Spontaneous Restarts

[rburke]

Ok, I am actually fairly computer saavy, but I would like to run this problem by everyone just so that I don't buy parts that I don't need to. Here is the system I'm running:

Dual AMD 1.2Ghz (with Thermaltake volcano 7's on each one)
Tyan S2460 motherboard
512 MB ECC Registered DDR RAM
Radeon 8500 64 MB video card
Generic 10/100/1000 NIC
Soundblaster Live! Platinum sound card with Live!Drive 1
Pioneer 16X DVD-ROM
A1 400W power supply
3.5 Floppy
Seagate 40 GB 7200 rpm hard drive

The problem just started recently where in the middle of any one of the games I have (UT 2003, GTA3, Warcraft3, etc) the computer will spontaneously restart, with no warning. At first I though it was a heat issue due to the fact that the computer was in a corner of the room where it wasn't ventilated. Plus when I ran the system monitoring for the motherboard when it restarted an hte CPU's were around 49C. Althought that isn't too hot, I thought tha was the problem. So, I decided to move the computer to the middle of the room and run it open case. When I do that both CPU's idle at 36-37C and at full load get up to around 40C. But the problem is still occuring. I've had problems in the past with the RAM, and actually installed a new RMA's piece about a month ago. But usually when the RAM is having troubles it will just die and on the BIOS startup it won't read the correct 512 MB. Plus the RAM was working fine, and the problem just started about a week ago. The only other thing I can think of would be the power supply. It is a generic 400 W so I can run the dual AMD system, but I've never heard of it causing reboots before? So, I was thinking of purchasing a new Eneremax PS, just so that I know it is reliable, but what does everyone think? Any comments or solutions would be greatly appreciated....

Burke

 

[rburke]

Can anyone help me?

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

This sort of behaviour is normally associated with hardware, although it can be software.

It can be caused by just about anything inside the case, from a faulty DIMM (perhaps a little scorched) to a fracture in a power cable, with the PSU being favourite. I would suggest that you start by testing singularly anything you've got 2 of.

If that all checks out, then you're into software and that means taking one programme out at a time until the behaviour stops.

I wish I knew of a shortcut, but I don't.
Regards
Phil
Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

 

[rockerfellerz]

What OS are you running? I know there is a setting with xp that automatically reboots when you get an error rather than give you a message so you might see what's going on.
I suppose you have tried all the usual stuff like re-seating all the cards, ide cables, and tightening the mobo screws. It could be bad power, you said generic, but is there any name on it at all? I know that deer power supplies are bad news, when they go they tend to fry the rest of your computer along with them.I'd say that the heat issue is not a factor, none of the numbers you gave were too high.It could be shorting out to the case, sometimes just taking everything out of the case and then carefully re-assembling it will fix it.

 

[desireeg]

I agree with rockerfellerz’s post, a stop error is most likely causing your reboot. You need to stop the reboot and write the error to the system log to investigate your problem further.

In Win 2000 – right click My Computer, click “Properties”. Go to the “Advanced” tab and click the “Startup & Recovery” button. In the section “System Failure”, uncheck the “Automatically Reboot” checkbox and make sure the “Write an Event to the System Log” checkbox is checked. Next time the error happens your machine won’t automatically reboot. You can then go to Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer. An explorer window will open. On the left pane highlight the System Log and then examine the events on the right pane.

In Win NT 4.0 - right click My Computer, click “Properties”. Go to the “Startup/Shutdown” tab. In the section “Recovery”, uncheck the “Automatically Reboot” checkbox and make sure the “Write an Event to the System Log” checkbox is checked. The Event viewer is located at Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer. The next time the error happens, your latest “event” will be at the top.

I don’t know the location for Win XP. Perhaps rockerfellerz can post the location?

Hope this helps!
Desiree

 

[rburke]

Thanks for your replies...

I am using Windows 2000 Pro with SP3 installed. I just updated the drivers for my video card, so we will see if that was the problem. The PS I'm using is an A1 Electronics 400W switching PS. It has the AMD and Intel approved stickers, but you know how hard it is to make a sticker... Anyways, I'll take it all apart tomorrow and make sure that everything is in place. I've already checked hte cards, RAM, etc, but I'll actually take them out and reseat them. I also took your directions ot disable the Automatic Restart in 2000 Pro. I'll let you know if I find anything, or anything happens. Thanks for the help.

Burke

 

[lloydli]

hey
me too these days i am having the same problems.."stop error"..usually it occurs to me ,mostly at start up of my computer and sometimes on the internet...

i am using Xp(home)...

last week i opened my casing and added a RAM..maybe this new RAM(one is MICRON 128M ,the other 256M PLUSS) is the cause.....can be i touch sometimes by mistake..???

but now ,i do discouver..that i always get "explorer errors"....so "rburke" did u have that too....?

lloyd

 

[rburke]

No, I'm not getting any kind of other errors, everything else is working great. I tried clearing my logs in 2k and disabling the auto restart, but it never logs it when it happens. So, that tells me is a hardware issue, some kind of short. I went through and reseated everything, switched cables, and still it is doing it. I keep thinking it is a PS issue, but would like to not buy a new 400W PS if I don't have to. Has anyone else had this happen? If so, what fixed it for you? Or if anyone has any other ideas that would be great.

Burke

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

As stated earlier, this type of behaviour tends to be PSU related.
Regards
Phil
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum!

 

[rburke]

Thanks for all your replies. That was what I originally thought, but just wanted to run it by some other people. I am going to purchase a 431W Enermax PSU and see if it resolves my problem... Even if it doesn't it is good to have a spare. I'll post my findings after I get the replacement. Thanks again.

Burke

 

[garebo]

I could suggest that you could get away with the 350 watt enermax.
I am running a P4 1.7 with 4 hard drives, ultra controller, dvdrom, burner, live drive 1, 5 fans, all on a cheap pc chips board, over a year now and no probs!!

 

[garebo]

belay that order!!!

I see you are running dualies. YOu should get at least 400 watt enermax.

Sorry, i didnt see the dual part before.

 

[Crustyoldbloke]

Enough said I think!
Regards
Phil
Ne auderis delere orbem rigidum meum!

 

[tommarsh]

i had a problem like yours only worse.
i flashed the bios to the newest version and everything is fine.
i at first thought it wasa thew power supply.
be carefull
Tom