Sudden reboot problem

[uka100]

My system sometimes reboots out of the blue, it doesn't shut down properly the screen just goes black and it goes to the BIOS bootup screen and loads up windows like normal, no bluescreen, nothing. This usually happens (by coincidence i'm betting) when i'm not at the computer so it's not caused when i run a specific program or anything. Anyone have anything similar happen to them and how they fixed it? I think it may be my PSU, I have a crappy 300W that came with the case (you know the type) so I have disconnected some fans to see if that'll fix it. Also it happened once after changing the resolution in one of my games so it could be my graphics card. Thanks for any suggestions!

[gitreel]

You might try a few things

1. Buy a 400 watt power supply
2. Apply thermal paste to the cpu
3. Buy a better cpu fan
4. Reconnect all of your fans
5. add more fans - the more air circulation - the better.
6. Monitor your cpu temperature
7. Use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of your case.

Dust is harmful to electronic components

I hope this helps.

[uka100]

CPU temp is 37-40 idle which is fine and 33-35 for my mobo. My CPU has two fans on it lol I was messing around and it reduced the temp by a decent amount so i left it on. I am starting to think it is the cheap PSU.

[DVD_Ripper]

Same GD thing was happening to my Dell P3-800 laptop - arbitrary rebooting, sometimes right after post - sometimes 2 hours into capture... after running all diags to rule out other components it turned out to a CPU problem... swapped out CPU... no more rebooting. Hope its not that for you... very costly problem

[OneCardShort]

Had same problem with the pc I use for video capture and encoding. I bought a 420w power supply thinking that was it, but it kept rebooting, especially when I put a load on it like when I encoded. Ran memtest86 and prime95 and they both ran for 24 hours each with no problems. Ended up swapping the memory with another computer and the reboots went away, worked fine since, though the other computer is now rebooting and freezing occasionally. In my case it was bad memory. My guess would be a problem with either the power supply, cpu or memory.

[sacajaweeda]

Sounds like a memory problem. If the 512mb listed in your PC specs is two 256mb sticks, try removing one of them and see if the problem goes away.

[d_unbeliever]

scan also your computer using an antivirus program with an updated virus definition...

some virus out there reset computers even when the user is not doing anything....

[uka100]

I ran memtest a while ago and it said everything was ok, also I always download the lastest virus definitions. I took out 3 fans and my cathode lights and it hasn't rebooted since, I'm just glad it's the PSU. Thanks everyone anyway.

[uka100]

Ok, so it's not, it just did it again .

[sacajaweeda]

Did you try using different RAM, or removing one of the sticks? (if yours is in pairs) I built a new system not long ago and had problems with the thing spontaneously rebooting....ran memtest & everything was ok with the RAM but the board just did not like it for whatever reason. I took it back & got another pair of the exact same stuff and never had the problem again. Memory is just kinda funny like that sometimes I guess.

[fmctm1sw]

I have this exact problem. I've done most of the recommended stuff. Monitored temps, voltages, checked for viruses, etc. I ran a memory test as well. I believe my computer has two things assigned to one interrupt. I remember when I installed my wintv card in my cap rig, it said this would not be a problem. Well, it was. A BIG problem. I guess I'll tear down my internet rig and see if I can change up the interrupts. Problem is I only have 3 PCI slots...