frequent, unpredictable, involuntary rebooting!

[Gsaraco]

Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   frequent, unpredictable BSODs and reboots... even after reformatting hard drive and reinstalling Windows!
   
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   Hi, first-time poster here! I asked around an unrelated forum for a tech-support site, and they referred me to this place.
   
   Starting a few months ago, my computer would occasionally reboot itself. But recently this started happening more frequently. Now I can barely keep the computer turned on... in fact I'm anticipating several random reboots before I successfully make this forum post.
   
   Sometimes the computer will reboot DURING the boot process. Oftentimes it will reboot in a loop, several times, before successfully starting Windows.
   
   Once in Windows, it seems like any given action can trigger a Blue Screen Of Death (which flashes by too quickly to read) and the computer reboots again. The BSOD's are pretty erratic. Sometimes I'll be using the computer for a half hour without any problems. Other times I'm barely on for a minute.
   
   I figure there are still too many variables to recommend a real "solution" at this point, but what are some ways for me to better diagnose the problem? If anyone could point me in the direction of some good diagnostic programs, or show me how to post error logs in this thread, I'd appreciate it!
   Or if you just have any wild (or perhaps not so wild) theories as to why my computer might be constantly resetting itself, feel free to share those too!
   
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   I've been using the computer fine since 2002. I replaced the power supply in March after my old one broke.
   
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   It seems semi-random. Sometimes the computer doesn't even make it though the bootup process. Other times the reboot occurs as Windows starts up. Sometimes I'm able to use the computer for a while, like right now as I type this post. Resets do seem more likely to occur if I attempt to install a program or run a media player, however.
   
   
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   - reinstalled Windows XP
   - formatted C: drive (I have a secondary drive that I use for storage, but the operating system and some other key programs are on C: )
   - downloaded and installed the newest driver for my NVIDIA graphics card
   - tried each of my three RAM sticks one at a time
   
   
   
   
   
6. My software:
   • Microsoft Windows Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 : Service Pack 2)
   
   
   
7. My hardware
   • AMD Athlon XP 2000, with 1.68 GHz and 768 MB RAM
     
   • Motherboard - AMD-761
   • Video card - NVIDIA P162 GEFORCE MX440 VIDEO CARD AGP
   • Power supply brand & model - CODEGEN Switching Power Supply (Model: 500X)
     
   
   
   
   

 

[law9933]

Is the interior clean? Fans running ok?

BSOD-Go to control panel>system>advanced>startup&recovery. Uncheck restart on error, then you can read & post the bluescreen error.

 

[Gsaraco]

Interior seems fine. I've used one of those compressed air cans to clear out dust and such. As far as fans are concerned - the fan on the motherboard, the fan on the interior case, a little fan on the underside of the video card, and the fan inside the power supply are all running.

I unchecked restart on error, thanks! I'll see what info I can get from the BSOD now.

 

[robisbell]

when you state your old PSU broke, can you be more specific? what was the results of booting with a memtest86+ cd or Ultimate Boot CD?

 

[Gsaraco]

Originally posted by: robisbell
when you state your old PSU broke, can you be more specific? what was the results of booting with a memtest86+ cd or Ultimate Boot CD?

One night I got back to my apartment real late, and I smelled something burning. Turns out it was the PSU! I shut off the computer and went to bed.

The next morning I tried turning the computer on. It started booting up, then I literally saw FLAMES inside the power supply and before I could react the computer just shut itself off.

After that I got a spare powersupply from one of my brother's old computers (it was still newer than the one I had been using) and installed it. Everything seemed to work fine after that.

Also, forgive my ignorance/noobishness... what do I do with that memtest86+ and Ultimate Boot CD, and where do I obtain/download them??

 

[Gsaraco]

Originally posted by: law9933
Is the interior clean? Fans running ok?

BSOD-Go to control panel>system>advanced>startup&recovery. Uncheck restart on error, then you can read & post the bluescreen error.

okay I got another reboot while playing a video file. here's the BSOD that I got:
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...staUppa/BSOD070208.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/BustaUppa/BSOD070208.jpg

edit: whoops, not sure how to post images here, but if you follow that link you can see the pic of my BSOD

 

[Gsaraco]

just got a reboot in the middle of another reboot, and it produced a DIFFERENT bluescreen o' death:
BSOD number twohttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/BustaUppa/BSOD070208-a.jpg

this one mentions something about drivers so it may be revealing.

