Help: Could a new HD be causing random computer restarts?

[Swanny]

Hello all,

My brother is at college and I recently had to order him a new hard drive because this Deathstar 75GXP started going bad. The new drive is a 7200 Maxtor 40gig. He used norton ghost to ghost all the old files over to the new drive, then sent the old one back for me to RMA. Anyway, the computer was running fine for about 4 days after he put the new drive in. Now he says it's doing random reboots sometimes. He hasn't been able to find any pattern to it. It can stay up for a few hours, so I'm sure the problem isn't overheating or anything. I'm pretty sure it's not in hardware since everything was working fine for a time after the new drive was put in. But he has a friend who is convinced that the hard disk is causing these problems.

So my basic question is this: Could a brand new Maxtor hard disk with files ghosted over from an old disk be the cause of random reboots after working flawlessly for 4 days?


Also, I've had him run virus scans, etc., but nothing was found. Any suggestions on what else the problem might be would be appreciated too!




Thanks,
Swan

 

[amdskip]

sounds like the power supply is weak and this causes the random reboots

what o/s?

 

[Rafael]

Hey Swanny!

Im in the same boat as ur bro. Random reboots! Im suspecting it's the PSU, since my HDD is new, but a few weeks ago a Maxtor D740X died on me. Got a new HDD Maxtor, same model. But my voltages seems to be fine according to MBM5 and BIOS.
Im thinking about getting a new PS, a 450W now.
If he switches PS let me know what were his results.

Thnx!

Raf

 

[Maggotry]

Originally posted by: amdskip
sounds like the power supply is weak and this causes the random reboots

what o/s?

Yeah, what OS? If he's running XP, disable the "auto restart" so you can see the BSOD before changing any parts.

 

[Rafael]

Originally posted by: Maggotry

Originally posted by: amdskip
sounds like the power supply is weak and this causes the random reboots

what o/s?

Yeah, what OS? If he's running XP, disable the "auto restart" so you can see the BSOD before changing any parts.

Where do you disable this option in Win XP?

Thnx!

Raf

 

[Maggotry]

Well, I'm not on an XP box right now so I'll try this from memory. Right click "My Computer", then go to properties. Then go to, uh, hmmm, let's see. Damn. I don't remember which tab. If I was sitting at my XP box I could go right to it. Anyway, click around on the tabs. When you get to the correct tab, you'll need to click on a button. Then there'll be a check box to uncheck. It's checked by default when you install XP.

If nobody else guides you there by morning, I'll edit this post with the correct path when I get to my XP box in about...6 hours.

Sorry for babbling like an idiot. I'll be more coherent when I get on my box.

 

[Maggotry]

OK, I'm on my XP box now.

Right click My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings > Uncheck "Automatically restart"

Do this if he's running XP and you'll be able to see the BSOD. That'll be a good starting point. Post the error message here, if applicable.

 

[Rafael]

Thnx Maggotry!
I will see what I get too and I will post the error.

Raf

 

[Swanny]

Ok, thanks for all the replys!

He's running Win 2K.

I guess I had sorta ruled out PS problems since all he did was swap HDs. They are the same rotation speed and everything. Do you really think a rock solid system could turn unstable due to PS issues over such a small hardware change? If you'd like to see the system specs, look at "brother's computer" in my system rigs profile.



Thanks,
Swan

 

[Swanny]

Bump for more opinions please.

 

[BigMoe]

your bros not overclocking any is he?

 

[Joemonkey]

well even in win2k Maggotry's advice should still hold true

my "without having the computer in front of me to check stuff" guesses would be:

Motherboard
power supply
bad wire/connector going to the reset switch OR just a bad reset or power switch (unhook them both and turn the computer on w/ a screwdriver by shorting the power pins to check)

 

[Rafael]

Well, it just reboot a few mins ago.
Since I turned off the AUTO RESTART like Maggotry said I got a BSOD.
Following this info:

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Stop 0x000000D1 (0x000000F3, 0x0000002...)

NDIS.sys - address F98C9FE8 base at F98B4000

Dump Physical memory
Dump Physical memory is complete

There were more things, saying I should contact the administrator, etc.

Getting next week a 450W PS. Let's see how it will perform.
Any help will be appreciated.

Thnx guys!

Raf

P.s.: Sorry for taking ur thread Swanny.

 

[alkemyst]

Make sure under :

my computer -> control panel -> system -> Advanced -> [Performance] Settings -> Advanced -> Memory usage is set to Programs.

I got a ton of those IRQ LESS THAN type errors until I changed that.

 

[Ben50]

I was having the same problems with random reboots. The difference being that my motherboard would not post and game me an error code that indicated bad memory. I removed one of my ram sticks and now everything seems to be working. Of course now I only have 256MB of ram

 

[Rafael]

Thnx guys!
I will give a try alkemyst, already made the change.
I hope it is not my memory, cause I dont hv 512 Mb hehehehehehehehehhehehe

Let's see how it performs now!

THnx!

Raf