Random reboots...

M

Merlin

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Hi all,

My PC has had a problem for a long, long time - I'm only now getting around to sorting it out.

It randomly reboots...

It occurs with different OS' and on different partitions. I'm happy to eliminate the HDD and OS with confidence as being possible culprits.

There's also a brand new PSU in there, so we can can that idea.

It's happened when I haven't been anywhere near my machine, whilst I've been doing minimal work on it and even during gaming.

The machine has never been overclocked.

I thought it might be heat, so I tried another fan and leaving the cover off - no help.

I've monitored Event Viewer and CoreTemp, and neither show anything odd.

Now it's been suggested that perhaps the thermal paste is no good. Having never taken the heatsink off, is that even possible?

The machine will happily sit there doing it's work and then you'll hear the fan kick up a notch before all goes black. It reboots and is back ready, waiting and happy to carry on.

No viruses, no malware, nothing.

Any clues?

Thanks.
 
Micro-Scope Diagnostic Suite

Try downloading the version called "Micro-Scope PC diagnostic boot CD Tech182" as the ISO is about 8MB. Run the full suite of tests.

Run Speedfan to check your temps and possibly replace the thermal paste with some Arctic Silver 5.
 
RAM...that's my 5 cents. Or perhaps the board? Is it an old m/board? You could look to see if there are any swollen capacitors. That normalls causes the machine to freeze though, not reboot. I'd put my money on the RAM from the info you've provided.
 
Thanks ponder and South_bit.

The mobo and RAM is of the same age - I'd guesstimate about 3 years old.

I'll check the mobo over and see what I can see.
 
Well first off, try disabling automatic reboot on system failure on a windows partition. Then when your system restarts you can tell us what the blue screen tells us, unless there is no BSOD and it just cuts power and reboots, cos then it's definitely hardware. Otherwise it could be some sort of driver conflict.

With that said, I'm going with RAM/GPU.
 
stroebs said:
Well first off, try disabling automatic reboot on system failure on a windows partition. Then when your system restarts you can tell us what the blue screen tells us, unless there is no BSOD and it just cuts power and reboots, cos then it's definitely hardware. Otherwise it could be some sort of driver conflict.

With that said, I'm going with RAM/GPU.
Click to expand...

Done. I'll post up an update as soon as it happens again. Thanks.

Different OS' and different partitions (even an OS on an external) HDD all do the same thing - it must be hardware. :s
 
Mikroz said:
Done. I'll post up an update as soon as it happens again. Thanks.

Different OS' and different partitions (even an OS on an external) HDD all do the same thing - it must be hardware. :s
Click to expand...

In the meantime, give me a rundown of your specs (makes and models of hardware - mobo,gfx,ram,psu)
 
stroebs said:
In the meantime, give me a rundown of your specs (makes and models of hardware - mobo,gfx,ram,psu)
Click to expand...

Howdy stroebs,

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model 965G-DS3
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6 GenuineIntel ~2400 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. F10M, 2008/09/18
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.37 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 5.09 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

The RAM is, I think, Kingston. It's late, I'll open her up on the w'end. ;)

The GPU is a Sparkle (Nvidia) 7600GT.

The PSU is a few days old and is a Mukii Asroc Plus 470w.

HDD is a Seagate, 7200.12 IIRC.

Thanks.
 
Mikroz said:
Howdy stroebs,

....

Thanks.
Click to expand...

That GFX has probably done its time, the mobo and CPU too. Age still points at GFX though, and nothing wrong with the HDD as it's the latest REV. PSU obviously good too.

So it's down to RAM/GFX. You should try replacing the RAM and GFX on separate instances to see if there are any changes.
 
Crikey. As a big antiques enthusiast, I have to say, modern stuff is serious cr*p.

I'll start filtering out the RAM chips...

I've got, and I companies who've got, hardware running from WELL over a decade ago. The new stuff is all disposable.

Thanks. :)
 
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