Desktop Reboots at random

JGrant1285

JGrant1285

JGrant1285

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Joined
10 Jun 2005
Posts
51
Hi all,

wasnt sure what section to put it under, so i though this would be the best place.

Well, i re-installed XP on my desktop machine earlier this morning, and it went well (what i thought anyway). Ive formatted and done fresh installs loads of times, but never came across this before.

Now, my desktop reboots itself on its own, at random. Sometimes it will boot up, get to the BIOS screen, then reboot, then reboot, the time between reboots gets smaller and smaller, then reboots, eventually until its almost just resetting itself. Other times, it doesnt do it, it will boot up nicely, load windows, log in, and no problems.

Other times the machine may have been runing for an hour......and your not doing anything...then all of a sudden....REBOOT!!! It makes like a sort of slight 'clicking' noise.

It also boots sometimes......(you can year it) & everything SOUNDS normal....but there is no input to the monitor.

Its very,very strange, theres no particular pattern to it either.

I swear someone is looking at me taking the p*ss!!! :mad:

Any ideas what it may be? Any suggestions to what i could try doing?

Any help appreciated - MANY thanks

Jim

:(
 
When you get to desktop, click start > right click my computer > properties > advanced tab > settings under startup and recovery. Make sure the auto restart box is unchecked.

Is your psu powerful enough for your pc? Have you tried resetting CMOS? (Take out the small battery on the motherboard for a minute or so)
 
Maccy said:
When you get to desktop, click start > right click my computer > properties > advanced tab > settings under startup and recovery. Make sure the auto restart box is unchecked.

Is your psu powerful enough for your pc? Have you tried resetting CMOS? (Take out the small battery on the motherboard for a minute or so)
Click to expand...


Hi Maccy,

I have removed the battery already, and replaced it, that made no change.

However, IF it will load windows for me, i will give make sure the auto restert box is unchecked!!

Really strange this, never had any problems like this before with this machine. :confused:

Cheers for the advice
 
Maccy said:
When you get to desktop, click start > right click my computer > properties > advanced tab > settings under startup and recovery. Make sure the auto restart box is unchecked.
Click to expand...

Done that, and after about 5 minutes, , just playing an MP3......it rebooted....no BSOD or anything!!

Then as it was rebooting, it got to the BIOS screen (where it tells you the manufacturer of the BIOS) and then it rebooted again.

FFS - this is really starting to annoy me!!!

what do people suggest?
 
Maccy said:
I reckon it's either PSU or motherboard related. Can you try another PSU at all?
Click to expand...

Hi Mate,

No, i cant try another PSU, this is the only one i have, and ive been using this for a while.

Motherboard wise, not sure how to test. Although i have just installed a new DVD-RW drive (yesterday), BUT, it was doing it before i installed this drive also, just not as much/bad.

Another thing that may have something to do with it, is the new case that i recently put all my components in (had no problems), came with 2 fans in the case. Obviously there is a connection on the mobo for 'system fan' - this had a wire running from that connection to the PSU. The 2 other fans which were in the case had no power supply. I went to M-aplin and bought 2 adaptors so that these fans plug into the Optical drives/HD power supplies. Do you think this may be something to do with it? :confused:

Please, please, please - someone help me?

Thanks for your help!!!!
 
Last edited:
Unplugg any additional fans you have added and see.

Thinking...if all it takes is a couple of fans maybe your PSU is on the low side.

Whats in the box incl the PSU?
 
split said:
Unplugg any additional fans you have added and see.

Thinking...if all it takes is a couple of fans maybe your PSU is on the low side.

Whats in the box incl the PSU?
Click to expand...

In the case there is:

PSU
Gigabyte Mobo
NVIDA Geforce something or other Graphics card,
Soundblaster soundcard
LG DVD-RW drive (the new one)
120GB Maxtor internal HD
60GB Seagate Internal HD (needs to be formatted yet), but cant due to above problem,
2 Case fans
2 cooling fans (that plug into free expansion slots) - these are to cool down the graphics & sound cards.

Do you think that the PSU may be on its way out?

Ive had the machine & PSU for maybe 3-4 years?

P.S. I can try and run belarc advisor to give you the FULL spec of the machine too if required.

Thanks again
 
What recent changes have you made?
Is this a new case maybe?

IME PSUs just work or don't work, but it may be on it's way out I guess.
 
split said:
What recent changes have you made?
Is this a new case maybe?

IME PSUs just work or don't work, but it may be on it's way out I guess.
Click to expand...

Yes it is a new case, but the PC has been running fine in this case for the last few days, no problems. Then all of a sudden, it starts doing random reboots.

I even changed the auto-reboot option in My computer, and it STILL rebooted on its own :confused:
 
I'm wondering it's a harddrive problem you've got.

Download and run SeaTools for DOS. Run the Short test on BOTH drives (Windows drive (120gb?) first). If the drives pass the Short test, then run the Long test - this is a more thorough test.

If the drives pass, then I've obviously wasted your time - but personally, I don't trust Maxtor harddrives! :D

Oh don't worry about running a Seagate tool on your drive. Maxtor has been taken over by Seagate.
 
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