Random reboots and lockups

[DPK]

My computer is randomly rebooting or locking up. When this happens it usually takes a few minutes to several hours until it will boot up again as I will just get a blank screen when turned back on or it will start to load windows and then reboot. I downloaded a program that monitors the CPU temp and everything seemed ok. The case is open so it can't be an airflow problem. If I swap video cards the computer will still not boot for awhile, so it's can't be the card, although it does feel pretty hot. I also swaped the monitor just incase and still got the problems. Could it be the AGP slot?

I don't know what else to try other then getting another motherboard and hoping that's the problem.

I think it's an ECS MB, socket A with an Athlon XP 1600 or 1700 CPU.

 

[meltdown75]

I'd be leaning towards trying a different power supply before you swap out the mobo.

 

[DPK]

I'll try lator on today and reply back. Thanks.

 

[brtspears2]

Have you run Memtest86 yet?

 

[Ohnos]

Yes, I had that problem and it turned out to be the PS. Put in a new supply and the problem vanished. Good luck!

 

[DPK]

I'll try both suggestions. Thanks.

 

[DPK]

I ran memtest once, and everything passed. Then I swapped out the power supply and used that computer for several hours without any reboots or lockups. The other power supply might have actually been the problem! Thanks.

 

[DPK]

UPDATE:

After swapping the power supply with one from another computer things seemed to work fine, so I ordered a new PS from newegg but before it arrived I started getting a blue screen of death from somthingio.sys. It did this about 1/2 of the time when booting up. Once my new PS came I installed it and now I am back to the same random reboot and no bootup problem as before. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Is the MB the most likely cause?

Again, the memtest passed. I have tried two different video cards. The processor and HD doen't seem to be overheating when I monitor them.

 

[Uncle Bob]

It would be helpful if you listed your complete system specs;

what type of psu did you get?

 

[DPK]

Ok, some of this is from memory as I am not at that computer right now.

ECS Socket A MB w/ Athlon 1700 CPU
2 x 256MB PC2100 RAM
MSI GeForce4 G4 Ti4200-TD 128MB
WD or IBM 40B harddrive

Again, the only common factors are the MB, CPU and harddrive as the other stuff has either been disconnected and/or swapped and the problem still occurs.

The wierd thing is I got the random and/or no reboot problem with the first power supply at 250 watts. Then with the replacement PS at 250 watts I stopped getting the random reboots but then got a blue screen of death when it started to boot into windows and now I am back to the randoom and/or no reboot problem with the new 300 watt ROSEWILL RV300 PS.

 

[Uncle Bob]

So this is a system that's been in use for a year or two, right?
Presumably, it's been running OK until recently......
Other than the replacement PSU, nothing has changed?

Things that spring to mind

1. Overheating, possibly the northbridge. Check if there's a smallish fan on the motherboard itself and see if its running when the power is on. While you're checking this it wouldn't hurt to get a can of compressed air and blow the dust away.....

2. Check that any case fans you have installed are still operating and are reasonably clear of dust. I know you've monitored the CPU temp but other components can get hot too and cause weird problems.

3. Leaking capacitors on the motherboard.
Check Here for some pictures to show what you need to look for.