Random restarts...

[C54]

My brother doesn't have a lot of luck with computers. Having blown up a graphics card, ram, processor, hard drive, CD Writer and PSU.

He currently has a:

A-Bit NF7
Barton 2500+
30 Gig hdd
512 Ram
3Com Netowk card
420 Watt PSU
ATI Radeon 9600

His problem is this. His computer keeps resetting itself at seemingly random intervals, and when it comes back it gives the oooh so helpful "Windows has just recovered from a serious error would you like to tell Microsoft" screen. This is most annoying as my internet runs through it.

Before this happened he regularly got a error hard drive error on boot up, and the only way to get pass it was to turn the power off at the PSU then start again.

Shortly before this happened, his old PSU blew up.

So i figure it's a hardware problem, but the only hardware test I know of is for RAM (Memtest86) which finds no errors.

So I'm stummped. For the sake of my continued net use....help.

 

[marc91215]

sounds like you have a heat issue, check your temps

 

[BadBigBen]

Hola,

what type of PSU is he/you using? please state wattage and name of PSU... as I'm to believe that the PSU may not be up to par with the demand on it, thus cutting out the mobo etc...

I would suggest at least a namebrand (yes they are more expensive but more reliable in the long run) at 400+ wattage...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[jurgen36]

I do not know about your problem. Have the same on one of my machines. Intermittently shuts completely down and reboots. It is not the PSU, changed it to a 850 watt unit, does the same. Changed memory from other units, still the same, changed drives, changed MOBO, cpu, etc. No difference at all. It all started after I foolishly installed the MS upgrades. System here.
CPU P4 3.4 EE
Mem. Kingston pc3500 2 sticks of 512 Mbytes
MOBO Intel D875PBZ
PSU 850Watt name brand with 4 fans
Cpu running cool at 47C
Drives 260 Gbyte Maxtors IDE X 2
Drives 220 Gbyte Maxtors SATA Raid 0

Maybe; I made a mistake by cloning my drives across to the spares. No virus or trojans are on the system. Will try to reinstall all from scratch. Other identical system has no problems. Only difference is I did not install MS upgrades.
OS here XP Pro.
Will advise. Regards


Jurgen

 

[C54]

If ya pay close attention to the comp description, you'll see it's a 420 Watt (Hiper Power) Which though it's not the greatest make, should do the job....no?

Not temperature....funnily enough, it appears ot be the Acatel USB modem that's been plugged in for the last 2 years or so.

I come to this conclusion as out of annoyance I put the modem on my comp, his stopped crashing, and mine did it twice. Updated the drivers, and neither of us have crashed in atleast a day *touch wood*

Thanks for the advice though.

 

[BadBigBen]

Have reread your Posting and it only stated the 420w PSU (not model)... but nevertheless, glad you found the culprit (even if you didn't include it in your specs of the PC)...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[C54]

Just re-read it my self, could have sworn I put the make, ahh well.

And the modem was overlooked cos it's been there for so damn long, I forgot all about it

 

[BadBigBen]

don't worry, happens to the best of us once in a while...

still a big smily for finding the prob...


Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...

 

[paparazi]

Had a guy bring one of our PC's back 5 times before discovering it was his scanner (that he didn't bring) that was causing his reboot problems.
He ended up with a completely new tower and when he reported the same fault we new it couldn't be our hardware.
Of course it was an intermittant fault as well which didn't help.
Martin

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