Is my computer dying? - Overclock.net

adam144 · 09-08-06

This is a pretty big problem

Even though the system is old, I like it and it's faithfully served me for 3 years, with hardly any major problems.

Now, I've been getting random restarts just completely out of the blue... I thought it was a PSU problem so I replaced it with the same type of PSU from another case. Then I tried unplugging my fans 'cos I thought that would make some more wattage available for the rest of my PC. I then checked the power cable going into the PSU. It was half-way out.. I thought I had fixed it because the computer stopped restarting.

However, it started again today and a few minutes ago I got a BSOD. I took a picture of it on my camera phone but I can't find the bluetooth dongle to transfer the picture, and the phone's screen is too small to be able to see the text.

I will try to find the dongle to try and get the image, but until then, I'd like suggestions if this computer is dead and what to check, etc.

Temps are fine, DIMMs are fully inserted.. power cables to mobo are fully connected.. molexes are fully connected.. only thing I can think of is a problem with the PSU, or the Hard Drive, or the plug socket :|

Perhaps the computer just needs more wattage than 300W now that it's 3 years old... sigh.. if this computer is dead I have no computer for 4 months until I get my new system.. I'll be dying for those 4 months!! :'(

Cheers, Adam

claymanhb · 09-08-06

300W should be fine for your rig. Does it beep when it shuts off?

**The Duke** · 09-08-06

A long shot but worth it... unplug the case On/Off switch, and jump the two pins on the MB manually, let it run and see if it still randomly shuts down. A defective switch can be a real pain!

adam144 · 09-08-06

Quote:

Originally Posted by claymanhb

300W should be fine for your rig. Does it beep when it shuts off?

Yeah it does. Just like when I turn it on...

Quote:

A long shot but worth it... unplug the case On/Off switch, and jump the two pins on the MB manually, let it run and see if it still randomly shuts down. A defective switch can be a real pain!

Hehe, well that will probably be my last resort. Been running for around 15 mins now without a restart... *party*

noxious89123 · 09-08-06

I'm not sure if this might have anything to do with it, but its a simple free thing to check:

Look at the mobo for any signs of damage, and check all the capacitors; are the tops of any bulging?

I mean... if there was something physically wrong with the mobo that would cause problems right?

Also get a pen & paper, and next time it BSOD's write down ALL of what the message says (photo's can be hard to read).

BSOD's can tell you alot.

adam144 · 09-08-06

Gah. Practically as soon as I posted that last message, the PC restarted.

It POSTed fine, then it froze on a black screen just before the Windows XP loading thingy.

I restarted, then it loaded the CPU/Hard Drive/CD Drive Data, then froze on the first BIOS screen. I thought something was seriously wrong at this point so I unplugged the whole computer and took it down for some inspection.

I took out all the components I could (graphics, ram, sound, modem) and made sure their slots were free of dust. One of my DIMM slots had a bit of dust on it but not where the pins go in ... I wonder if that had anything to do with it?

Made sure everything was connected and properly plugged in, fired it up.. got a CMOS checksum error, dunno why I got this error.. it just said that the defaults had been loaded. I made sure BIOS was set correctly and launched Windows and here I am now.

Hopefully my cleaning out should have sorted it. If not, I'll try some other RAM.

If it's a processor related problem then I'm screwed. The heatsink is practically IMPOSSIBLE to remove without breaking it..

Villainstone · 09-10-06

I would have to say PSU my friend old PSU poop out easy from my experience. I have seen this situation in my own PC twice and once in my GF's mom's PC a new PSU fixed it in all three situations. If you are looking for a name brand and new PSU for cheap I have one for sale and 450w. If you decide to buy it and it doesn't help I will take it back and send you the money back. Realisticly you have nothing to lose if it doesn't help send it back if it does help you got a great PSU for cheap.
http://www.overclock.net/sale/115909...0-pn-well.html

xxmonkey321xx · 09-10-06

This happened to me, and it was a software error that would cause a BSOD one a month, then once a week, then once a day, teice a day, etc till i couldn't even use my computer..

the BSOD would say "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL".. is this what you are getting too?

Perhaps it's a software problem? Have you installed any new software lately? (Specifically Panda AntiVirus..)

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Is my computer dying?

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