Intermittent Pc Problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4

[christy2112]

Hi Folks

I have a Hp Pavilion 1540.uk Pc, 512mb Ram, 250gb Hd, Winxp sp2.

The machine has had a clean install of xpsp2 all windows updates and usual software, works somedays and other times it starts loads the bios screen then reboots. and then will start properly after 2 or 3 reboots.

I have tested all the hardware with Burnin Pro and Dr Hardware nothing is showing up any problems but the problem still persists.

Help me please this is drving me insane.

Cheers in anticipation of someone putting me out of my hardware hell.

Christy

 

[kestrel1]

Could be that there is something not seated correctly.
Take the lid off & make sure that your RAM modules are seated correctly, you could remove them & re-seat them. The same goes for all your expansion cards (video, sound, etc)

 

[patpatoshkoshk12]

In my experience it sounds like a failing power supply. Those HPs OEM supplies are pretty much minimal for running those computers and I've replaced a number of them. Aftermarket supplies are available for around $30 or so U.S.$

 

[cdogg]

Before you jump to replace any hardware, try the basics:

1) Detach all IDE/SATA drives that aren't needed to bootup into Windows.
[tab]- It could be a device causing the confusion in the BIOS at bootup. For example, I've had to change the position of my two DVD drives in one of my PC's that had that same problem.

2) Like kestrel1 said, reseat the memory and other cards seated on the motherboard.

3) Try resetting the BIOS to its default settings.

4) See if there is a pattern for when the problem occurs (is the system warm from running when it happens, or has it been off for a couple hours, do you occasionally see the Windows logo before the reboot occurs, etc)


If none of that helps, give us more detail as to what devices you have attached, what position they're in, whether or not the problem existed before the clean install, etc...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[TomCologne]

Additionally, you might want to prevent the automatic restart to get a BSOD with the error code:

Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup & Recovery: Clear the "Automatically restart" checkbox

TomCologne

 

[christy2112]

Hi Folks

First thanks for all the above info, well to cut a long story short I still have no luck there is no pattern, I have reseated all the cards and chips etc.

1. Sometimes when it starts it will stop before getting to safe mode screen.
2. Sometimes will bring up a dos screen with message saying file missing from \windows\system32\
restart using the xp disk and recovery console, but when you reboot it loads ok.

I really am at a loss as to what is causing the problem.

Ps. I have also tried a different PSU.

Cheers

Christy

 

[kestrel1]

When in recovery console, what did you do exactly? Did you run chkdsk?

 

[christy2112]

Hi kestrel

I did not go into recovery console I just turned the machine off and then on and it booted into winxp ok.

Driving me mad.

Cheers
Christy

 

[cdogg]

Christy,
If a file appears to be missing but is then found on its own after several tries, that's a good indication of a failing hard drive.

Some motherboards come with a HDD test utility in the BIOS, though it is more common on business retail versions from HP or Dell. If you can't find one, try to get your hands on a spare hard drive and move everything over (or better yet do another clean install). That's the first place I'd start at this point.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.