Random Restarts

Slime

Slime

Slime

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10 Nov 2006
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After recently purchasing a new Seagate 320GB 7200.10 and overcoming a few niggly little problems, i'm experiencing completely random restarts.

It will only happen when i switch on my computer after it's been off overnight or for a considerable length of time and has only started since i've installed the new HDD. It happened a few times when i was installing Windows. What can i do to find out what's causing it, as it's completely random?

Any help appreciated :)
 
Hard disks do not tend to make PC's restart, even if they do go faulty. It may be that you have a weak psu, and any extra power required by the new hdd is pushing it over the edge.

If you have another hdd, disconnect the new one and see if restarts occur.
 
Hmm, it's a possibility although it's a fairly new PSU. I think it's an Enermax 500W. I'll check when i get home. Should this be enough to power my spec? This being the case, why would it be ok when it's left on for hours? It'll literally only happen if i turn my computer off for a few hours.

Gigabyte DS3
6300 @ 2.8Ghz
2GB Geil 6400
Seagate 320GB 7200.10
Maxtor DiamondMax 250GB
X1900XT
DVD RW
Fan Controller
Card Reader
3 x 120mm Actua Fans
 
if it is 500w then it should be fine, i've got almost the same spec (minus the overclock) and it's running fine on 400W.

Are the random restarts blue screens? if so it could be a bad block on the disk, do a full disk check
 
Nope, they aren't blue screens and i don't get a message or pop up when i restart windows. I've turned off Automatic Restart hoping that i'd get a blue screen but i've had no such luck. It's really quite annoying!

P.S. It's definitely an Enermax Liberty 500W
 
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Remove any items that are not critical and see if the problem still ocuurs. For example, remove the 250GB HDD and DVD-RW power plugs.

Your fan controller may also cause power issues if it is a cheapo version that combines the 12/7v wires.
 
Fan Controller is an Akasa FC-03. Not sure if that's regarded as cheap or whether it combines 12/7v wires. Any way of checking? I'll remove a few things when i have time and see if it works. Only problem is that once it's happened, i'll have to leave it for hours before i can try it again :(
 
I had this on a machine recently. Random reboots with nothing obvious.

All I did to cure it was to switch the memory stick to the alternate slot. That cured it for some strange reason.

Is it possible something was knocked inside when installing the new drive?
 
Hmm....Sometime today my internet has stopped working. I can't even connect to the router. I pulled my USB Network Adapter out and the computer restarted almost instantly. Saying that, i also turned my fans on high about a minute before then, so i'm guessing it's one of the two.... :confused:
 
restarts could be due to faulty RAM also or alternatively your RAM being in the wrong slots...

Have you run memtest on your RAM? if yes and it did show your RAM to be faulty, then have you checked your RAM is in the correct slots??

Alternatively it could be a software conflict....

When your computer restarts, and you are at the desktop, right click on my computer icon, go to manage, then check events manager to get a log of what caused the error...

I just noticed you have 3 fans + a fan controller....however I do not know what PSU you have? check the rail readings and if you are unsure what they are , install "cpuz" take a screenie of the volt readings and then post them here....perhaps you do not have adequate juice in the PSU....

So to recap two things:

a) check RAM
b) let us know what PSU you have...

Good luck
 
Hey,

I do already have CPU-Z but i'm unable to find anything within it which lists the PSU Volt readings. The PSU is an Enermax Liberty 500W, bought fairly recently. Last night was the first time it's rebooted when it's been left on for hours.
 
I've just knocked the front of my PC with my foot very gently and it restarted instantly. When i was putting it all together, the standoffs for the motherboard weren't long enough and so the screws from my Tuniq Tower kept touching the motherboard tray and shorting it.

I've used ever so slightly longer standoffs which just about clear it, although to be honest, it looks like they're touching. Is this likely to be the problem?

:confused:
 
I am not quite sure to be honest....if there was a short with the mobo the mobo would die instantly, as i have found previously...I would not think so though because if your Mobo was shorting it would die instantly...

Have you checked the events viewer?? after your pc restarts??

Have you checked the RAM is in the correct slots?
 
If your Mobo is shorting then it's possible, and this is a long shot, that because your stand offs are JUST long enough they help clear the case when the PC is at a certain temp, as it cools or heats it components will contract and expand to a greater or lesser degree maybe during this expansion / contraction something is shorting?
 
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