Computer Restarting...

[DanTheMan18]

Ok, I've been messing with computers for over a decade, and this is beyond me. Whenever my computer restarts, it'll start back up... sometimes. Others it locks up, and then other times it screws with my monitor, almost remniscent of hooking a incompatible video card up, just chains of colors.

I've formatted my hard drive, reinstalled XP, and now whenever I restart, it still does the same thing. Any ideas?

And for general info, I've had the system going on 2 years now, no problems like this before. Just started recentley, and damn is it annoying.

[NWanner]

sounds like you may have a motherboard problem, i did with my old computer and it was overheater/shortcircuiting/something and it would randomly restart. got a new motherborad and the problem went away

[wana-bit-of-taz]

Id go with that answer... just to try (if you havnt done so).... just remove everything and get it back to the basic motherboard and graphics card, make sure you got the latest BIOS as XP SP2 and some updates have been known not to work so well on some pc's....

If all is still the same then try a different graphics card.....

But i would also go with motherboard/cpu/memory at fault...

[Zelda84]

Sounds like a memory failure or dirty RAM.

Ok Dan, here is what I would do. You need to open up the PC and remove the RAM sticks. Get a good eraser, a good #2 pencil one will work. Now rub the contacts where it seats into the ram slots till they are nice and shiny. Make sure you dont creat static while doing so, or keep your wrists resting on the case. Then take a small clean paint brush, an old modeling paint brush will work, and sweap the ram slots if dust and dirt. Reinstall the RAM. See if that helps. If you have multiple sticks, add one at a time or swap them back and forth to see if the system will boot.

If neither of these ideas work. Call your local PC shops and see if they have a RAM testing machine. Not a software based one. They are not as accurate. You should ask them if its a stand-alone machine. If so make sure they can test the type of RAM you own.
If the RAM has passed everything after cleaning it and having it tested, then I agree with the guys you could have a failed Motherboard. However I would still remove all other cards first, Audio card, Modem, Network, ETC. Then try booting the PC. If it still reboots, try a different video card. After doing all of this, then its down to either the motherboard or CPU.
I know this sounds like alot of work....welcome to my daily routine. But before throwing parts at it, make sure you have the right thing to replace before buying all the wrong stuff. Too expencive to waste money like that, and alot of places will not take back PC hardware.

Good luck and let me know if it helps!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[DanTheMan18]

thanks man, I will try that after I get off work, and give you an update (if I can get it to restart, lol)

I appreciate all the help!

[1968_Camaro_SS]

[ QUOTE ]
Zelda84 said:
Sounds like a memory failure or dirty RAM.

Ok Dan, here is what I would do. You need to open up the PC and remove the RAM sticks. Get a good eraser, a good #2 pencil one will work. Now rub the contacts where it seats into the ram slots till they are nice and shiny. Make sure you dont creat static while doing so, or keep your wrists resting on the case. Then take a small clean paint brush, an old modeling paint brush will work, and sweap the ram slots if dust and dirt. Reinstall the RAM. See if that helps. If you have multiple sticks, add one at a time or swap them back and forth to see if the system will boot.

If neither of these ideas work. Call your local PC shops and see if they have a RAM testing machine. Not a software based one. They are not as accurate. You should ask them if its a stand-alone machine. If so make sure they can test the type of RAM you own.
If the RAM has passed everything after cleaning it and having it tested, then I agree with the guys you could have a failed Motherboard. However I would still remove all other cards first, Audio card, Modem, Network, ETC. Then try booting the PC. If it still reboots, try a different video card. After doing all of this, then its down to either the motherboard or CPU.
I know this sounds like alot of work....welcome to my daily routine. But before throwing parts at it, make sure you have the right thing to replace before buying all the wrong stuff. Too expencive to waste money like that, and alot of places will not take back PC hardware.

Good luck and let me know if it helps!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes def. make sure your not generating any static and dont lay any parts on the carpet.

[Franko]

HEAT is a main problem. Make sure that you have a nice solid air flow in the case. Many times when the computer resets is either the MB (like said above) or its overheating and the protection from heat turns the computer off. Take the side off the case and make sure all the fans are still working. You might have to add some fans but they are cheap ($4). Instead of calling a PC shop why not try memset which is similiar if not the same thing they will run on your computer (http://www.memtest.org/). I work for a webdesign/repair shop and thats what we use. This should save you some $$$ so u could use it for gas or mods.

[02Fbirdman]

if it comes up with a blue screen of death before your computer restarts you have overheating issues. I had this same problem.

[DanTheMan18]

Yeah.. I've bought a new computer, so the other one is out in the garage collecting dust. Moved the new tower to a more ventilated spot. We shall see how this one goes.. it has an extended warranty through my work!

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif