laptop locks up requires unplug for 5 mins before starts again.

[killster1]

What would the issue be? i ran prime95 for lil bit tested fine.. turned a game on it played fine (didnt really play it just left it going)..

but it has locked up a few times when trying to install direct x and other things.. would a windows problem require the computer to be unplugged for 5 mins to start again? (no battery installed) or is this what i think a hardware issue?

 

[corkyg]

Sounds to me like heat is causing the shutdown, and in 5 minutes it cools off enough to run again. What laptop is it? How old is it? Is it in a smoking environment? Does the cooling fan run? Is it used on a hard or soft surface? I would do some cleaning before further testing.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Desplte running prime 95 without problem, it sounds like an overheating issue. Try blowing a small table fan directly onto the computer and see if that helps. Of course also clean out all the dirt and dust you can and and make sure you are nor running on a soft surface that is blocking the vents.

 

[killster1]

it ran the game fine for hour plus.. it also ran prime 95 fine for so long.. it is running on a table and it is clean. it is 68F temp inside

 

[frozentundra123456]

Maybe you could give a few basic specs of the computer, such as cpu, discrete gpu if there is one, how old it is, how much ram.

BTW, you must mean 68C for the temperature, as 68F is barely room temperature. In any case is this for the cpu or gpu, and how did you determine it? I still find it hard to imagine a scenario other than overheating that would be solved by leaving the comp off for 5 min as opposed to just restarting it.

 

[crashtestdummy]

The other possibility might be a hard drive failure. Do you hear a clicking sound when you try to reboot right away?

 

[corkyg]

Aside from locking up when trying to install Direct X and "other things," does it lock up when doing work or surfing? Seems like heat may not be the problem, but that something is causing a crash when trying to install Direct X. SO, we need more info. Such crashes are often the result of software causing memory collisions. The 5 minute wait to restore could be a red herring.

 

[Emulex]

what model is it? an older nvidia laptop had overheat problems like the xbox360 RROD. it is terminal condition.

 

[killster1]

Lockups happened when doing nothing before really, other than looking at the services running, installing things, plugged in mouse and instantly shut off (made me think usb short or similar..)

ok when i said 68F inside, i mean inside the house (prime tempts never went over 65C maybe i should install gpuz and check what that says..) .. it has a SSD.. its a Sony vaio with ati4750? gfx.. c2d 4gb ram, t2200 or something cpu..

Yesterday i took out the 64gb samsung 830 ssd and installed hitachi 1tb 2.5" and reinstalled windows 8.. did not install the driver for memory card, and the ich9 driver didn't seem to want to install.. directx installed perfectly this time (last time it said cryptography error and i had to hassle with it to install)
installed lego movie game, wireless xbox360 driver (like before) and my little boy has been playing on it for few hours last night and this morning again with 0 issues so far..

the thing that stumped me was having to unplug it to get it to work again (again like i said no battery) i figured it was hardware issue if needed to be unplugged but i really not work on alot of laptops. My solution is usually swap parts till fixed.

So when i swapped hd the 830 ssd looked like it was firmly plugged in and checked crystal disk mark seemed almost new with the usage report. crossing fingers it was windows 8 / 830 ssd that was the issue. I dunno tho till it has a issue again but id say heat was not the issue.

Sorry for poor grammar and long message

 

[killster1]

Installed windows 8 again with new hd 1tb hitachi.. everything seemed fine.. played game on it watched youtube everything fine.. watched netflix yesterday fine.. then today powered on.. surfed web was fine.. surfed little more BAM hardlock.. rebooted (rebooted this time with out taking out power.. ) hardlocked again web browsing instantly.. Rebooted.. hardlocked before made it into windows even.. sounds like over heating issue but its like 70F here right now.. i let it prime95 and was fine last week.. no idea how this weird issue keeps coming up.. Tried reboot it again and could hear it start but no video output.. so im guessing the vid card is overheating or something strange is up.. idk what to do.. unplugged it and will test the ram with memtest86 (when/if it ever starts) but really sucks.

EDIT: memtest started showing TONS of errors.. didnt know ram would makea computer not boot like that.. strange but maybe just one problem of many? taking a stick out and retesting.. dunno why i didnt memtest it before

 

[MichaelD]

RAM can go bad, especially when it is constantly in a very hot environment. If Memtest is showing errors, I'd replace that RAM.

 

[killster1]

ok.. both sticks bad.. third stick tested bad.. (had it in storage..) 4th stick 1gb ddr2 ddr333 tested good few passes.. booted to windows.. and bam back to same issues of turning off etc.. realllllly frustrated.. i have seen issues like this in past.. one was the dc jack.. other was the lcd motherboard wire connection.. both issues i eventually solved but WHY ME! i dont want to take this laptop apart.. bought it in fs section few weeks ago and been trying to make it work right for my lil kids ever since.. ;( dont know what to do other than return it and be out of return shipping. its nice looking laptop. all new looking but driving me crazy witth the issues..ANy thoughts or ideas be nice..


SEEMS LIKE IF I TAP MY FINGERS ON LEFT TOP OF LAPPY (THATS WHERE GPU/CPU IS I IMAGINE) WHILE ITS ON IT TURNS OFF / DIES.. NEEDS BE UNPLUGGED FOR WHILE TO START AGAIN..