, as i have the side off my PC for
now, and the power box fan and the box fan are also on.

The BIOS says the CPU fan is at 3000RPM, but i do not know if that is a
normal speed or a slow speed.

 

[Guest]

I am having a similar problem of random shutdowns that I think might be
driver based, but yours is sounding more like hardware.
First off if your CPU is running at 90°C that is a HUGE warning sign, like
the others mentioned that is not right, getting above 70°C is usually
considered dangerous. You may have to pull off your fan and check to see if
you have any thermal paste left under there to make a proper contact.
Memory. I noticed you said you had 512 memory in one stick. Vista doesnt run
well under a gig so point 1. Point 2 is if the memory test keeps failing like
you mention it could very well be your memory.

I'd advise 1st and foremost see about fixing the heat problem on your CPU.
Second see if you can swap out the memory, maybe borrow some or buy some and
see if it works (return it if its not the problem)
Lastly it could be drivers, see if the manufacturer of your computer or the
manufacturer of its components have vista drivers.