HP Question

[acebake]

I have an HP Pavilion a520n desktop PC. At just random times, the computer will restart. It's on no specific schedule....every day sometimes, every few days other times. It's in the computer compartment in the desk. Is it overheating? If it is, this brings me to my second question: if it is, should I take it out of the computer compartment in my desk? Why would they make this compartment if it doesn't support a computer?


I guess I'm all confused....thanks!

I also have an ATI TV Wonder VE card installed, if that adds heat or anything.



Aaron Baker

 

[MDE]

I'd pull it out of the cubbyhole and see if it still reboots like that, but it definately sounds like a heat or power supply issue.

 

[acebake]

Yeah, I was thinking the same...I hope it's not the power supply, I've only had it for a week....the thing I was wondering was: why did they bother to make the area if it wasn't computer friendly? That makes me so mad....ugh .

Any ideas?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

in XP (hope you made your Restore CDs) turn off AutoReBoot. Start>Control Panel>System>Advanced..see a line says "Startup & Recovery" click Settings..then uncheck.."Automatically Restart" ..to get an oldstyle BSOD error message then google that...report back..gl

 

[acebake]

Haha awesome--just did that as you were typing that! Thank you . What do you mean about BSOD....what is that?


Thanks!

 

[MDE]

BSOD=Blue Screen of Death

 

[acebake]

hmm, I didn't get a BSOD, was I supposed to?

Thanks

 

[MDE]

By default it just flashes the BSOD and reboots, but you say you changed that so you'll get to see what's causing the error.

 

[acebake]

Ironic, even before I turned it off, it would just randomly restart--no BSOD or anything. When I'd restart Windows XP, it would give me the "this system has recovered from a serious error" message. Should I have googled what came up in that?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: acebake
Ironic, even before I turned it off, it would just randomly restart--no BSOD or anything. When I'd restart Windows XP, it would give me the "this system has recovered from a serious error" message. Should I have googled what came up in that?

yes

 

[acebake]

Ok, update:

I disabled the automatic shutdown thing. Tonight, I was working, and got a BSOD. Here's what it says:

Stop: 0x000008E win32k.sys
Address: BF87C223
Base: 13f800000
Date Stamp: 3F73195D

Dump of physical memory.


Anyone have any idea whatsoever? Thanks!



Aaron Baker

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: acebake
Ok, update:

I disabled the automatic shutdown thing. Tonight, I was working, and got a BSOD. Here's what it says:

Stop: 0x000008E win32k.sys
Address: BF87C223
Base: 13f800000
Date Stamp: 3F73195D

Dump of physical memory.


Anyone have any idea whatsoever? Thanks!



Aaron Baker

first did you add the ati TV card..? ..anyway read here and run Windows Memory Diagnostic.

 

[acebake]

Yeah, I did install the TV card.

The thing that makes me wonder: why would HP sell a system that has an underpowered PSU? It's like asking for angry customers...I don't play any games at all, the most strenuous thing I do is the TV Tuner stuff. That's the only thing that I've installed.

Could it be as simple as it's just simply overheating? Hopefully, I don't have to spend any more on stuff...


Thanks,

Aaron Baker

Edit: This thing is running the Athlon XP 3200+, so I know they overheat easily, but why again would HP allow this to be in their computers if they knew that they were unstable?

 

[acebake]

I really think it's related to the TV tuner card. Do these things generate a lot of heat?

Everytime I turn it on is when I get the error. For example, I normally get it once a day. Tonight, I didn't turn it on at all, and haven't gotten a single error message.

Any ideas?



Thanks!

 

[Fern]

"Edit: This thing is running the Athlon XP 3200+, so I know they overheat easily, but why again would HP allow this to be in their computers if they knew that they were unstable? "


No, they don't. Nothing wrong with those cpu's.

Download and run Motherboard Monitor 5. It will show you temps so you can see if it's overheating.
Link to MBM5

 

[acebake]

Let me rephrase what I was trying to say: Athlon XP processors have a tendency to run a bit warmer vs. Pentium 4 processors.

Awesome, thank you for the link! I'll check it out, and let you know soon.


Aaron

 

[acebake]

I'm still having this problem. I've narrowed it down to the TV tuner card....the computer works fine until I fire it up. Tonight it happened, and when I restart, I get the sound from the TV, but no picture.


I'm SO CONFUSED!!! HELP......

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: acebake
I'm still having this problem. I've narrowed it down to the TV tuner card....the computer works fine until I fire it up. Tonight it happened, and when I restart, I get the sound from the TV, but no picture.


I'm SO CONFUSED!!! HELP......

Have you updated all the drivers that go with the card?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: acebake
I'm still having this problem. I've narrowed it down to the TV tuner card....the computer works fine until I fire it up. Tonight it happened, and when I restart, I get the sound from the TV, but no picture.


I'm SO CONFUSED!!! HELP......

Have you updated all the drivers that go with the card?

bump