Computer keeps dying today; don't know why

[orangesky]

So ... custom built about 7 years ago. abit AB9 QuadGT mobo, Corsair HX520 PS, and other stuff. Here's what happens:

Sometimes it gets into Windows, and then within just a minute or two it dies with this error:
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

or sometimes the video signal just goes out while in the boot process, causing the display to go into sleep mode. I assume this is just a slightly different symptom of the same problem.

I can stay in BIOS for as long as I want, no problem.

Here's what I've done / know:
1. It isn't software. I have an SSD and an HD, one containing Win 8.0, the other Win 8.1. Whichever I use to boot with, the symptoms are exactly the same. I haven't touched the Win 8.0 system in many months, so it isn't an updated driver or something like that.
2. Likewise, since the symptom is identical with the SSD and the HD, they aren't the problem.
3. I don't think it's RAM. I had 4 sticks (1GB each). I took 2 sticks out; same problem. I then swapped the sticks; same problem. I also let the full POST RAM test run, and it worked (I know that doesn't do much, but it's all I can run). So unless 2 or more sticks just happened to go bad overnight (the computer was unpowered), it isn't the RAM.
4. I tried using Repair Your Computer by booting off the Win 8.1 OS DVD, and it ran for a 30 seconds or so, but then while it was doing something (I forget exactly what), the problem occurred and the monitor went into sleep mode.

I suspect it's either a PS problem, or a mobo problem, but I don't have a replacement for either that I could swap and try out. Does anyone have any suggestions on what else I might try to diagnose this?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I would try swapping in a known-good PSU. If that fixes it, great. If it doesn't, it might be the board. I don't think you mentioned the video card. Could be that too, if the display is going into sleep mode. GPU could be overheating (GPU cooling problem) or underpowered (PSU problem).

TBH, though, unless that mobo has all solid caps, like my GA-P35-DS3R v1.0 "Durable" board, then it might just be time to junk the whole thing and start fresh.

 

[ArisVer]

I suggest you load the BIOS defaults and see if the problem persists. If it's gone, fine tune your BIOS again, one thing at a time.

 

[orangesky]

Thanks for both of your replies. It's really great that there are people around willing to help others, and so quickly.

This is my wife's machine (so it's fast enough for her ). (@VirtualLarry, the mobo does have all solid state caps, so worth hanging on to as long as it suffices.)

So after I told her that I posted this, she happened to mention something she forgot to say before: The very first symptom she saw was an error message that said "Checksum error; default loaded". Bingo! (She forgot the word 'CMOS', but I know it was there.)

The culprit was the CMOS battery -- 7 years old; I should have known. Either the default BIOS setup wasn't compatible with the build, or the dead battery was constantly causing problems. I changed the battery, loaded a saved off copy of the BIOS settings I had been using, and everything is working fine once again.

Thanks again for your eagerness and willingness to help.

 

[Ketchup]

Is it writing a minidump? If it stays up long enough to write a minidump, it's not the power supply. Usually this error is caused by a driver or a bad stick of RAM.

Have you installed any updated drivers/new devices lately?

 

[orangesky]

And a third helper -- you guys rock! (And thanks for that tidbit of info. It did write a minidump. I'll try to remember that if that happens, it isn't the PSU.)

 

[denis280]

Probably got a BSOD with this.Download and install http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed
and analyse.