random restart problems

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 03:42 PM

with my brothers computer it just randomly shuts down sometimes. If you leave it there and not do anything then its always ok, but then when you start to open a game or a few programs it will just restart. its been doing this for a week or so and i have no idea whats wrong with it.
do any of you know the steps i could take to fixing this?
thx in advance

aaronrkelly · 20-December-03, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chunckonuts


	with my brothers computer it just randomly shuts down sometimes. If you leave it there and not do anything then its always ok, but then when you start to open a game or a few programs it will just restart. its been doing this for a week or so and i have no idea whats wrong with it. do any of you know the steps i could take to fixing this? thx in advance

I would try running memcheck86 - sorry I dont have a link for you. Throw it on disk, restart PC and let it set and churn away overnight - this will eliminate the memory being a problem.

Next would be the power supply (actually this would be first but its harder to test). Not really sure how to test this, I just replaced mine when I had problems.....best money I spent in a long time.

jcarkeys · 20-December-03, 04:11 PM

Go to the control panel, system. Click the advanced tab, then startup and recovery and make sure automatically reset is disabled so you can get an error message for more info. Also, telling us what OS might help...

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 04:16 PM

it is windows xp on it, i ran the memtest already before and it did not have any problems, the psu is a generic 400watt that came with the case so i guess it could be that. but any other things to try before going out and spending money?

Jonny English · 20-December-03, 05:09 PM

What CPU is it? I'd check the CPU fan, if it's dying/running intermittently that could explain it. Any idea what your temps are?

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 06:17 PM

its a 2.2ghz celeron. the i been keeping an eye on but not to closly. when i check its running though. the temps in the bios always says around 30C using intel hsf

benjaminrhs666 · 20-December-03, 07:16 PM

Hmm, did anyone forget the possiblility of software problems???

I dunno if this virus is still out there, but it could be MS blaster... remember? that virus from long ago??, it also made computers randomly restart.... maybe this could be the problem.....

try getting a program to check your CPU core voltage, if the reading is unstable, then it's the PSU

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 08:34 PM

i checked the voltage and it seemed to be fine, 1.55v. i try to install software for virus checking and half way through it restarts

benjaminrhs666 · 20-December-03, 09:09 PM

there's a few voltage fore CPU, such as the 3.3v one

anyways, did you oc?? does it show a blue screen before it restarts?

was the Win XP a fresh install?? try getting the patches and the anti-MS blaster software from the microsoft website

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 09:24 PM

sometimes just flash, like at the top will be blue background with bold white text, sometimes that flashes just before the restart and re post. i do not have it oc'd at all and its not a fresh install of windows anymore, should i try doing that?

benjaminrhs666 · 20-December-03, 09:32 PM

hmm

for me, if I have a blue screen (a blue screen with white text, that flashes for about half a second before restarting) it means I OC too much.

It usually happens if I set the power too low for the CPU or RAM...
but you didn't OC...

I would suggest you try to backup your data then do a low level format with a clean re-install of windows.

BTW: before you do anything, how did this problem start? did you add any hardware to your comp?? or did it just start one day??? If you added some hardware, it could be compatiblity problem with mobo, if so, then update BIOS

All in all, I would recommend reinstalling windows, cause nothing beats a fresh install

Chunckonuts · 20-December-03, 10:27 PM

well, it first started resetting after my brother installed everquest. and since then its been like that, but ill reformat and re-install windows tomarrow and see how that goes, thx for your help

20-December-03, 03:42 PM		#1 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	random restart problems with my brothers computer it just randomly shuts down sometimes. If you leave it there and not do anything then its always ok, but then when you start to open a game or a few programs it will just restart. its been doing this for a week or so and i have no idea whats wrong with it. do any of you know the steps i could take to fixing this? thx in advance

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20-December-03, 04:11 PM		#3 (permalink)
jcarkeys Key Hoe	Go to the control panel, system. Click the advanced tab, then startup and recovery and make sure automatically reset is disabled so you can get an error message for more info. Also, telling us what OS might help...

20-December-03, 04:16 PM		#4 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	it is windows xp on it, i ran the memtest already before and it did not have any problems, the psu is a generic 400watt that came with the case so i guess it could be that. but any other things to try before going out and spending money?

20-December-03, 05:09 PM		#5 (permalink)
Jonny English Etiquette & English Gentleman	What CPU is it? I'd check the CPU fan, if it's dying/running intermittently that could explain it. Any idea what your temps are?

20-December-03, 06:17 PM		#6 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	its a 2.2ghz celeron. the i been keeping an eye on but not to closly. when i check its running though. the temps in the bios always says around 30C using intel hsf

20-December-03, 07:16 PM		#7 (permalink)
benjaminrhs666 Apex Advanced Techie	Hmm, did anyone forget the possiblility of software problems??? I dunno if this virus is still out there, but it could be MS blaster... remember? that virus from long ago??, it also made computers randomly restart.... maybe this could be the problem..... try getting a program to check your CPU core voltage, if the reading is unstable, then it's the PSU

20-December-03, 08:34 PM		#8 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	i checked the voltage and it seemed to be fine, 1.55v. i try to install software for virus checking and half way through it restarts

20-December-03, 09:09 PM		#9 (permalink)
benjaminrhs666 Apex Advanced Techie	there's a few voltage fore CPU, such as the 3.3v one anyways, did you oc?? does it show a blue screen before it restarts? was the Win XP a fresh install?? try getting the patches and the anti-MS blaster software from the microsoft website

20-December-03, 09:24 PM		#10 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	sometimes just flash, like at the top will be blue background with bold white text, sometimes that flashes just before the restart and re post. i do not have it oc'd at all and its not a fresh install of windows anymore, should i try doing that?

20-December-03, 09:32 PM		#11 (permalink)
benjaminrhs666 Apex Advanced Techie	hmm for me, if I have a blue screen (a blue screen with white text, that flashes for about half a second before restarting) it means I OC too much. It usually happens if I set the power too low for the CPU or RAM... but you didn't OC... I would suggest you try to backup your data then do a low level format with a clean re-install of windows. BTW: before you do anything, how did this problem start? did you add any hardware to your comp?? or did it just start one day??? If you added some hardware, it could be compatiblity problem with mobo, if so, then update BIOS All in all, I would recommend reinstalling windows, cause nothing beats a fresh install

20-December-03, 10:27 PM		#12 (permalink)
Chunckonuts Apex Master Tech Apprentice	well, it first started resetting after my brother installed everquest. and since then its been like that, but ill reformat and re-install windows tomarrow and see how that goes, thx for your help