WinXp restart, any idea? restart every few hours

[isaaclau]

Hello everyone, my desktop PC with WinXP installed, restart randomly. I do not know the reason.

1. Reading event manager, there is no special error indicating before/after every restart

2. Sometimes when restart, it shows a blue screen "Machine Check Error", sometimes just restart

3. For every restarts, the mouse will be sticky for 2 - 3 seconds, then it restart.

4. No particular software is running before restart, so I cannot find any clue if a particular software casing the problem.

5. I have tried playing 3D games for 2 hours, no restart, usually at the moment of restart, the computer is not doing CPU demanding task.

My Spec
AMD 64 754 socket 3200+
Gigabyte K8N Pro, Nforce3 Chipset
Consair DDR 400 512 MB X 2
2 Hard Disk
Inno3D Gefore 6600PE AGP
Antec True Power 430W
Sound Blaster Live
That's it, any idea?

Or any way I can do to check where the problem comes from?

THX THX THX ^^^

 

[tbooth]

Is windows still set to restart automatically in the event of a system failure?

 

[ForumMaster]

possibly bad psu or ram? my computer sometimes restarts too if my cpu temp get's too high since i have an old AMD Athlon XP Mobile which the mobo can't detect properly. when my temp is 44 it thinks my temp is in the 60's. but i have never lost data and my BSOD is set to show any BSOD. also, the event viewer has never shown anything. check ur PSU/ try replacing it with a different one.

 

[MrControversial]

Start uninstalling drivers one by one until the restarting stops.

 

[jough]

I had a problem with spontaneous reboots and upping the RAM voltage solved this completely, although I still will get reboots if I turn on Cool'n'Quiet. So I would check your RAM voltage (but be careful - check the booklet/paper that came with your RAM - you do still have that, don't you?) and also try disabling CnQ if you have it enabled (you have to disable it in the BIOS and then change your Power Management scheme in Windows to something other than Minimal Power Management) and see if that solves the problem.

If not, I'd suggest running memtest86 to see if there are any RAM errors, and then proceed with the more difficult (or at least tedious) task of uninstalling drivers as MrControversial has suggested.

 

[imported_Imp]

I had this problem due to a craptastic motherboard, but when troubleshooting, I found that the following may help:

- Try to copy down which error code windows is crashing on, should be a 0x0000009c, 0x0000004f or something like that. It helps point you in the right (general) direction.
- Memtest your Ram is a great idea like jough suggested. Since it runs in games so well, doubt it's Ram, never know.

If you get the error code, google it. Event viewer never logs the errors for me either.

 

[isaaclau]

all right, thx for the reply. As I am living in hall of my University, I could only do what you suggest me during weekend. Please wait for my reply.

By the way, why you said, "since game's running so well, doubt it's ram" ??? Running game doesn't need RAM? I am confused.

I will try disabling Cool and Quiet and try stepping up DDR voltage, but I really do not have manual telling me what is the voltage for the DDR, I remember when I bought it 1.5 years ago, no manual. SO?

THX ^^

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: isaaclau
all right, thx for the reply. As I am living in hall of my University, I could only do what you suggest me during weekend. Please wait for my reply.

By the way, why you said, "since game's running so well, doubt it's ram" ??? Running game doesn't need RAM? I am confused.

I will try disabling Cool and Quiet and try stepping up DDR voltage, but I really do not have manual telling me what is the voltage for the DDR, I remember when I bought it 1.5 years ago, no manual. SO?

THX ^^

Try this 1st as my rig was suffering from the same issues you posted about isaaclau.

 

[jough]

Originally posted by: isaaclau
By the way, why you said, "since game's running so well, doubt it's ram" ??? Running game doesn't need RAM? I am confused.

No, games do use a lot of RAM, so if you're getting reboots when just running things in Windows, but not when you're playing games, which are RAM intensive (just system intensive all-over) then it may not be the RAM. But you won't know until you run memtest86.

I thought my reboots were being caused by my power supply, but after running memtest I found 38 memory errors - oops. RMAing that pair back tomorrow.

I will try disabling Cool and Quiet and try stepping up DDR voltage, but I really do not have manual telling me what is the voltage for the DDR, I remember when I bought it 1.5 years ago, no manual. SO?

Well, definitely disable CnQ while you're testing the memory and other components. And as far as the voltage - let us know the brand/model of the RAM and maybe it can be looked up somewhere on the web. Generally if you're running DDR you'll be in the ballpark at 2.5-2.7v.

 

[Jiggz]

Go to system properties and then check on the Advance Tab. Under the Restore and Recovery Section, click settings and then uncheck Automatically Restart under the System Failure tab. This prevent the system to auto restart when a system failure is detected. Instead it will give you a BSOD which the error code. Write the error code and then google it.

 

[isaaclau]

Hello, I am now at home, for now, I have tried disabling the Cool And Quiet, but I found that there is no such option in BIOS, instead, I found "Thermal Throttling" which I can set to 25%, 50%, or 75% or disable, I have set it to disable, I guess that's COOL and Quiet, isn't it? As there is no other option I think is related to Cool and Quiet.


Also, I have tried disabling Auto_Restart in WinXP, as suggested by the last who reply.

