Spontaneous reboot...?

[Udimet720]

Recently, my computer spontaneously rebooted while I was writing a paper. Fortunately, I didn't really lose anything. But, then it happened a couple of days later while I was scanning a document. Any ideas what could have caused this? The way I figure, it could be something with the PSU, MB, reset switch, or even my surge protector.

This has never happened to me before this.

Anyone had anything like this happen to them?

Thanks for your suggestions...

- David

 

[ledzepp98]

as you accurately mentioned, this could be caused bu many things... you can start by giving a detailed description of your computer and what OS you are using...

 

[tboneuls]

Are you running XP?
Well, I don't have time to wait for a response so I'll assume that you do but it should work with any OS. There is a good little bit of info in the March 2002 issue of PC world on p 21.
Most likely the probelm lies in your drivers - run windows update, and see if there are newer drivers for any of your devices. You may also have to try older drivers, it could be a bug in the newer driver.... tell me how it goes.

 

[Udimet720]

Rig Name: David's Rig
CPU: AMD Athlon 1000MHz @ 1260MHz
Motherboard: Soyo K7VTA-B
Memory: 639 MB of Crucial PC133
Video Card: ATI 64MB DDR ViVo (ATI Radeon)
Hard Drive: Quantum 40.0 GB @ 7200 RPMS
Monitor: Envision 910e 19
DVD Manufacturer & Model: Creative 12x
CDR/CDRW Manufacturer & Model: Plextor 8/4/32
Storage Interface: IDE

Sound Card: Creative MP3+ 5.1
Internet Provider: Quik Internet
Internet Connection Type: Dial Up

Internet Connection Speed: 115.2K
Operating System: Windows XP

Maybe I'm confused... I've never had a driver cause a reboot. I'm not talking about a blue screen. I mean the computer just reboots all the way. Windows is up to date. BUt, I will try to look for other driver updates... and check out the article

Thanks

 

[ledzepp98]

how often does it happen? does it happen at stock speeds? it could be a sign that your overclock is not stable.

 

[hkctr]

I believe the default setting for XP is to reboot on errors. I had the same problem and it was caused by the ATI drivers. Went back to an older version and the problem stopped.

 

[Slapstick]

Could be heat. The temp shot up into the mid 80's this week where I live and I don't have the air conditioning on. One of my PC's, a P3 700 running 933, decided it doesn't like the heat and reboots occasionly. (W2k set to reboot on errors) Before the weather changed it was nice and stable. I guess I'll have to turn the air on sooner than I wanted.

 

[sak]

i would think the biggest cause of any problem in a computer is always either... Software that is not totally compatiable or drivers that are either not upto date.

so get updates to every software and hardware that u have on the computer.

If not do what i do..have an image of a the fresh install...and just bring up that image if u having big problems...

although in this situation i would just look for updates

 

[Udimet720]

Opps... Details should read as below...

Rig Name: David's Rig
CPU: AMD Athlon 1000MHz @ 1000MHz
Motherboard: ECS K7S5A
Memory: 256 MB of Crucial 2100 DDR, 256 MB of Mushkin 2100 DDR
Video Card: ATI 64MB DDR ViVo (ATI Radeon)
Hard Drive: Quantum 40.0 GB @ 7200 RPMS
Monitor: Envision 910e 19
DVD Manufacturer & Model: Creative 12x
CDR/CDRW Manufacturer & Model: LiteOn 24/8/40
Storage Interface: IDE

Sound Card: Creative MP3+ 5.1
Internet Provider: Quik Internet
Internet Connection Type: Dial Up

Internet Connection Speed: 115.2K
Operating System: Windows XP

Heat could be a problem. It has been a bit warm and humid here in Boston. But, my system is no longer OC'ed. My CPU usually runs at about 40 C. So far, it has only happened twice, very recently. I don't recall it happening before that at all.

Thanks for your replies...
I will try to get updates this weekend.

- David

 

[Demonicon]

First remove all add-on cards except the video card and remove all but one stick of ram. Try running like this.
If it still is happening. Take out that one stick of RAM and put in another stick.

Check your Power supply voltages in BIOS. MBM5 is great for voltage readouts because it does a high and low and a average.

Does it happen alot?

 

[Random Variable]

something is overheating

 

[Geoffrey]

I have been doing a bit of research on this reboot problem....I have heard that it only happens with XP, and even I have had the same problems that you have had, so here's what I found out:

XP is built on a software base that is the same as windows 2000 and windows nt, so it is not at all liike ME. Generally, the cause of its shutdown is because of a fatal error. Instead of giving you the 'blue screen of death' that is so common in windows 95 and 98, it just reboots and asks you if you want to send an error report to microsoft. Don't bother sending error reports, but my experience is that its a faulty piece of hardware...perhaps a wierd 56k modem that it doesn't like. That was my case, so test some of your hardware...XP is very fussy about the hardware it uses. If it doesn't ask you to send an error report to microsoft, then your processor may be getting close to overheating...I seriously doubt this because it sounds to me like its the common XP problem that I've been hearing about. Try to pinpoint what piece of hardware is giving you trouble, then try investigating your cpu...you may need a bigger heatsink to keep this from happening again.

 

[RV4Guy]

Yes, I agree with the above: When XP goes to the BSOD (blue screen of death), it instantly re-boots - you don't see the BSOD at all!! To stop this and at least read the BSOD:

Windows key + Pause key (or Right click My Computer and select Properties)
Advanced
Startup & Recovery
Settings
Untick "Automatically restart"

You've still got to find out why you are getting the BSOD but at least this will give you a starter....

 

[ElFenix]

you can set 2k to automatically reboot on errors too... my prob was that ddr voltage of 2.5 isn't enough to run 2 256 meg sticks in my kt266 pro 2. at even the most conservative timings. runs 1 stick fine at 143 (the highest i tried). runs them both at 140 at 2.6V just fine. 2.6 is within the +/- on micron chips, so whatever.

 

[Udimet720]

Geoffrey,

Thanks for the explanation. Come to think of it, I have been having a bit of trouble with a USB Memory Stick reader. My computer doesn't like it when I boot with it plugged in. It gives me this weird screen.

RV4Guy,

I will try to adjust the settings and see if that helps be isolate the problem.

Thanks again...

David