PC randomly reboots: before booting, while booting, etc.

[roshi]

Ok, this is weird, I have a P4T533-C with 2x256 Samsung RDRAM and 2x128 Generic RDRAM, P4 1.80a Northwood, one HDD, two sony CD/CDRW drives, SB Audigy.

My problem is:
One day, my computer decided to reboot by itself randomly, not in Windows (not that checkbox, it's unchecked). Sometimes it requires a few reboots before even the POST signal is sent then it could reboot while I'm in the bios, before windows or while windows is booting.

The thing is, suspecting a power problem, I plugged it on another plug (on another house) and it worked perfectly fine! But on my power outlet at home it doesn't work. I bought an APC BACK-UPS 350 ES and still reboots!

Can someone help or recommend something on that?

I have also checked that all cards and wires were correctly inserted that also that the mobo doesn't touch the case, I really don't know what to do...

Thanks!

 

[waylman]

plug it in to another outlet at your house

 

[mechBgon]

A 350VA UPS is dinky. I hope you're not trying to power the monitor from that too.

As for the problem, what brand/model of power supply is your system using, and how old is it? What's your motherboard brand/model too 🙂

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: roshi
Ok, this is weird, I have a P4T533-C with 2x256 Samsung RDRAM and 2x128 Generic RDRAM, P4 1.80a Northwood, one HDD, two sony CD/CDRW drives, SB Audigy.

My problem is:
One day, my computer decided to reboot by itself randomly, not in Windows (not that checkbox, it's unchecked). Sometimes it requires a few reboots before even the POST signal is sent then it could reboot while I'm in the bios, before windows or while windows is booting.

The thing is, suspecting a power problem, I plugged it on another plug (on another house) and it worked perfectly fine! But on my power outlet at home it doesn't work. I bought an APC BACK-UPS 350 ES and still reboots!

Can someone help or recommend something on that?

I have also checked that all cards and wires were correctly inserted that also that the mobo doesn't touch the case, I really don't know what to do...

Thanks!

I would suggest that the power-supply or perhaps the caps on the mobo may be going.

Have you made any major changes to your system lately? (Hardware *or* software?)

A 350VA UPS is probably too weak to support that system, btw. I would recommend a 500VA or higher unit for any modern system, 900-1000VA being preferable, especially if you plan to power the monitor off of it during a brownout.

Oh yeah, checked the CMOS battery lately? (Random thought.)

 

[roshi]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I would suggest that the power-supply or perhaps the caps on the mobo may be going.

Have you made any major changes to your system lately? (Hardware *or* software?)

A 350VA UPS is probably too weak to support that system, btw. I would recommend a 500VA or higher unit for any modern system, 900-1000VA being preferable, especially if you plan to power the monitor off of it during a brownout.

Oh yeah, checked the CMOS battery lately? (Random thought.)

No, no hardware changes lately.

I plugged only the computer to the battery, worked sometimes. Sometimes it reboots, others no.

How do I check the CMOS battery?

Is there a way to check the power supply?

Thanks!

 

[roshi]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
A 350VA UPS is dinky. I hope you're not trying to power the monitor from that too.

As for the problem, what brand/model of power supply is your system using, and how old is it? What's your motherboard brand/model too 🙂

A generic power supply I think, came with a Turbo brand case, I'll have to check. Two years old.
Motherboard is an ASUS P4T533-C.

 

[nineball9]

Air conditioner (or other heavy current appliance) on the same circuit?

 

[roshi]

Originally posted by: nineball9
Air conditioner (or other heavy current appliance) on the same circuit?

Used to, I thought of it too and disconnected it. It used to caused problem during power on (the Air Conditioner).