It dies

[FudgeBunny]

Ok here's one for you pros out here. I piddled with this one for a bit and got no joy so here's the deal.

At seemingly random times, my computer just dead shuts off. The other computer in the room doesn't. I figure it might not be getting enough power, so I shut off my speakers and everything else I can to conserve power. Still dies. It doesn't seem to be during periods of high processor usage. Ok so switches are all are in place, wires are definitely plugged in, plugs... all looks good for that.

Ok, to get it started again, I have to shut the power off at the plug, wait for a few seconds then flip it all back on. Works fine. System temps are all around the 100/110F or 38/43C. Ok so stats.

Processor
Model : AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2100+
Speed : 1.73GHz

Mainboard
Bus(es) : ISA AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
System BIOS : American Megatrends Inc. 07.00T
Mainboard : Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. 7VRXP (sucky mobo... don't get it)
Total Memory : 511MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset
Model : VIA Technologies Inc VT8366/A,VT8367 Apollo KT266/A,KT333 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 133MHz (266MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 512MB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 133MHz (266MHz data rate)

Video System
Adapter : SAPPHIRE RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS PRO
Adapter : SAPPHIRE RADEON 9000 ATLANTIS PRO - Secondary

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : Maxtor 6Y120P0
CD-ROM/DVD : ARTEC WSM-52X
CD-ROM/DVD : JLMS XJ-HD166S
CD-ROM/DVD : Altec Peanut SCSI CdRom Device (any guesses on this one? ;))

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" (A:) : N/A
MAIN (C:) : 114.5GB (47.4GB, 41% Free) (FAT32)
Topgun (D:) : 7.9GB (0MB, 0% Free) (UDF)
CD-ROM/DVD (E:) : N/A
Kapact (Z:) : 432MB (0MB, 0% Free) (CDFS) (^now does it make sense ^)

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
Device : Standard Game Port
Device : Creative Sound Blaster PCI128 (WDM)

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 1)

Network Services
Adapter : Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC



If you want more info than that, post your request and I'll get it to you.

[edit] Forgot to mention that the PS is a 480W.

[the grinch]

kinda sounds like a bad motherboard to me. but could be a billion other things... I hope u get it fixed :P

[luck777jojo]

are you sure there is enough power in the computer itself, like I mean how much power can your power supply give out if that's not enough then turning off speakers won't help, what will help is unplugging a cdrom or some other internal device

[iNCQRiT]

This pc reboots alot, but I think I know the problem because this computer was upgraded except for some things like hard-disk. We are going to replace the harddisk as soon as I buy myself a new pc.

[Canuck]

I would first to some software troubleshooting. Some viruses reboot computers so I would update your virus software and scan. Secondly I would do what luck said, try unplugging an internal device so you can see if your ps is overloaded, although a 480w ps should be fine.

[Syphon]

That PSU is more than enough and the temps don't seem to be causing a problem. All i can think of is a faulty connection somewhere or a virus.

[FudgeBunny]

Virus scan from Norton shows to be clean. I updated my definitions so unlesss I got some mutant virus...

480W ps is more than enough for a 2200 processor. I'll unplug a few things when I get back from work to see if that makes any difference.

[FudgeBunny]

unplugged a few things and it's still screwed up. replaced the cord to the ps, nothing doing. must be a bad power supply is all I can figure.

[Canuck]

I might try scanning with a different Antivirus. In this thread (http://www.mpcforum.com/showthread.php?p=475540#post475540) someone ran norton which found nothing then Kapersky (http://www.kaspersky.com/store?AID=1110836&PID=778434) found 3 trojans so I might try that. Make sure you completely UNINSTALL NORTON FIRST or you'll be in for even more trouble. Other then that just re-check your connections or get a second power supply and swap it in to see if that makes a difference.

[elbastardo]

an easy way to check if your PSU is overloaded is to feel how hot the air coming out of it is, if its really hot then its overloaded, but with a 480W power supply i dont see how it could be.

[Syphon]

Hrm to be fair, if there is a wiring problem the system will usually fail to start and will just beep at you.

How is your actual home powersupply? No surges or failures?

[Hybr!d]

I thinl you need to check your power supply because it was a faulty wire connection the computer will make a beep and computer wouldnt start up

[CRACKIT]

swap out parts with your other comp. if there compatible
that is the only way to find out what is failing unless you have a voltage tester
and you now what the voltage is supposed to be

[FudgeBunny]

seems as though somewhere along the line I managed to fix the problem. I'm still not sure what it was, but something I did must have worked cause it's not doing it any more... computers are like women. I never will figure them out completely.

[Towncivilian]

its too hot you *****s, 100-110 F is WAY too hot

[Canuck]

ts too hot you *****s, 100-110 F is WAY too hot

Do you even know what you're talking about? Once you start hitting 140 you need to start worrying but in teh low 100's you'll be fine.

[FudgeBunny]

its too hot you *****s, 100-110 F is WAY too hot
umm dude... I've run my computer into the 160's without it crashing. You're the one that's running hot there. lol

Ok so update, now my computer won't start at all. I've got all the junk unplugged and when I turn the computer on, the fans spin for half a second then nothing. I took everything out that can be taken out so it's gotta be a bad mother cause I tried the power supply in another computer and it ran. So I ordered an ECS KT-600 and some other stuff from newegg. So I gotta wait while I have no computer and the libary computers are pathetic...

[luck777jojo]

it might be that the bios chip fried, or perhaps it might be the cpu, a similar thing happened to me as well a few years ago..... had to change both mobo and cpu to get it working again.

[FudgeBunny]

I took the processor out too and it still had the same problem. I'll find out for sure once the new mboard comes in.

[angelhunt]

maybe u set bios to off comp when it hits 110?, just a guess =/

[FudgeBunny]

nope... I've reset my bios so many times now it's not even funny. I need to replace the battery on that thing.

[Reaver178]

he could be getting a driver error and the comp reboots

[Felix]

With my old computer (also a 2100+) bios would automatically reset the speed that it was supposed to be running at, and would shut down the computer at random times.
Check in bios to see if its running at the right speed, although you probably did that already.

[FudgeBunny]

Ok gents, here's the end of the tale. I got a new motherboard. No problems now. The old mother died completely. I got a ECS KT-600 board. Liking it so far.