problems w/ comp instantly turning off when I step at a certain point within 3 feet of the computer.

[simsalabim24]

Well Im playing a game have it alt-tabbed right now and the temp is holdng steady at 35C for the cpu.

 

[FlyingPenguin]

You're almost certainly seeing the case temp not the CPU temp. An Athlon runs hotter than 35 C, but that's about right for case temp. CPU should be over 45 C.

That's the problem with these temp monitors - they can read the wrong probe.

 

[simsalabim24]

I really think its a static issue, because these weird crashes seem to coinside with when we have the heater cranked up (no humidifier) and its dry as a bone outside. Anyway GF is to cheap to get a electrician to come out so how other then the fact that my plugs have 3 prong inputs know that the electrical is grounded from static? Thanks.

Also is there anyway to flash the bios without a floppy? I have a Chaintech VNF3-250 and they are insisting that I flash my bios before they will even consider a RMA.

Thanks.

 

[simsalabim24]

up

 

[simsalabim24]

up

 

[jackschmittusa]

 

[jackschmittusa]

You can make a bootable cd with the flash utility and new bios on it. You definetly do not want the rig shutting off in the middle of a flash.

 

[simsalabim24]

Can you elaborate on that please? How would I do that and how would I flash my bios, I am using WinXP.

Thanks.

 

[montag451]

Go to your mobo manufacturer website, and look under support/downloads.

Look for latest BIOS,

But, i can't see how that would help with the system shutting off.
Does it still shut off?

Is it when you are walking past it?
Or just sitting there?
When you touch it or the kb or the mouse?
What about trying another power cable.

 

[simsalabim24]

Okay so I got a hold of a floppy drive. Anyway I got the latest bios update off of Chaintechs website for the VNF3-250. This motherboard has a built in version of Awdflash so that when the computer is starting up, your supposed to hit Alt+F2 and it will start the bios update. Well it just hangs, says it is trying to start AWDflash and just hangs for at least 10 minutes with nothing, no disk activity nothing. I know the floppy is working because I am able to copy the bios update to it in the desktop.

Well anyway any ideas? Strange thing is the damn pc isnt crashing like it use to, and I cant reproduce the problem. This is driving me insane. I just wish I could rma every new component to know for sure that it is the house, or perhaps my neigbor downstairs has a CB. I dunno.

Thanks.

 

[simsalabim24]

up

 

[Slikkster]

Can't you just download Awdflash to the boot diskette and run the bios update from there?

By the way, I just looked, and you have a new bios for this board just released...version 5.0.

Since Awdflash isn't working from the bios, that suggests issues right there. I'd clear the CMOS (power off, UNPLUG PC!, short cmos pins as directed in manual), then boot back up and try again from the built-in awdflash. If no go, download awdflash and run it from the diskette with the bios update file.

 

[simsalabim24]

yeah it really concerns me that the built in AWDflash does not work. I will do as you say and let you know how it works out! Thanks for the directions.

 

[Borealis316]

I think I'll put blame on the chaintech board just because I think they're pieces of crap.
.
.
.
.
.
Now back to being serious.

 

[simsalabim24]

Yeah well the chaintech Nvidia video card I had previously was a pos! Although almost everyone here recommended I get one of these motherboards. So I bit. Anyway maybe its fixable throught the bios update, weird though how it doesnt mention in the bios section on there website that this is something it fixes.

 

[simsalabim24]

Clearing CMOS did not get the onboard flash to work.

Well I created a dos boot disk from windows xp, and put a version of AWDflash on it from chaintechs old site which is the only version I could find on the site.

Anyway it says the bios is not an award bios or some bs like that and drops me to the A:\ prompt!

I try to call chaintech and I keep getting this due to the high call volumes where unable to answer your call please email us, no messege nothing just email. They dont answer their emails. Im beginning to think I got a $150 lemon!! Godamn that sucks!

 

[simsalabim24]

up.

 

[ajskydiver]

Why don't you plug something *else* where you computer is and step in the spot that causes your computer to shut off? If the radio/fan/etc. doesn't shut off...you know it's the computer; if it does, you know it's the outlet/wiring.

~AJ

 

[simsalabim24]

AJ,

Yeah I tried this and cannot replicate the effects it is terribly random. It is freaking unbelievable.

 

[simsalabim24]

Well I was able to successfully flash the bios with the help of the tech support people I finally got a hold of. apparantly it was in the utility section of their website, but not under my boards link. Ill keep you all posted. Thanks for your help. Im also going to invest in a ups, got one by conex for $25 will support a 17" montitor and computer. Well see what that does.

 

[jaedaliu]

i recommend returning that UPS and getting one that has line filtering. Maybe the electrical current you have has a lot of noise in it and is causing shut downs. My parent's house had the wrong type of connector when the contractors hooked up the power cable from the utility line to the house. Was causing all sorts of problems until they got a UPS with line conditioning. Eventually the power company came out and fixed the source of the problem, but the UPS was able to let the computer run properly.

 

[montag451]

If you are going to get a ups, then get a fairly good one.

If you are trying to sort out a problem, then try and fix it, don't just play at fixing it.

 

[simsalabim24]

Originally posted by: montag451
If you are going to get a ups, then get a fairly good one.

If you are trying to sort out a problem, then try and fix it, don't just play at fixing it.

Well I dont think I have been playing at trying to fix my problem. I have tried just about every suggestion on here.

Also I didnt know that the ups unit I was thinking about getting was a "BAD" one.

You know you seem like one of these people that has never had a problem, because you have been lucky, and it makes you feel very cocky. I just hope you never get one of these fluke problems because believe me they are hell.

-peace

 

[simsalabim24]

Well what would be the best/most economical ups unit then?

 

[simsalabim24]

Everest is now all of a sudden showing a aux setting in the sensor tab, looks like its the cpu temp, which it was reading at 65 degrees celcius. Interestingly when Im in the desktop it goes down to 59-60 degrees celcius. Is this too hot?