Computer keeps crashing/rebooting....

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vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
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Update 2: GOt another PSu from FRYs some Thermaltake Purepower 500W. The problem still existed. Now I am stumped. I diverted my attention back to the RAM. I have 2 sticks of Geil DDR 500.
I took one of them out. Problem existed. computer rstarted as soon as it booted to windows.
Tried the other stick by itself. No luck.

Any insights??

Update 1: So I got a PSU from Frys, Antec TrueBlue 2.0 480W refurbished for about 50 bucks. and now my computer starts up and stays on for a while... and then reboots after maybe like an hour?

Eh, now i have no idea what to do. I can try another PSU. but this is similar to the problem i was having before my old PSU totally wouldnt start up.

Any other Ideas? I can try another PSU...


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Looks like capacitors exploded in the PSU. so im gonna replace it and check it out. I will get at least a 400W this time. Which company should i get?


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So after moving couple days ago, the computer would crash and reboot overnight (i always leave it on). It would be on the first BIOS screen saying "CPU not workable". I have had this problem before regarding temperatures or RAM settings. I saw that the temps were pretty higher than normal. I get around that problem by going into the BIOS, and resaving the over the cmos. and then it works fine for the rest of the day.
I reset all overclock and cpu voltage to default (it has been working fine for over a year). The temps are fine now.

However, this morning, it would barely start. After leaving it off for a little while, i would start it and after logging onto windows for couple mins, it sorta dies. I can see the stuff running in the cpu, but no video. It would also restart itself, sometimes giving the CPU Not Workable messages, other times not, and keeps restarting on and off... till i just shut it off now.

Things I tried:

1. reset the overclock back to default.
2. tried 1 DIMM at a time... same thing.
3. ??

Its a Abit IS7 mobo, p4 2.8ghz 800fsb HT cpu, radeon 9600 pro, geil ddr500 2x512mb matched @ 2.8v with heat spreader.

Any suggestions, before i go to frys/best buy and buy a cpu, ram, video card...and start plugging them in one by one to see whats defective :p

Last i checked it kept rebooting itself during the windows load or even before the windows load.

thanks
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: griffis
PSU?!
Click to expand...

Its an Antec 350W 'tru power' (or something similar). has been pretty reliable for over 3 years almost. However, the lights, fans, etc are on when the screen goes blank. could it still be that?
 
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imported_griffis

Senior member
Sep 14, 2005
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Hmm doesn't seem to be the case if other components are staying on. Wouldn't be abad place to start though. I went through 4 different options before trying that on mine and found out that was the problem. Next would be the processor heat, mobo.
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
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71
Originally posted by: griffis
Hmm doesn't seem to be the case if other components are staying on. Wouldn't be abad place to start though. I went through 4 different options before trying that on mine and found out that was the problem. Next would be the processor heat, mobo.
Click to expand...

as someone said, i will try to reapply the thermal grease, and clear the cmos (if i can still remember how) i think there is a jumper on the bottom right, that i need to switch for about 2 mins, then restart, right?

how do i go about troubleshooting the mobo?
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
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To answer someone else's question... its connected to a surge protector right now. And i dont have a UPS.
 
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imported_griffis

Senior member
Sep 14, 2005
592
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The mobo is a little trickier. That requires extensive experience. Basically though, if you have ruled everything else out, likely its the mobo that is the problem. Really only way to test that is put in a new one and see how it reacts. Computers suck when it comes to troubleshooting
 
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vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
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Update:

Took out the sounds card and tv tuner, and still no luck.
Cleared out the fans, etc. nothing
Cleared CMOS, nothing.

Went out to Frys in a 2 hour traffic... got some thermal grease...applied it... NOTHING. (It still reboots after windows loads, etc.)

So... doesnt look it its overheating. No clue why the motherboard would behave this way.... but i have suspicion about the processor. Could it be that? Like can a processor be "kinda" working...that it turns on... then off after a while?

Argh... quick help appreciated. need to get this working soon within the next couple days... dont have much time with school and all.
What should be my next step??

BTW, any hint that it might be software related?? I havent loaded anything since I moved... some windows updates, firefox updates., tvuplayer or some internet tv thing...thats about it.
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
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Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: griffis
PSU?!
Click to expand...

Its an Antec 350W 'tru power' (or something similar). has been pretty reliable for over 3 years almost. However, the lights, fans, etc are on when the screen goes blank. could it still be that?
Click to expand...

If the Anwrec is over three years old...Open it up and find bulging/vented Fuhjyyu caps :p


...Galvanized

 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: griffis
PSU?!
Click to expand...

Its an Antec 350W 'tru power' (or something similar). has been pretty reliable for over 3 years almost. However, the lights, fans, etc are on when the screen goes blank. could it still be that?
Click to expand...

If the Anwrec is over three years old...Open it up and find bulging/vented Fuhjyyu caps :p


...Galvanized
Click to expand...

ah, i was looking at the mobo for caps.
er.. too much work :p but... doing it now as we speak... will post back
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Originally posted by: vrbaba
Originally posted by: griffis
PSU?!
Click to expand...

Its an Antec 350W 'tru power' (or something similar). has been pretty reliable for over 3 years almost. However, the lights, fans, etc are on when the screen goes blank. could it still be that?
Click to expand...

If the Anwrec is over three years old...Open it up and find bulging/vented Fuhjyyu caps :p


...Galvanized
Click to expand...

ah, i was looking at the mobo for caps.
er.. too much work :p but... doing it now as we speak... will post back
Click to expand...

BINGO!!

There are about 5 capacitors that have just exploded in the PSU. wtf..i thought Antec was good and reliable.

So, i am gonna go to Frys and get a PSU. Which one should I get?? And if there is a BIG difference in prices online... ill just return the Frys one after my online order comes in.

Thanks a LOT to GALVANIZED for pointing me in the right direction. :thumbsup:
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
6,986
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As a PSU goes bad it will send very dirty current to the mainboard and cards. The board caps will clean this current before it reaches the RAM or CPU but after some time of dealing with this load, they break down and send dirty current to this hardware. The possibility of damage is quite high. Take a real good look at board caps, VRM/FETs. Look for the slightest discoloring around anything.
Over at badcaps it's called cascading effect, when the PSU starts killing other hardware.

I have nothing more to offer, other than to test you hardware in a known stable rig.


...Galvanized
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
As a PSU goes bad it will send very dirty current to the mainboard and cards. The board caps will clean this current before it reaches the RAM or CPU but after some time of dealing with this load, they break down and send dirty current to this hardware. The possibility of damage is quite high. Take a real good look at board caps, VRM/FETs. Look for the slightest discoloring around anything.
Over at badcaps it's called cascading effect, when the PSU starts killing other hardware.

I have nothing more to offer, other than to test you hardware in a known stable rig.


...Galvanized
Click to expand...

:( thats what i thought.

I am gonna test out a new RAM, CPU and video card (missing anything?) over time one by one. Last resort would be to replace the motherboard and test those things all over again :-/

What is most likely to be affected in what order??

i guess its really time to buy that long overdue laptop.
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
0
71
So its not the RAM either. I am guessing the CPU or the MOBO. i have a feeling its the mobo since CPU would usually give me a BSOD, which i havent seen once all along. Just a random restart.

How complicated is it to install a new mobo (havent done one in like 3 yrs). If i remember correctly, ill have to "repair" the windows install, right? Or can i just do a plug and play?
 
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