PC keeps rebooting Help needed

oops

oops

oops

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26 Feb 2009
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Hi all I hopoe some one can help My friend asked me to have a look at her computer as it keeps rebooting itself its an compaq dx2400 micro tower, it doesn't give BSOD or anything but boots fine but then after a few minutes reboots? once it gave a series of beeps, two beeps at a time which would sugest the memory (I think) but the problem is that it wont stay on long enough for me to run mem test, I have checked it for thermal paste and it seems fine and I checked the power supply with another psu and checked the power settings in windows and changed them to never turn off to see if that would help but no joy also it lets me into the BIOS and I have reset the CMOS but it still reboots, Im leaning toward the memory being bad. is there any other tests I could run?
Any ideas would be great.
 
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Very quick reply...

What’s the complete system spec – including PSU? (any upgrades recently?)

Is it rebooting under load or idle and what is the exact beep sequence?

Can you sit in the BIOS without a reboot?

First thing you can do is check/re-seat all cables and components (kettle lead, internal power connections, gfx card, memory etc…) – be thorough as it’s easy to overlook a loose connection.

Look at temps - the CPU and system in the BIOS and then the gfx card temps in the OS. (If it’s crashing under load try and get the temps of the CPU and gfx under load too.)

If your temps appear normal – try testing the memory using the memtest bootable ISO (no need for an OS to run it). Remove the sticks and test each stick individually using memtest – try different slots if it re-boots in the first slot.

Good luck.
 
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Not sure of the mobo spec but its onboard gfx,Dual core E2180@2ghz and 1Gb of pc2 6400 ram 250 gb hdd, 300 watt psu no upgrades.
its rebooting under idle and load, the beep sequence is 2 beeps then 2 beeps then 2 beeps continuously
I have never had a reboot while in the BIOS
Where do I find the temps as I cant seem to see them in this BIOS is there any way of getting the temps in the OS?
How do I run memtest bootable ISO ?
Thanks for the help.
 
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seems to be when under load that it keeps rebooting Ive just reseated the processor and noticed that the thermal paste is getting a little thin could this be the cause ? and if so how can I check the temps?
 
It may be heat related and if it is it may not be your CPU - but it will certainly be a prime suspect.

For now check your temps - there shoulod be a tab called 'PC Health Status' in the BIOS or similar - where you can check your idle CPU/system temps.

Download 'realtemp' or 'core temp' to monitor the CPU temps when idle and under load in the OS.

The beep code is 'Parity circuit failure' - and could mean that it's a memroy problem (or MB, PSU... :/). Go to this link and download the Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO and make a CD.

Then make the CD/DVD the first bootable device and run it on each stick as described above.

oops said:
Strike that its just rebooted at idle.
Click to expand...

Still could be heat related - get the idle temps.

Also how dusty is the MB?
 
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oops;14767918I said:
checked the power supply with another psu
Click to expand...

Btw, could you confirm what this means?

If you've tried a known working PSU in the system and get the same problem then we can rule it out - if not it's still a possibilty.
 
Plec said:
Btw, could you confirm what this means?

If you've tried a known working PSU in the system and get the same problem then we can rule it out - if not it's still a possibilty.
Click to expand...

Yeah I used a good power supply so I can rule this out at least, thanks for the links Ill get onto it asap but Im working nights this weekend :( so It will probably be tomorrow morning before I can get back to you with any results but thanks for the help Plec I really appreciate it.
 
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No worries - best of luck.

EDIT: How dusty is the case: Motherboard, heatsinks, CPU cooler, fans etc..?

If it seems excessive - give them a clean because if it is temp related this could be a factor.
 
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There is practicaly no dust inside the case one of the cleanest Ive ever seen, im told that it gets very little use.
PS I have now downloaded the memtest and tried it but the pc keeps rebooting basically as soon as the test starts, and there is nowhere in the BIOS to get the temps only the type of processor and speeds,running @ 2ghz etc.
Im going to try real temp or core temp, I will post as soon as I get the results.
 
oops said:
There is practicaly no dust inside the case one of the cleanest Ive ever seen, im told that it gets very little use.
Click to expand...

That at least saves you one job - on your list if many. ;)

oops said:
PS I have now downloaded the memtest and tried it but the pc keeps rebooting basically as soon as the test starts, and there is nowhere in the BIOS to get the temps only the type of processor and speeds,running @ 2ghz etc.
Im going to try real temp or core temp, I will post as soon as I get the results.
Click to expand...

Did you try different slots and one stick?

Along with either real temp or core temp - you could download HW Monitor link.

EDIT: You may want to consider disconnecting all non essential components - HDD, DVD, USB devices etc - while your trying to get this test working.

We may have to try the above outside of the case if you can't get it to stop re-booting as it may be shorting - is the MB securely fitted?
 
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Im running the HW Monitor and the two cores are running at max of 36C and 40C atm.
there is only one stick of memory @ 1gb
willtry the other tests in the morning.
 
No Im affraid Ive no other memory to try, im now getting three beeps from the pc which is Base 64K memory failure, does this mean that its the memory?
 
It's looking like a memory problem - but it may be MB related rather than the memory itself.

Ideally, you would test a different stick in there - it may be worth him buying some from his local PC store just to rule it out (ask the store if it's ok to return if it is the MB - they may charge a restocking fee.)
 
I think Ill try a new stick of memory in it to see if that cures it ;) if not its back to the drawing board :( Ill report back as soon as I try it, thanks for all your help.
 
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