PC keeps randomly restarting

[PCNoob101]

I searched the forums and found people suggesting that the pc randomly restarting may be caused by bad memory or power supply. How do I test both to see if they are in fact the culprit? What could be other sources to cause this problem?

Thanks

 

[SlitheryDee]

Only way I can think of to test them would be to check each individually in another computer and watch for symptoms. When my last computer started restarting for no reason I checked cpu temps and they were way high (mid 60-70s). I Blew all the dust out of my heatsink/fan assembly reattached and instantly the temps dropped to mid 40s. My comp was stable afterward as well. So maybe heat's your problem.

 

[bowserjs]

To test ram you could use memtest and let it run for a day or so

 

[Demonicon]

Can you give us your system specs and what OS you use? That would help immensely.

 

[stevty2889]

Yeah, system specs would help greatly..I mean if you suspect your PSU..wouldn't you want to at least tell us what PSU you are using? But yeah, running memtest is a good way to test your ram. It could also be a heat issue, so again we will need more info about your system, and could definatly be the PSU as well..just give us some more info and it will be a lot easier to help..

 

[larry89]

Bad Psu

Bad Memory

Not enough Vcore Or Dram Voltage

Bad Cpu

either of these.

 

[RussianSensation]

Also my computer restarted forever, until I checked every component and realized ATI Driver Catalyst 4.x (dont remember which one) was causing it.

 

[PCNoob101]

My system is roughly 2.5 years old and I have never had a problem like this before. I have actually never had a real problem with it. It started a few days ago and so far today it hasnt happened.

XP Home edition
AMD athlon xp2100+
512mb samsung ddrram pc2100
Western Digital 80 gb wd800jb
nvidia geforce4 Ti 4600
santa cruz sound card
asus a7v266-e motherboard
plextor cd-rw
samsung cd-rom
antec power supply true430 atx

Thanks for the help.

 

[stevty2889]

Do you get a blue screen of death before it restarts, or does it just restart? Right click on my comptuer, click properties, advanced, settings for startup and recovery, and uncheck the automaticly restart box. Are you using anything to monitor your temperatures? Cleaned the dust out of your heatsink recently?

 

[PCNoob101]

No , I dont get the blue screen. It will either just go black and restart or it will go into the windows logging off screen as if I actually restarted through windows. Not using anything to monitor temps. I recently used a vacuum inside of my computer to clean the dust. As of today, no random restarts, though.

 

[RelaxTheMind]

collective dust can be conductive. fixed several no-boots with a simple shower with the airblaster.

wouldnt suggest using vacuum again unless it is specifically made for electronics (with an antistatic tube).

 

[PCNoob101]

Cool, thanks for the advice. So far so good today. Im just hoping it was a hickup and won't happen anymore.

 

[Woody419]

2 1/2 years old. Just old enough to get the last batch of the mb's with bad capacitors. The caps leak after a while and give all sorts of random problems like reboots. I have a photo of what to look for HERE.
This is a known problem and your mb is still under warranty.

Hope it was just the dust.