Can anyone work this out?

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

Buchanan0204

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I got a pc to sort. The problem was it kept cutting out randomly and wouldn't restart, kept trying too but never managed it. Had to wait 20 minutes before it would boot back up. These random restarts would occur every day or so.

My inital thoughts were the power supply, I replaced it with a brand new working power supply, thought the problem was solved, gave it back and a day later it cut out again.

I then took it back, he told me it would come up, "windows is shutting down" now that indicated a virus too me as a psu problem wouldnt shutdown properly. So I replaced the hard disk with another, a western digital caviar 300GB and used the old one a storage drive.

I installed a fresh copy of windows 7 onto the new hard disk, thinking well that will definitely eliminate any viruses.

gave it back, and sure as hell a day later... calls me up, still doing it.

I then took it back again, and tested everything. I ran memtest for 2 hours, no errors found, i also let prime95 run overnight for 12 hours maxing out the ram and cpu, and it never restarted or conked out on me. No temps are detected in everest, i presume it doesnt have any temp sensors, besides the hdd's. Running the cpu at 100% for 12 hours would obviously eliminate overheating issues aswell.

I also scanned the motherboard for errors using hirens boot cd, it done all the relevant scans, and passed them all.

So that's the hard disk and psu been replaced, can't be them!
The memory passed memtest after 2 hours, cant be that
cpu lasted 12 hours of prime, cant be that
the mobo passed all the relevant scans, can't be that

I also removed the pci tv card, just incase it caused a problem.

I forgot to mention, when i got called to his house i witnessed it doing it, it would turn on and when i was running a windows 7 memory test initially before memtest, it cut out on me. Then it also cut out several times when i was in the bios. So this surely eliminates viruses or software problems?

I really have no clue what to do, I also forgot to mention i put a high performance psu in after the replacement incase the brand new replacement was faulty. It's a 500 watt ocz stealth

the pc is an old dell dimension 5100 or so, forget the model.

running pentium d 2.8ghz
1GB ram

If anyone can shine some light on this mystery for me, i would be ever so greatful. I really have never came across anything like it before.
 
might be one of your usb devices drawing too much current, Take all the USB devs out, and leave it on see what it does?
 
Did you use a modular power supply and re-use the mobo cables?
Reason I ask is that I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a loose connection in the 24pin lead.
 
Dodgey power switch on case?

Seen it happen before due to dust build up.

Could be a faulty switch in the case though.

iirc its a dell special that has usb and sound in it too and has its own cable to motherboard? If so then there is no way to bypass it to see (short pins out by hand) if that the problem (i think...never found one) Only way would be to replace.
 
<<<<<scratches head (I'm being polite here!!!!...lol)

Graphics? Onboard or AGP or PCI?

Win 7 may be shutting down because it detects a hardware conflict. As Camoe suggests start with the bear minimum connected and work your way up. That includes that other drive and usb/PCI devices.

have you reinstalled his software or just using a "bare" reinstall?

The rig was running ok, so can your client remember any change he made to it immediately prior to this problem starting?

EDIT = application software I mean
 
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Essexraptor said:
<<<<<scratches head (I'm being polite here!!!!...lol)

Graphics? Onboard or AGP or PCI?

Win 7 may be shutting down because it detects a hardware conflict. As Camoe suggests start with the bear minimum connected and work your way up. That includes that other drive and usb/PCI devices.

have you reinstalled his software or just using a "bare" reinstall?

The rig was running ok, so can your client remember any change he made to it immediately prior to this problem starting?
Click to expand...

It's running a pci graphics card, It's definitely not a windows 7 problem, like i mentioned it was cutting out in the bios... so not software related.

I did strip everything out as i always do, disconnected the dvd drives, tv card etc.

I was pondering with the idea it could be the graphics, but surely that wouldn't cause it too cut out when in the bios?
 
postmanfw said:
Dodgey power switch on case?

Seen it happen before due to dust build up.

Could be a faulty switch in the case though.

iirc its a dell special that has usb and sound in it too and has its own cable to motherboard? If so then there is no way to bypass it to see (short pins out by hand) if that the problem (i think...never found one) Only way would be to replace.
Click to expand...

Surely a faulty power switch wouldn't cause it to restart and shutdown randomly. The power switch works everytime you press it, it's never been non responsive?
 
After re-reading the thread.... i must admit I really admit i really favour postmanfw's explanation

..... dodgy power on switch but perhaps that would be a immediate power off with no warning message first?

I'm having fun trying to get a "old" AMD Athlon XP powered rig running stable at the mo!!!
 
Cutting out in Bios completely cuts out a software problem because you are just past the Post stage done by the onboard power up sequence. Surely it points to a power problem with the MB. i know you have checked it but these older MB's do eventually break down with age (like us all!!!...lol).

Drastic measures but perhaps moving his setup to another MB would be the answer. A popular auction site maybe your next port of call? older Pentium MB's do come up on the members market on here but sadly you don't qualify at the mo.:(
 
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I had a similar problem. I used to think my PC was overheating. Except it started to do it despite low temps (I was checking them with my IR thermometer as well!) Took me a while, but I eventually tracked it down, the ATX 24-pin plug was not latched in place. I would recommend removing all the plugs and re-plugging them in. Same for the cards and ram. Blow out the slots to ensure there are no foreign objects in there too!
 
I'll ponder it when I'm at work tonight!!!

Found my problem.... a jumper (yes i know... but I did say a old Athon XP on a Socket A MB) had become dislodged when I was blowing half a ton of **** out of the case with a air line!!!!!!!

I still go with a MB shorting out problem at the mo!! :)
 
I'm wondering if it could be the motherboard?
Even though it passes stability testing ect it could be another part coursing the problem.
 
RJC said:
I'm wondering if it could be the motherboard?
Even though it passes stability testing ect it could be another part coursing the problem.
Click to expand...

I'm really starting to think so myself. It's definitely nothing else, everything else has been tested to the limit,

there isn't any real programs out there to test the motherboard from inside windows anyway.
 
PhillyDee said:
I had a similar problem. I used to think my PC was overheating. Except it started to do it despite low temps (I was checking them with my IR thermometer as well!) Took me a while, but I eventually tracked it down, the ATX 24-pin plug was not latched in place. I would recommend removing all the plugs and re-plugging them in. Same for the cards and ram. Blow out the slots to ensure there are no foreign objects in there too!
Click to expand...

Trust me, i've had 3 power supplys in this thing, I doubt very much I never connected it up properly three times.

If the ram or graphics wasn't in correctly, it wouldnt boot and run for 12 hours.
 
Buchanan0204 said:
Surely a faulty power switch wouldn't cause it to restart and shutdown randomly. The power switch works everytime you press it, it's never been non responsive?
Click to expand...

It would if it was faulty and giving off a signal as though its been pushed :)

A short signal would shutdown pc giving a windows is shutting down message.
A long signal would cause it to go off completely.
Short one in the bios would also cause it to go off completely.

Had it happen to me when dust was pushing the switch in inside the case.

One way to tell would be to change the power option so that if button is pushed it goes into standby rather than shutdown. then if you get it going into standby rather than shutdown you know :)
 
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