PC reboots randomly

[aankh]

I'm running a win2k machine which gets hiccups frequently - it reboots on its own for no reason. This happens >10 times a day on average. It does not seem to be related to any specific programs that I might be running, or any specific combinations of programs.

I have no spyware...clean with Ad-aware and Spybot. No viruses either (using AVG anti-virus).

I'm beginning to think it might be a hardware issue, but have no clue what. I doubt it's related to overheating because I have 2 fans sitting in my CPU, and anyway, my setup is a very wimpy one. But again, I'm just guessing.

I've installed MBM5 based on some threads I saw here, but being fairly PC-illiterate, I can't make head nor tail of it.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be wrong?

 

[Dogpigboy]

Is your cpu heatsink mounted properly?

This happened to me on a new machine; it lookd ok, but on closer inspection the clip on one side wasn't attached properly. This resulted in the heatsink tipping up every so slightly i.e. a poor contact between cpu and heatsink, leading to an overheating cpu - result: random shut downs.

 

[aankh]

I think it is. Or atleast, the person who assembled my computer thinks it is. And he only just checked the fans and heatsink yesterday.

Random rebooting has been a consistent problem for months. Just that it's gotten a lot worse over the last month or so.

 

[redbeard1]

Capacitors on the motherboard, that the tops are puffed up, can cause symptoms like you describe.

 

[Fern]

Hi aankh and Welcome to the Forums!,

I've installed MBM5 based on some threads I saw here, but being fairly PC-illiterate, I can't make head nor tail of it.

MBM5 can help here especially the interval log explained below. Below is an excerp from a message I sent another member about setting up MBM5. See if it helps you get it set up properly. You'll then be able to see if temps or voltages are causing your problem. If you need more help with MBM5 after reading the info below and playing with the proggie, let me know (post back or PM me).

Fern

As you have found/selected your mobo in the list of those supported by MBM5, it appears you have gone through the MBM5 Config Wizard.

So, if you go to start > programs > MBM5, you should get the temp readings to pop up down in your sys tray. Right?

I usually check mine by looking at what's reported in the sys tray, then restarting and checking out what my mobo shows for cpu/sys temps in PC Health (or in whatever section of your BIOS it's called). Don't worry if there's small difference. The shutting down/re-booting etc usually changes the temps a degree or two.

To make changes to MBM5, right click on the temps shown in the sys tray. Choose Settings from the menu that pops up.

Here's how I then configure mine:

Under General (listed on the left hand side) Select english (duh) as the language and celsius for temps. Then you can select the interval that MBM5 will use to read temps. I have mine set to 10 seconds (or less is good too). This is basically how often it will take the temp and refresh the values shown.

You will also see that you can select it to start up with Windoze (I do this). But I do not opt to have the dashboard start. If I want to see it, I right click on the temps to pull up the menu and start it. The dashboard will shows voltages, fan rpm etc. It's handy, but I don't want in on my screen all the time.

Below General on the list to the left is Temps and Voltages. I don't do anything here as the auto setup feature takes care of the basics. You CAN set temp and voltage alarms, but I leave this to the features provided by my mobo and don't use MBM5 for these.

Actually, the only other place I make adjustments is in Interval & sys log. If you like, you can use the Interval log to create a text.doc (check that selection) and will record temps, cpu/chipset voltage, and the voltages on your psu's rails. Here you can also set it to record at the interval you choose (ex. every one or every ten seconds, whatever) and you also can choose the number of entries that will be stored in the text.doc. Ex. 10, 100, 10000 whatever. Presumably, this feature is meant for those who have limited HD space. Of course who wants to see 10,000 entries? Just chose what makes sence for your purposes.

BTW, this feature is great for diagnosing problems. Ex. if you get crashes or lockups you can reboot and go back under MBM5 (using explorer, right clicking on start) and see the text.doc to determine if your voltages went crazy or your temps got t high and caused instability etc.

NOTE: When you makes changes, you must check on Apply at the lower right hand side to make save them.

 

[SagaLore]

Besides a cooling problem with the CPU, it could also be your power supply beginning to fail.

 

[Dogpigboy]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
Besides a cooling problem with the CPU, it could also be your power supply beginning to fail.

Yep, I'd second that. I once had a mouse playing up for weeks. Even bought a new mouse that had exactly the same intermittant problem. Turned out to be the +5v line ( if I remember right) on the psu beginnig to fail.

 

[aankh]

Originally posted by: redbeard1
Capacitors on the motherboard, that the tops are puffed up, can cause symptoms like you describe.

I'll check that out.

Originally posted by: Fern
MBM5 can help here especially the interval log explained below.

Would posting the log here help? If so...

+---------------+---------------+----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
| | | | Case | CPU | Sensor 3 | Core 0 | Core 1 | +3.3 | +5.00 | +12.00 | -12.00 | -5.00 | Fan 1 | Fan 2 | Fan 3 |
+---------------+---------------+----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
| 12/11/2004 | 09:55:35 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.52 V | -6.88 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:55:05 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.04 V | 12.59 V | -6.99 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:54:35 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.99 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:54:05 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.93 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:53:35 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.04 V | 12.59 V | -6.99 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:53:05 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.99 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:52:35 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.99 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:52:05 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:51:35 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 09:51:05 | 1010 MHz | 42° C | 45° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |

I have a Gigabyte 7VTXE 1.0, by the way.

Originally posted by: SagaLore
Besides a cooling problem with the CPU, it could also be your power supply beginning to fail.

How would I go about checking for this?

 

[aankh]

Sorry...another post because the temperatures changed...

+---------------+---------------+----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
| | | | Case | CPU | Sensor 3 | Core 0 | Core 1 | +3.3 | +5.00 | +12.00 | -12.00 | -5.00 | Fan 1 | Fan 2 | Fan 3 |
+---------------+---------------+----------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+
| 12/11/2004 | 12:14:38 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.04 V | 12.59 V | -7.28 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:14:05 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.93 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:13:35 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:13:05 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.04 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:12:35 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:12:05 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.81 V | 1.23 V | 3.28 V | 4.99 V | 12.72 V | -8.37 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:11:35 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.93 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:11:05 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:10:35 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.23 V | 3.26 V | 5.07 V | 12.59 V | -6.93 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |
| 12/11/2004 | 12:10:05 | 1010 MHz | 45° C | 48° C | 0° C | 1.84 V | 1.25 V | 3.26 V | 5.04 V | 12.59 V | -7.16 V | 0.00 V | 0 RPM | 0 RPM | 0 RPM |

 

[aankh]

*bump*

 

[Mem]

I was going to say PSU as well,you could try it with the case open to see if that helps with cooling(I don`t think it`s a heat problem),it`s still very possible you could have an intermittent fault on the PSU,only way to find out is try a different quality PSU.


I would also test your ram with memTest86,reason being it`s free so won`t cost you a thing ,never overlook anything where PC hardware is concerned,I`m still leaning towards PSU.

 

[Fern]

These readings look a little odd. Temps are OK, but the -12v rail appears to be reading way low (6-8volts). Also the +12v is a bit out of spec. Considering a 5% variation is within spec, you are exceeding that. 12.0 x 1.05=12.6. You are at times up to 12.72.

The 5v apears to register zero, but I don't think it is used for anything anyway.

I'm guessing that the 1.23-1.25 may be your chipset voltage. Don't know if that is in spec (It can't be vdimm, or ram, cuz that's way too low). Might look in your mobo manual.

Reducing the time between readings (currently at 30 seconds) and then going back and reading the log just after a reboot may be helpful.

Running Memtest86 w/b a good idea too.

Fern