PC Auto Reboots

[pbunyon]

Troubleshooting PIII, random reboots. Ran AVG in safe mode and nothing was detected. Realized fan was not working on top of processor, replaced. Reboots continue to occure, could there have been damage to the memory that would cause this? I've heard a utility memcheck will do an in depth analysis and once in the past this was the case for reboots. New memory solved this issue in the past but that was after a new motherboard, power supply, etc... Any help would be appreciated. No responses to any FAQ's regarding reboots or other forum searches. :>(
Noboby wants to touch these? Can't believe that, gotta be a guru out there?

Paul

 

[DragonQ0105]

I had random reboots. Turned out to be the Processor which was damaged by excess heat.

Did you replace the CPU or just the Fan on it? If you haven't replaced the actual CPU, I'd say that's your problem.

 

[garebo]

Random reboots could be result of power supply failing as well.
Would you have an extra power supply to try out?
Or, you can use a multimeter and a guide that can be googled to check out the varying power lines on your existing power supply.

You didnt mentioning installing anything, but just in case. The pci combo usb\firewire with ALI chipset is causing all kinds of probs, caused my computer to keep rebooting. Computer fine when ALI chipset pci card removed!


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Either way, you should give us complete details of what you have in your computer, and what parts or software recently installed, so we can make better choices on how to help you.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[pbunyon]

Garebo,
Would this be ALL the information needed ?
Asus Socket 370 Apollo Pro133T Chipset, PIII 667 mhz, 512mb RAM, 40 gig HDD, 64 mb ATI, Sound Blaster, 10/100 Lan, USB 2.0, CD/RW, XP Professional.
No new software or hardware, attempting to load Norton's Internet Security via web when I encountered this. Referenced registry errors, ran regedit after AVG but won't stay on long enough to complete. Would a system utility identify with parameters that would ID processor, memory, or power supply problems? Otherwise I'll purchase at the cheapest end and work my way up.
Thanks for the quick response and assistance.

Paul

 

[wolluf]

Paul - agree with Dragon - if cpu fan wasn't working, likely cpu is heat damaged & causing your problem.

 

[stuuked]

could see if bios has a cpu monitor to view temp of processor. just a thought, or get a bios program for windows and monitor temp at all times.

 

[garebo]

You're welcome, people here help me out too!

Yes, thats enuf system info at this time.

As for the cpu being cooked, i doubt it when its only a P3 667. I could be wrong here but i doubt it, lots of 667 ran with big heat sinks and no fan. I think i still have an old 733 with no fan, but i could be wrong. I just dont think it cooked your cpu.

Can you run system restore and go back to before you tried the Norton inet security? That might be a help, not sure what happened there but obviously you ran into problems and if the rebooting started after that, then it looks suspicious to me. So see if you can do a system restore, i would have done that right away if the Norton didnt work at the time.

"Would a system utility identify with parameters that would ID processor, memory, or power supply problems? Otherwise I'll purchase at the cheapest end and work my way up."

You can run progs that will identify your processor, memory and other system parameters, but that same prog will not let you know about power supply probs. You need a digital multimeter for that (not analog- analog has the needle or pointer, digital is numbers on screen)

Not sure what you mean about purchasing at the cheapest end and work up? YOu mean as far as buying new parts?
I was hoping you could borrow a power supply and try that on your machine in place of the power supply you have.

I would suggest you go out and get a multimeter as they are good for now but future use, you can check all the rails on your power supply now and future, you can check power to mobo, you can also check the eletrical socket your computer is plugged into and do other house and auto electrical with it as well, so its a good investment, not too hard to learn.
For power supply, i can show you a good tutorial that you can google.



Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

What stuuked said: check your bios and see if there is a prog there that can tell you the temp your cpu is at.
Also, you could take the cpu off and put new thermal paste on it, just enough to cover the silver on the cpu and thats all.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[pbunyon]

Great stuff, friends computer and now I learn location prior to my arrival was next to baseboard heater. Restore point was reached after two attemts (due to reboots). All is good now as machine has ran for several hours with no reboot.
He will in any event appreciate the new fan, 1 Ghz processor upgrade and 512mb stick of memory we ordered.
Garebo: Not sure what you mean about purchasing at the cheapest end and work up? YOu mean as far as buying new parts? yes.
I have a digital multimeter but am not very schooled with and have no practical experience. My reluctance to electricity and how it works and opportunity has not allow my advancement in this arena. Thanks for all... Mahalo

Paul

 

[garebo]

I can understand but you can google a very good tutorial, with pictures, and learn how to use your digital multimeter. Its SO useful when troubleshooting power supplies and other electrical, even the house.
Techrepublic has a good tutorial but you can google a ton of them, most all real easy and good.
With tutorials you dont really have to know how it works, it just shows you which wires are ground, and which wires are 12 volt and so on, and it shows how to test them, real easy.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[pbunyon]

Garebo,
I returned to find my friend had reverted my restore point to a date closer to the suspect date, not good, can't load windows, errors now pointing to shell32.dll & msgina.dll. Boot floppy won't allow viewing file structure so I couldn't copy over these from known good system. When inacting a repair and or fresh install with XP disk I get the following: PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA and ends with memory locations for setupdd.sys-Address F764B1F1 at F7614000. I have followed the blue screen instructions except for removing his newly added wireless keyboard & mouse. I'll go back to his location with additional keyboard/mouse replacement. Seems the memory location is being utilized and this results in the error message. Ideas?

Paul

 

[garebo]

Well, perhaps you can go back or forward to that same restore point where all is well?


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[pbunyon]

Nope, the dll error messages appear to keep xp from even loading at all now :>(


Paul