Announcement

**Paddy** · 10 January 2006, 11:04

If it doesn't give you a specific error message and simply reboots, then running in safe mode might give you a clue as to what 'driver' the OS is loading at the time of the reboot.

If all else fails, then performing a repair with the installation CD will fix most problems whilst not creating too many of its own.

Why wont the computer boot from floppy. That's OS AND harddrive independant.

az · 10 January 2006, 12:32

Is there a bootlog?

Since it doesn't run from a floppy either, we can pretty much eliminate the harddisk (EDIT: or viruses) as the source. Maybe try WinPE or some Live Linux distro (like Knoppix) - these are operating systems that boot from CD - but I guess you'll just experience the same.

Sounds like it is either RAM, video card, poor cooling or the PSU going bad. If you can, start swapping components (start with the easiest one, RAM - remove all sticks and place known good RAM into as few slots as possible - then VGA, etc. Only swap one at a time with a known good component and try to boot.). Check whether some component or cable has become unseated somehow. To eliminate cooling as an issue, blow the dust out of your fans, optically check if the CPU cooler is still seated well and if all fans actually rotate, try to run the PC with the side panel open, point a desk fan running at full speed at the open PC.

EDIT: Could you link the thread to your old random rebooting problem, please? Maybe it's related.

**Ninju** · 12 January 2006, 09:09

Paddy - Can't run in it Safe Mode, same thing happens as when I try to boot normally.

There's a link to my Random Rebooting problem below, I never did fix that problem.

I'll try what you've suggested and also to keep you updated.

**SitFlyer** · 12 January 2006, 10:14

It was't deleted - http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?t=54019

az · 12 January 2006, 11:34

I couldn't find any solution to your old problem, not even a clue as to what caused it. Looks like the format and reinstall fixed it - that won't help us here. Try and do the steps I mentioned above. I know it's a lot of work, but you want to find out which component is causing the problems, and there really is no other way than to eliminate one possible cause after another. Hope you do have spare parts or a friend who can borrow you parts.

**ND66** · 12 January 2006, 12:19

"I can get into BIOS, basically, that is all I can do."
Does it reboot in Bios too?

I'd start with a different Power Supply.

**degrub** · 12 January 2006, 13:39

Try moving the memory to another slot - on the other bank . Otherwise get a cheap memory module and pull the other one out. If you cannot boot dos, then it is highly likely you have a hardware problem -memory or one of the memory bus controllers on the board. from the sound of it.

**Mcollector** · 12 January 2006, 14:15

I've seen this happen a few of times before. Twice it was a failing power supply. Once it was the dreaded exploded capacitor problem on the mobo (Abit BE6-II v. 2.0). Another time it was a conflict w/ an ISA card. Twice it was cheap memory.

4 suggestions:

(1) Look at your mobo (or any other board in your system), and look for bulging or leaking caps, particularly the cluster of caps around the CPU on the mobo. If found, this is probably the problem.

(2) Try another, higher power, name brand PSU. If you can't afford a really good one, or don't have a friend from whom you can borrow one, buy a Sparkle. They're not too expensive, and are reasonably decent. Stay away from those no-name $10 chinese clones; they suck.

(3) Try removing all cards except the minimal -- keep only the video card, and try again. If necessary, disconnect the HDD and run w/ just the Floppy. Can it boot now? (Your mobo is probably new enough that it has no ISA slots, so that probably isn't an issue.)

(4) Try different memory, or remove all memory except one. If it still fails w/ just one DIMM (or whatever) in the system, try a different DIMM, and maybe a different DIMM slot. Be sure your memory can handle the specs of your system. Use name brand memory. One problem w/ cheap memory will more than cost you in time than the amount you saved by buying cheap memory.

I think the most likely problem is #2, followed by #4, particularly if you try #3 and still have problems and you are using no-name PSU or memory. I would suspect #2 more than anything else if your system has run fine before, but now suddently exhibits this behavior and you have changed nothing.

EDIT: Oh yeah, have you checked for virii? And as az suggested, check to be sure all fans are still turning, and blow out all dust w/ a can of compressed air. Are any fans making horrible noise? Does this happen only after the PC has been on a while, or does it happen all the time?

**Ninju** · 13 January 2006, 04:45

I changed the RAM, haven't tried using a different slot though, I will try that over the weekend. I have tried different IDE Cables (i.e. the ones that came with my motherboard - the reason I didn't use them was they don't seem to fit into the components well (takes quite a bit of force)).

I have only another 300W no-name PSU, so, I will try that tomorrow sometime. I have another Video card - I can't see it being that though since it is basically brand new. I'll try another PSU and Video card see if that does anything. Over the weekend I won't be able to see the board or post any updates so if you could give me as many possible solutions now, that would be great.

Also - on the Random Rebooting problem I had, I reformatted, but it didn't fix it. It seemed slightly better for a while then it started getting worse and worse (i.e. What it was like before the reboot).

Using the Windows 2000 Update Disk I can get onto the Recovery Console, but, I have no idea how to use it, and on the Emergency Repairs thing, I don't have an Emergency Repair disk, is there any way I can make one and if so, how?

Thanks again.

**ND66** · 13 January 2006, 07:31

"It seemed slightly better for a while then it started getting worse and worse (i.e. What it was like before the reboot)."

It sounds more & more like the Power Supply .... .

az · 13 January 2006, 08:54

Hmm. Now you CAN boot with the Win2000 CD? Try and get ahold of a graphical OS that boots from CD, like Knoppix or BartPE. Does that work?

Might also be your harddrive, with the additional info you gave. Run diagnostic tools (IBM/Hitachi Drive Fitness Test or the equivalent from the manufacturer of your HD. You can find that stuff on their website.), if you don't have any important data on the disk, do a low-level format (note: this will take LONG! Only do this if you are sure your PC won't crash, due to hardware failure or your mother pulling the plug!)

**Ninju** · 13 January 2006, 09:06

The only thing I can get into with the CD is the screen where I have three options:

Repair the Installation of Win2k
Install Win2k
Remove Win2k

That is all, I have limited net access so, how much is knoppix (cost). And, if it is a free distro how could I get it since I am unable to download it. (I don't know much about Linux Distros :-/)

And in reply to ND66's earlier post, no, it does not reboot in BIOS.

This will be my last post until Monday, I'll try the things suggested and get back to you first thing after the weekend. Thanks for all the help given so far

az · 13 January 2006, 09:11

OK, so your computer is still able to boot at least something. Knoppix is free, you'd have to download and burn it - maybe a friend could do that for you.

**Mcollector** · 13 January 2006, 11:51

It is sounding more and more like failing h/w. Sounds like a heat related issue, if I read what you wrote correctly (gets worse and worse over time).

I'd try a minimal system, i.e., video card, RAM, FDD (Floppy disk drive), and nothing else (no HDD, no DVD/CD, no addl expansion cards) and see what happens. If you still get random reboots, try swapping PSU's (Power Supply Unit) w/ your other one. If it still does it, try different RAM. If it still does it, maybe motherboard? If it doesn't do it, start adding things back in, one at a time, until you get your failure again. It does NOT appear to be a s/w issue, from what you describe, so trying different s/w won't help.

Have you changed any h/w recently in your system? Added anything? Had a dead fan and replaced it (could have caused something to overheat and get damaged)?

Announcement

Random Computer Meltdown

Random Computer Meltdown

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment