Unusual rebooting issue

[wolluf]

5-6 year old machine (AMD 1GHz, Gigabyte GA-7IXE4 mobo, 256MH RAM, 40GB drive, DVD ROM, CD writer, modem, soundcard, 64MB Hercules graphics, XP Pro). Had a blue screen unmountable drive issue - fixed that, scanned it for viruses/spyware (few low grade spywares found), applied all o/s XP SP/patches (there were none installed). Ran ok. Then just about to close it down to return it to customer, and it rebooted. Some experimentation showed if machine booted to welcome screen, and wasn't logged on, it would spontaneously reboot after a 'while' (whether XP was set to restart on error or not). If machine was logged on, it did NOT reboot. I've disconnected/swapped out/tested everything I could (not mobo or cpu) - same. One other thing - when xp shuts down, the machine's fans keep running (have to press the power button to stop this). Suspected power button/switch might be the problem - haven't dismantled it, as can't see why being logged on or not would make a difference.

Machine is now back with customer - they don't leave it 'not logged on' - so they're happy - but would appreciate anybody having ideas about this (in case it starts happening when logged on & I get a call...)

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[electronicsfreak]

Heres an idea its the only one I could think of after reading that a few times and thinking and pretty much eliminating every other idea I had. I can clearly see why you posted this for id probally be as confused as you lol. Anyways this is the only idea I can think of it might not be it but its worth a shot if it happens again. Bios contain hibernation things in them. None cause restarting that I know of but the only thing I can figure out is something of that nature is causing the computer to restart and the reason its not doing it when you log into windows is windows over rides it. This might not make to much sense but its about the only thing I can figure out that might cause a problem. So if nothing else find the newest version of the bios and flash it and see if that fixes the problem.

 

[KevinADC]

Only thing I can think is to check for any power settings or power setting configurations in the BIOS and the OS. Strange problem though.

 

[KevinADC]

ahh, e-freak posted while I was pondering.

 

[wolluf]

Thanks for replies - I should have mentioned, already flashed bios to latest version and have tried changing the power settings in the bios.

 

[BadBigBen]

This could be a problem related to the BIOS not fullfilling the APIC standard completely?

or better said, the APIC implementation in the BIOS is flaky... and should be reverted to APM and during install when it asks for the RAID drivers (Hit F6 message) then hitting F5 instead...

other than that, BIG ???

Ben

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

 

[electronicsfreak]

Something else if you havent tried, give sfc a shot. Might have a corrupted system file.

 

[xElyriax]

Ok, I have no answers per se, but I had something similar happen, maybe my situation will give you insight:
was replacing a modem, system was unplugged and power-cycled. Put my hand on the metal part of the modem (where it gets screwed onto the tower) and the machine booted up. Shut itself back down after coming to the pw screen, after that fan would not shut down until I hit the power button and would not restart at all.
Due to circumstances, I assumed it was a power issue, maybe your is the same?

-Elyria

 

[KevinADC]

Let me see if I understand what you said:

system was unplugged and power-cycled. Put my hand on the metal part of the modem (where it gets screwed onto the tower) and the machine booted up

The computer was not plugged in, but it booted up and stayed on? I could see maybe a blip of power being stored in a capacitor, but enough to boot the computer?

 

[xElyriax]

Yes Kevin, you understand right. The only theory I have ever heard that even makes a modicum of sense is that my body over-produces iron, and even then it still seems pretty freakish. I have also never been able to recreate the incident. Had two others not seen the whole thing take place I would be pretty positive that I was nuts.

-Elyria