WinXP keep restarting....

[isaaclau]

Hello, my WinXP Professional with Service Pack 2 is keep restarting....

My WinXP is fresh install, starting for the first time I funished installing WinXP...it keeps restarting....(after the WInXP logo, with the progressive bar, then it restart)

Somehow after few restart, it is ok. (If I power off the the COmputer, higher chance to get into windows) any body has some IDEA?

AMD 64 3200+ (754)
512 MB DDR 400 Consair Ram X 2
Inno3D 6600PE AGP
2 IDE hard disk.

any idea?
Oh..sometimes I get "Machine Check Exception"

 

[BlacKJesuS]

I have the same problem sumtimes....it even deletes some data when it restarts


Wuts 6600PE???

 

[Jiggz]

You might have underrated RAMS. So try removing one of the rams and then try again. Then check the other ram too. If the system only re-starts if there are two sticks it's most likely the rams maybe incompatible. If it's not ram, you might want to try reducing the power requirement by disconnecting one of the hdd and also removing one of the rams. If the problem goes away, it could be that the PSU is underrated. Finally, you want to make sure you are not oc'ing. If you want to do a quick check to see if it's a driver issue, boot into Safe Mode and if the problem does not show up, then it could be a driver issue. Goodluck.

 

[buckmasterson]

Could be bad RAM, or a faulty power supply. Did this just start happing out of the blue or did it happen as soon as you loaded Windows?

 

[isaaclau]

thx for the above replies.

Well, as long as my WinXP can load without restart, it works perfectly! Strange?
I mean, if I can get into Windows without restart, I can even play NFS Most wanted 3D game for hours. So I think the Power SUpply is ok right?

For the RAM, I have used 2 same Consair Value 512 MB ram for more than 1 year, just recently have problem. I will try to see if it really keeps restarting.

PS: 6600 PE is 6600 Core, but use 6600GT Memory, that is a 6600 core with GDDR3 Memory. THus achieve performance very close to 6600GT, but with a lower price.

 

[Bozo Galora]

you didnt mention mobo - but I guess its NF2 or NF3
not quite old enough for bad caps, but worth a quick look at them anyway

I would, as a test, turn off ALL USB in BIOS (the devices must initialize within a certain time period)
I would also make sure all cables tight and cards fully seated (reinsert)
Make sure cpu not overheating (this to other poster)
You are going to have to start with bare basic hdware and slowly add stuff

This guy had 2 dif RAIDs set up in BIOS
http://forums.amd.com/lofiversion/index.php/t62979.html

Machine check means serious hardware issue

(Quote from MS)
MORE INFORMATION
A machine check exception occurs when Windows XP and your hardware platform cannot recover from a hardware error so that the system can continue to run successfully and reliably. More specific diagnosis of machine check exceptions is difficult, and there is no general solution. Contact your hardware manufacturer or a computer hardware technician for help with troubleshooting this issue.

Machine check exceptions are frequently caused by one of the following conditions: ? You are running the processor or mainboard beyond its specifications. For example, you are overclocking the processor or bus. We recommend that you run your hardware at the manufacturer-rated speeds.
? Noisy power, overstressed power strips, outmatched power supplies and failing power supplies can destabilize your computer. Make sure that you have a stable, reliable power supply to your computer.
? Extreme thermal conditions caused by the failure of cooling devices such as fans may damage your computer. Make sure that your cooling devices are all working.
? You have damaged memory or memory that is not the correct type for your computer. If you recently changed the memory configuration, revert to the previous configuration to determine what is wrong. Make sure that you are using the correct memory for your computer

 

[DaTT]

Righ-click My Computer
Properties
Advanced
Start-Up and Recovery settings
Uncheck "Automatically Restart"

Try to debug from your Stop Error that should now appear with a lightly coloured blue screen.

 

[isaaclau]

Again, thx for the replies.

Here's my latest analysis.

I found that the DDR RAM speed is incorrectly setup in bios.

Originally it is 2/1.66, achieving DDR 333 Mhz, then I set it to 2/2, now my DDR speed is 400 ( My RAM is DDR 400 FOR SURE)

Also, I change the HT speed to 5X from 4X( anybody can tell me what is HT speed) ??

After that, I try to test the WinXP, seems no more auto-restart, I have tried 5 times, all success! I will keep trying and report to you guys. Thx, but any idea about my case?

By the way, if it were the Capacitor's problem, how can we explain why, when I get into WInXP successfully, I can operate it perfectly, no restart? I do not mean to challenge anybody, I just want to learn. THX

One Last thing, today is CHINESE Valantines's Day, May I wish all of you have had a happy day. ^^

 

[Jiggz]

I would assume you already identified and fix the problem. And that is the memory divider. As for the HT, I can only assume HyperThread Speed. But I'm just guessing. If it's stable at 5X then you're all set. If the problem comes back again, then maybe you ought to lower it back to 4X. Good job!

 

[isaaclau]

NO NO NO.....the problem has not yet been fixed. My dear.

The reason I reply so late becoz I was having a trip to somewhere else.

OK, now the situation is, the chance for XP auto restart right just after the "Windows Blue Progression bar" is much lower now. However, during the operation in WinXP, sometimes it auto-restart, everytime the machine restart, the mouse will hang for 2 seconds, then it restart, sometimes, it shows a machine check error, sometimes it just restart without any blue screen.

There is nothing special happen just before restart, I cannot identify any software was running just before restart. When will it restart since I login to WInXP? Hard to say...sometimes 4 minutes...sometimes 2 hours............When I play 3D games....never restart...haha...so help me..thx

Please any solution to my PC? I really need to use it, urgently. PLease help.

 

[isaaclau]

any idea?

 

[Shagger]

Are you overclocking at all?

 

[jough]

Do you have Cool'n'Quiet enabled in the BIOS? Sometimes in certain configurations CnQ will cause a reboot. It would make sense that you don't have the problem when the CPU is being taxed, because it would then be running at its highest multiplier and have the fan speed all the way up.

You could try turning off CnQ in the BIOS, check to make sure that the CPU fan speed/temperature is set pretty low (sometimes CnQ configurations have the temp to spin the fan faster set to 60-75C, which is pretty hot) and change the Power Management settings in Windows from "Minimal Power Management" to "Home/Office Desk" (right click on the desktop, properties, screen saver, power settings).

It's something else to try.

 

[thecolorifix]

I've hear some people saying that amd 64 chips have restarting problems with service parck 2...........

dunno if there's any truth to it. but I'm having the same problem and I'm trying uninstalling SP2


edit: ok, I set my ram to the right speed and uninstalled SP 2, still does it

I'm not TOO concerned about it as I'll just have to remember to shut down then start up again rather than just restarting (and i'll probably only do that every week or so, lol)

but I am gonna keep an eye on this thread for more info

edit gain: here's a link anout the AMD 64's and SP2