Best way to diagnose Computer issues?

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:45

I've just started to have an issue where the PC is randomly cutting off.

It doesn't look like it's a Windows issue or a driver issue as checking the Windows event viewer shows nothing apart from a Critical error saying...

The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

There's nothing before this related to the exact time when the reboot happens.

I've checked the temps and CPU and motherboard are fine.

I've re-installed Windows and still get the issue.

There's no real pattern to when it happens, it's not opening a specific app, or stressing the system.

When this happens the system doesn't blue screen or reboot, the screen just goes blank and all disk activity stops.

Anything else I can check?? besides swapping out components?

throwaway4372 · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:47

I'd start with a clean windows install and posting your full system specs here.

Backup data obvs.

Tetras · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:48

Gman said:
Anything else I can check?? besides swapping out components?

Any recent changes to the PC? Bios changes? New devices?

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:50

here's the XML content of the Critical error if its of any help

<Event xmlns="
http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event
">

- <System>

<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Kernel-Power" Guid="{331c3b3a-2005-44c2-ac5e-77220c37d6b4}" />

<EventID>41</EventID>

<Version>9</Version>

<Level>1</Level>

<Task>63</Task>

<Opcode>0</Opcode>

<Keywords>0x8000400000000002</Keywords>

<TimeCreated SystemTime="2023-09-12T17:34:57.3921115Z" />

<EventRecordID>9851</EventRecordID>

<Correlation />

<Execution ProcessID="4" ThreadID="8" />

<Channel>System</Channel>

<Computer>MyComputer</Computer>

<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />

</System>

- <EventData>

<Data Name="BugcheckCode">0</Data>

<Data Name="BugcheckParameter1">0x0</Data>

<Data Name="BugcheckParameter2">0x0</Data>

<Data Name="BugcheckParameter3">0x0</Data>

<Data Name="BugcheckParameter4">0x0</Data>

<Data Name="SleepInProgress">0</Data>

<Data Name="PowerButtonTimestamp">0</Data>

<Data Name="BootAppStatus">0</Data>

<Data Name="Checkpoint">0</Data>

<Data Name="ConnectedStandbyInProgress">false</Data>

<Data Name="SystemSleepTransitionsToOn">0</Data>

<Data Name="CsEntryScenarioInstanceId">0</Data>

<Data Name="BugcheckInfoFromEFI">false</Data>

<Data Name="CheckpointStatus">0</Data>

<Data Name="CsEntryScenarioInstanceIdV2">0</Data>

<Data Name="LongPowerButtonPressDetected">false</Data>

<Data Name="LidReliability">false</Data>

<Data Name="InputSuppressionState">0</Data>

<Data Name="PowerButtonSuppressionState">0</Data>

<Data Name="LidState">3</Data>

</EventData>

</Event>

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 18:52

Tetras said:
Any recent changes to the PC? Bios changes? New devices?

Nope, nothing changed, no new hardware or devices. No new software.

Even formatted and reinstalled windows fresh with hardly anything installed and still the same issue.

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:00

throwaway4372 said:
I'd start with a clean windows install and posting your full system specs here.

Backup data obvs.

currently running a fresh install of windows from a couple of days ago

System is this

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throwaway4372 · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:08

ah it's old, couple of things to check:

what gpu and psu do you have?

use crystaldiskinfo to check ssd health

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:13

throwaway4372 said:
ah it's old, couple of things to check:

what gpu and psu do you have?

use crystaldiskinfo to check ssd health

GPU is a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER

ssd IS a Samsung SSD 960 EVO 250gb

going to run the crystal disk now and see what happens , thanks

Crystal is showing the SSD as Good 92%

drakulton · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:28

May be worth replacing the CMOS battery. They're cheap and can cause all sorts of gremlins when they go bad.

throwaway4372 · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:32

seems reasonable so far, just old.

need to know what the power supply is

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:56

throwaway4372 said:
seems reasonable so far, just old.

need to know what the power supply is

not sure on the make without getting it all out but I know its a 850w

Gman · 12 Sep 2023 at 19:56

drakulton said:
May be worth replacing the CMOS battery. They're cheap and can cause all sorts of gremlins when they go bad.

cheers, i'll add that to the list

hood1971 · 18 Sep 2023 at 10:58

Have you tested RAM? Memtest86 used to be my go to, not sure if it is still the preferred software.

gtl_racer · 19 Sep 2023 at 09:53

I would also check for sticky power/reset buttons, seen them cause similar problems too many times..

JollyJamma · 19 Sep 2023 at 10:19

Sounds like RAM but could be any number of things.

Use TestMem 5.

Remove one stick of RAM and see if you still have the same issue.

If it’s an old enough motherboard, it could be a faulty capacitor not delivering clean power.

Could also be a bad PSU that’s failing.

Really depends and this is why IT guys have known good components to test with.