Is there any software I can use the test the stablity of my system, as I have said, sometimes my WinXP restart after a prolong useage of few hours.

 

[isaaclau]

all right, latest Result. I have set Thermal Throttling to DISABLE, still, during normal operation, it get restart, no error message.

So I run MemTest X86

See the pictures for result

Image 1

Image 2

I found that if I set CPU/Ram ratio such that DDR speed is 333, no error, but when I set CPU/Ram ratio to 2:2, then error found, as shown in pictures. I can 100% SURE MY RAM is DDR 400. Let me quote the spec of the RAM

CORSAIR RM-VS512MC
VS512MB400 512M/400Mhz/DDR

Is my Ram problem or any others?

I have tried shutting down the PC and test with MEM test X86, again, when set to DDR 333, no error, but DDR 400 got error, so right now I will set to DDR 333 and see if WinXP restart, any idea, THX ^^

 

[isaaclau]

any idea? thx

 

[isaaclau]

Now, after setting MEM speed to DDR 333, I run winXP, but after few hours, 3 hours....then suddnely..it automatically restart again....

then when I restart, I cannot enter WinXP, I got a error message

Machine Check Exception 0X0000009C ( 0X00000004 0X80545FF0 0XB2000000 )x00070F0F)

then I restart again, and then I can enter winXP... so together with the memtestX86 result...any conclusion.


Tonight I will tryPrime95, any idea, pls HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

 

[jough]

It sounds like you've got a bad stick of RAM there.

 

[isaaclau]

However, after setting to DDR 333, I try to run WinXP, I still get restart( so far only once), but MemTest has shown that with DDR speed = 333, it has no error. So is my restart of WInXP only due to Ram?


I have just tried memtestX86 again for overnight, with DDR speed = 333, well, after 9 hours of testing, NO ERROR, with DDR speed = 333.

SO my question is, if memtest got no error for DDR speed = 333, if my winXP still get restart at DDR speed = 333, does that mean my WinXP restart is not just due to RAM? maybe motherboard or CPU?


I just want to isolate the problem...any idea???

 

[Zebo]

At this point since you installed your OS and APPS with messed up memory therefore, i'd say data is corrupted leading to unstable. My advice is wipe and reinstall everything under a stable setup which you evidently currently have.

Also DL and burn ultimate boot disk and run prime95 and memtest at the DOS level before reinstalling

 

[isaaclau]

All right, but what test should I take for Prime 95?

By the way, do you mean that, as It's proved that (by Mem Test) I got bad RAM, so even if the RAM are proved to work at a lower speed, DDR - 333, but since the bad Ram has been used to install applications, so this leads to OS error, so the only way to solve the probllem is first, replace with good ram, and tested under the dos level, after that, I can make sure that's not Ram problem, and re-install everything?


What if I can replace with good RAM, do I still need to re-install every thing?

 

[imported_Imp]

I see that your two sticks of Ram are not exactly the same. It MAY be that they have trouble running together at DDR400 due to their differences, but are OK when clocked down. So to make sure your Ram is seriously defective, try to Memtest EACH stick individually at DDR400. If one is ok, the other is not, then you found your bad stick. If both are screwy, they may both be bad or your CPU's controller just can't run the sticks at that speed or they are busted. Also, I think Corsair Ram is rated to run at 2.7v so check with Corsair's site, they have all the SPDs.

Also, with 77 errors, that doesn't seem insanely high. You can try your Ram at DDR400, but loosen up the timings to like 3-3-3-8 or higher, and see if errors show up.

Anyways, you will probably have to reinstall windows regardless. Like what Zebo said, you installed your stuff with screwy Ram and probably corrupted enough files to cause the instability.

 

[isaaclau]

All right, today I bring the 2 pairs of ram to the repair company which is responsible for COnsair.

In their machine, there are no ERROR>...so the techician there said the problem lies in my CPU or Motherboard, and eventually he gives me a 100% new 512MB DDR400 X2 for more confident! Yeah!!!

Now when I test again with MemTest+1.65, there are erros again. So I think it might be my motherboard or CPU has got some error.

Do you agree?
Or do you think there is other sources for my problem?

(PS: the technicial adviced me to use MemTest+, as it support modern chipset, MemTest3.2 is too old he said, agree?)

 

[imported_rod]

Have you scanner for spyware/adware?

RoD

 

[isaaclau]

I got ZoneAlarm Internet suit/spyware + Webroot Spyware all updated, since I connect to the internet, I got the above 2 software. so it's safe.

The problem now seems clear, Ram tested in my computer by MemTest+ show errors, but other computers testing my RAM get no error message. That is.....either my CPU or Ram got problem....do you agree?

 

[isaaclau]

I have brought my CPU to the warranty company, they said, we have no more socket 754 left.

So they give me a new CPU, for a credit price. Thereby, I just spend $20 US dollar, then I have a new Socket 939 3000+ SSE3 cpu, haha...I think my problem can be solved already, as all the problem, either come from CPU or Motherboard, and now, I have a new CPU and motherboard, I think no more problem...any idea?


OPr do you guys think my problem lies not in CPU or motherboard, but sth other else?