 

[law9933]

Sorry, I didn't mean I am good with error codes, only was helping for someone that is.
I have never used photobucket, is it in your Start Up programs?
Start>run>msconfig>OK>Startup, if so disable, that might help until you get better info.
I have no idea why photobucket & drivers have a connection. Maybe you have a photo that did a nasty.
Try Safe Mode for a while & see if it runs without rebooting by running all your scanners-free SUPERAntispyware is a good one.

 

[esquared]

If you have another computer, burn an ISO of Memtest and check each memory DIMM separately to see if there are any errors associated with the modules. Let it run sevevral passes each if you have the time. Each pass is probably 15-20 minutes.

Memtest

There can be other problems but this can be an easy to check for you to at least eliminate memory as a problem.


edit:
click on the free downloads link to the left.

 

[law9933]

esquared
-"tried each of my three RAM sticks one at a time "

Will all three sticks good bad at once? It can't hurt to test.

 

[Gsaraco]

Originally posted by: law9933
Sorry, I didn't mean I am good with error codes, only was helping for someone that is.
I have never used photobucket, is it in your Start Up programs?
Start>run>msconfig>OK>Startup, if so disable, that might help until you get better info.
I have no idea why photobucket & drivers have a connection. Maybe you have a photo that did a nasty.
Try Safe Mode for a while & see if it runs without rebooting by running all your scanners-free SUPERAntispyware is a good one.

haha sorry, I should clarify... I took a photograph of each BSOD and posted them online. In my reply I posted links to the photographs, which are hosted on the PhotoBucket website.

So those aren't the text of the BSODs. Those are URLs that will show you pics of my monitor

Originally posted by: esquared
If you have another computer, burn an ISO of Memtest and check each memory DIMM separately to see if there are any errors associated with the modules. Let it run sevevral passes each if you have the time. Each pass is probably 15-20 minutes.

Memtest

There can be other problems but this can be an easy to check for you to at least eliminate memory as a problem.


edit:
click on the free downloads link to the left.

thanks, I might be able to give this a shot tomorrow! I might be able to keep things running long enough to burn an ISO on this machine... worst comes to worse, I got a decent stash of extra CD-R's if there's a crash during the burning process.

 

[robisbell]

I'm thinking based on what happened, possible Power Surge, the motherboard has finally failed, and hopefully not takent he ram and cpu, and Gpu with it. I'm basing this off the bit of info you posted about why the PSU was replaced, and the BSOD's you've received.

 

[law9933]

"I should clarify... I took a photograph of each BSOD and posted them online."

Oh well, I try to give usable advice, that shows how far I need to progress to really know what is going on.

Try Safe Mode for a while & see if it runs without rebooting by running all your scanners-free SUPERAntispyware is a good one.

If Safe Mode Works fine, that should mean the hardware is ok & it is a driver, software, or malware problem.

 

[esquared]

Originally posted by: law9933
esquared
-"tried each of my three RAM sticks one at a time "

Will all three sticks good bad at once? It can't hurt to test.

Ah, I missed that. You're probably right, unless the PS did some damage to all of them when it blew. Probably not likely but...... won't hurt to check.

I would also run the utility that will check the hard drive sectors also, just in case.

I think robisbell has the the best possibility. The motherboard could be toast.

A power supply could take out nearly everything. A computer I built for my nephew had the PS take out everything but the memory in a power surge. He lost the motherboard, video card, hard drive and CPU. The only thing I could salvage was the memory.

 

[Gsaraco]

well, it turns out there was an extra computer lying around my parents house that wasn't getting any use. It had a faster processor and more RAM than my current setup, so I ended up just taking that and putting some of my existing hardware in it to round out the setup.

So everything runs great now, since I basically just replaced 85% of my parts. I may never know what really caused my resetting problems, all I can say for sure now is that it wasn't the video card or either of my hard drives! haha oh well... thanks to everyone for their contributions!